Copyright term

The length of time for which copyright subsists in a protected work calculated from first of January in the year following the event giving rise to the term.

International context

At international level, the Berne Convention 1886 provides that literary and artistic works should be protected for the life of the author plus 50 years.  Many countries including the EU have raised this to 70 years after the death of the author.

EU context

Literary or artistic work:  70 years after the death of the author.  In the case of joint authors 70 years after the death of the last author

Anonymous or pseudonymous works: 70 years after the work is lawfully made available to the public. When the pseudonym leaves no doubt as to the identity of the author, or if the author discloses his identity, then the term of protection shall be as for literary and artistic works.

Cinematographic or audiovisual works: 70 years after the death of the last of the principal director, the author of the screenplay, the author of the dialogue and the composer of music specifically created for use in the cinematographic or audiovisual work.

Musical composition with words:  70 years after the death of the last author

Photographs: 70 years after the death of the author.

Phonograms (sound recordings): 70 years after the fixation is made. If the phonogram has been lawfully published within this period, 70 years from the date of the first lawful publication.