What “copyright duration” means
Copyright duration (also called copyright term) is the period during which exclusive rights in a work are protected by copyright law. After the term expires, the work generally enters the public domain in that country—subject to neighboring rights, trademarks, and other remaining restrictions.
Duration is usually measured from the death of the author for personal works, or from publication/creation for certain categories (works made for hire, anonymous works, some audiovisual works). Platform takedowns and DMCA counter-notices do not rewrite those statutory clocks.
Berne Convention minimum standards
Most countries belong to the Berne Convention, which requires national treatment and setsminimum terms for many works (commonly life of the author plus at least 50 years for general literary and artistic works). Countries may—and often do—provide longer protection (for example life + 70 in the EU and US for many author works).
Berne membership and treaty status should be confirmed on official WIPO treaty pages. Historical “country list” mirrors sometimes break; always prefer the live treaty database when citing for legal work.
How to read the table
- General term describes typical author-owned literary/artistic works—not every category.
- Notes flag work-made-for-hire, anonymous works, films, sound recordings, or enforcement caveats.
- Instrument + primary link point to the statute family and a live starting URL—always open the official text before citing.
- Confidence tells editors how hard we verified the row (high / medium / low). Prefer high-confidence rows for outreach citation.
Methodology & confidence labels
- General term column = typical author-owned literary/artistic works, not every category.
- Films, photos, sound recordings, anonymous works, and government works often use different clocks.
- Confidence high = cross-checked against official FAQ / code / well-documented statute summaries.
- Confidence medium = statute name + reputable secondary (WIPO/UNESCO/IPO summaries); re-verify before citation.
- Confidence low = limited open English sources or atypical enforcement; do not treat as primary authority.
- DMCA / platform takedowns never rewrite statutory duration.
QA note (2026-07-12): Anguilla and Bermuda corrected to life + 50 (not UK-style life + 70). Jamaica life + 95 retained with reform notes. Vietnam category exceptions (e.g. audiovisual/photo) called out explicitly. Vietnam primary link points to the Vietnamese Government consolidated IP Law (vanban.chinhphu.vn), not a foreign mirror.
Copyright term by country (reference table)
Simplified educational summary. Outreach-priority markets are listed first. Verify primary law before rights clearance.
| Country / jurisdiction | Confidence | Typical general term | Notes & primary source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States · core | high | Life + 70 years (works created on/after 1 Jan 1978) | Works made for hire / anonymous / pseudonymous: generally 95 years from publication or 120 from creation, whichever is shorter. Pre-1978 published works follow a different regime (often up to 95 years from publication if renewed). Registration is not required for protection to exist but affects US remedies. 17 U.S.C. §§ 302–304; Copyright Office Circular 15A · Primary / official start |
| Vietnam · core | high | Life + 50 years (most author works under IP Law) | Cinematographic, photographic, applied-art and certain anonymous works commonly use fixed terms from first publication (often 75 years under current IP Law framing)—not life+50. Moral rights rules and related rights differ. Primary source is the Vietnamese consolidated IP Law on the Government portal (Văn bản hợp nhất Luật SHTT); also see IP Viet Nam (ipvietnam.gov.vn) for guidance pages. Luật Sở hữu trí tuệ (Điều 27) — VB hợp nhất 155/VBHN-VPQH (VPQH); Luật 50/2005/QH11 & sửa đổi · Primary / official start |
| European Union (general) · core | high | Life + 70 years (Term Directive baseline for author works) | Member states implement EU term rules in national statutes. Neighboring rights and related categories follow separate terms. Always cite the national act for clearance. Directive 2006/116/EC (as amended) + national implementations · Primary / official start |
