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Copyright Expiration Calculator

Determine if a creative work is in the Public Domain. Supports US, EU, and Canadian jurisdictions with complex decision trees for renewal status and authorship types.

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! Legal Disclaimer: This tool is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Copyright laws are subject to change and specific court interpretations.
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About

Determining the copyright status of a creative work is a critical step for archivists, publishers, and content creators. A miscalculation regarding the Public Domain status can lead to costly litigation or DMCA strikes. This tool navigates the intricate web of copyright statutes, including the Copyright Act of 1976 and the Copyright Term Extension Act. It accounts for jurisdiction, authorship type, and publication dates to provide a status assessment.

The complexity arises primarily in the United States jurisdiction where the date of publication and renewal status create a fragmented timeline. Works published before 1978 behave differently than those created after. Furthermore, international terms vary significantly. While the Berne Convention sets a minimum, individual nations like Canada and members of the EU have their own extensions. This calculator breaks down these variables into a logical decision path.

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Formulas

The calculation of copyright duration relies on boolean logic rather than continuous algebraic functions. The most common standard is the Life Plus term.

{
Dexp = Datedeath + 70 years (Standard)Dexp = Datepub + 95 years (US Corp/Pre-78)Dexp = NULL (Public Domain)

For US Works published between 1929 and 1977, strict renewal requirements apply. If a renewal was required but not filed, the work enters the public domain immediately upon the expiration of the initial term.

Reference Data

Scenario / JurisdictionUnited States (US)European Union (EU)Canada (CA)
Individual AuthorLife + 70 yearsLife + 70 yearsLife + 70 years
Joint AuthorshipLast Survivor + 70 yearsLast Survivor + 70 yearsLast Survivor + 70 years
Work for Hire / Corporate95 years from pub or 120 from creation70 years from pub70 years from pub
Anonymous / Pseudonymous95 years from pub70 years from pub70 years from pub
Published before 1929PUBLIC DOMAINDepends on Author DeathDepends on Author Death
Published 1929-1963 (No Renewal)PUBLIC DOMAINDepends on Author DeathDepends on Author Death
Published 1929-1963 (Renewed)95 years from pubDepends on Author DeathDepends on Author Death
Sound Recordings (Pre-1972)Federal Protection until 206750 - 70 years70 years from release

Frequently Asked Questions

In the United States, works published before March 1, 1989, without a proper copyright notice generally entered the public domain immediately. However, determining if the omission was accidental or if cure measures were taken is complex. This tool assumes proper formalities were followed for maximum safety.
No. While the Berne Convention sets a minimum of Life + 50 years, many countries have harmonized to Life + 70. However, specific exceptions exist. For example, Canada recently transitioned from Life + 50 to Life + 70. Mexico has a term of Life + 100 years.
Yes. Unpublished works generally have a copyright term based on the life of the author plus 70 years, regardless of when they were created. For anonymous unpublished works, the term is typically 120 years from creation.
For works published between 1923 and 1963, renewal was mandatory after 28 years. You must search the Copyright Office records (Stanford University provides a searchable database for renewals) to confirm. If not renewed, the work is likely in the public domain.
Sound recordings in the US have a unique and complicated history involving state vs. federal law. The Music Modernization Act (2018) brought pre-1972 recordings under federal protection, extending many terms to 2067. This tool primarily focuses on literary, artistic, and visual works.