Copyright protections are a means of ensuring that the intellectual property of one person remains under their control. Writers, photographers and graphic artists rely on copyright protection to maintain control over their work and to find ways to profit off of their creative endeavors. They can secure copyright protection to prevent reproductions of their works or any attempts to monetize their creations without their involvement.
Businesses may rely on copyright protection to make investments in original creations worthwhile. After publishing an original work carrying copyright registration from the United States Copyright Office, businesses and creators have control over the use of that work until the copyright expires. Only those who secure appropriate permission can republish or otherwise use the copyrighted work.
How long does copyright protection typically last in the United States?
For the original artist
When one individual is directly responsible for the creation of an original work, copyright protections last a relatively long time. Provided that someone published the original work after January 1, 1978, their copyright protection lasts longer than their life. Copyright protection extended to a creative professional persists for their entire life and then 70 years after their death.
For co-creators
Not all original works come from only one creator. When two or more parties co-author a creative work, the rules are slightly different. The copyright protection extends for as long as either co-creator remains alive and then lasts for another 70 years after their death.
For business copyright holders
Whether companies employ workers with creative skills or purchase the rights to individual works from artists and authors, organizations with an interest in original creations also have the right to register a copyright and protect those works from infringement by outside parties. Copyright protection on works for hire, anonymous works and pseudonymous works, copyright protection lasts a set amount of time. Business copyright protections can last for 95 years from the date of publication or 120 years from the creation of the work. Whichever of those two periods is shorter is the likely standard that applies.
Understanding the duration of copyright protections is a key element to effectively enforcing intellectual property rights. Those who do not understand how long copyright protection persists might fail to act when dealing with intellectual property violations. Learning more about copyright rules and seeking help when filing copyright paperwork can help protect original works.