SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/founder-copyright-life-plus-seventy

How long does copyright usually last for a modern individual work?

Usually the author's life plus 70 years.

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  1. The author's life plus 70 years ✔
  2. Twenty years from filing
  3. Ten years after registration

Why: For most works created after 1978, the general term is the author's life plus 70 years. Different rules apply to works made for hire and some older works.

Huh, didn't know that: Works made for hire last 95 years from first publication or 120 years from creation, whichever comes first.

The dad joke
Copyright keeps a long calendar because good stories have many chapters.
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References

Answer: The author's life plus 70 years. For most works created after 1978, the general term is the author's life plus 70 years. Different rules apply to works made for hire and some older works.

  1. The Lifecycle of Copyright copyright.gov/history/copyright-exhibit/lifecycle
    Generally, for most works created after 1978, protection lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years.
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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