Generally, "copyright in a work created on or after January
1, 1978, subsists from its creation and, except as provided by the following
subsections, endures for a term consisting of the life of the author and 70 years
after the author's death." [Emphasis added.]
For works created before January 1, 1978, copyright
"subsists from January 1, 1978, and endures for the term provided by section 302. In
no case, however, shall the term of copyright in such a work expire before December 31,
2002; and, if the work is published on or before December 31, 2002, the term of copyright
shall not expire before December 31, 2047". (17 USC, Chapter 3, $302-303)
[Emphasis added.]
To read the full text for duration of copyright, see US Code : Title 17,
Ch.3 Chart on duration
of copyright and when works pass into the public domain.
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