How long do Copyrights last?

The duration of a copyright may vary, although it begins as soon as a work is created and typically lasts until 70 years after the death of the author. The author instantaneously possesses this right of protection and only those whose rights originate from the author can assert copyright. Consequently, contract work and anything made anonymously or published under a pseudonym will last for the shorter of 95 years after the original publishing or 120 years after it was created.

Enacted legislation on the first day of 1978 eliminated the necessity of registration renewal. The copyrights of any works created from that day forward would not need to be renewed. This is also the case for anything made prior to that date; however, they may experience certain legal benefits from going through this process.