| United Kingdom · core | high | Life + 70 years (CDPA framework for most literary works) | Post-Brexit, EU directives no longer auto-update UK term. Category rules (sound recordings, broadcasts, Crown copyright) differ—see IPO guidance. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; IPO UK guidance · Primary / official start |
| Canada · core | high | Life + 70 years (after Bill C-19 term extension) | Extension to life+70 generally applies from 30 Dec 2022. Works that were already public domain before the change typically stay public domain (non-retroactive extension). Confirm CIPO materials for edge cases. Copyright Act (Canada); Bill C-19 / BIA 2022 amendments · Primary / official start |
| Australia · core | high | Life + 70 years (general literary/artistic works) | Different rules may apply to government works, films, and sound recordings. Australian Copyright Council fact sheets are useful secondary summaries. Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) · Primary / official start |
| Japan · core | high | Life + 70 years (after term extension) | Cinematographic works and neighboring rights use separate category rules. Confirm Agency for Cultural Affairs / statute text for clearance. Copyright Act of Japan · Primary / official start |
| Singapore · core | high | Life + 70 years (modern Copyright Act framework) | Posthumous works, photographs, sound recordings, and broadcasts can use publication/making-based terms. IPOS factsheets summarize basics. Copyright Act 2021 (Singapore); IPOS guidance · Primary / official start |
| China · core | high | Life + 50 years (general works of natural persons) | Films, photographic works, and works of legal entities often use 50-year terms counted from publication/completion rather than life+50. Software and neighboring rights need separate checks. Copyright Law of the PRC (amended) · Primary / official start |
| India · core | high | Life + 60 years (literary/dramatic/musical/artistic) | Photographs, films, and sound recordings generally use 60 years from publication (not life+60). Confirm Copyright Act 1957 as amended. Copyright Act, 1957 (as amended) · Primary / official start |
| Germany · core | high | Life + 70 years | Urheberrechtsgesetz (UrhG). Neighboring rights (Leistungsschutzrechte) use different terms. UrhG; gesetze-im-internet.de · Primary / official start |
| France · core | high | Life + 70 years | Strong moral rights tradition. Code de la propriété intellectuelle governs economic rights term. Code de la propriété intellectuelle (CPI) · Primary / official start |
| Brazil · core | high | Life + 70 years | Moral rights and neighboring rights have additional details under Law 9.610/1998. Lei de Direitos Autorais (Law 9.610/1998) · Primary / official start |
| South Korea · core | high | Life + 70 years | Category-specific rules for neighboring rights; confirm consolidated Copyright Act text. Copyright Act of Korea · Primary / official start |
| Netherlands · core | high | Life + 70 years | Auteurswet; EU-aligned term for author works. Neighboring rights separate. Dutch Copyright Act (Auteurswet) · Primary / official start |
| Afghanistan | medium | Life + 50 years | Confirm current Official Gazette / MoJ text; transitional instruments may affect practice. National copyright statute (life+50 framing in open digests) · Primary / official start |
| Andorra | medium | Life + 70 years | Collective/unknown authorship may use 70 years from publication/creation. Small jurisdiction—check official consolidated text. Andorran copyright legislation (Art. 18 lineage) · Primary / official start |
| Anguilla | medium | Life + 50 years | Overseas territory. Open secondary lists (including Wikimedia duration tables) report life + 50—not UK life + 70. Confirm local IP guidance before reliance. Anguilla copyright rules (territory IP guidance) · Primary / official start |
| Antigua and Barbuda | medium | Life + 50 years | Anonymous, computer-generated, sound recording and film works often use 50 years from publication/creation under Copyright Act 2002 summaries. Copyright Act 2002, s.10 lineage · Primary / official start |
| Bangladesh | medium | Life + 60 years (literary/musical/artistic under Copyright Act) | Cinematographic films, sound recordings, photographs, and many government works often use 60 years from publication. Confirm Copyright Act 2000 consolidations. Copyright Act 2000 (Bangladesh) · Primary / official start |
| Bermuda | medium | Life + 50 years | Secondary duration tables commonly list life + 50 (not life + 70). Confirm Bermuda Government IP fact sheets for category exceptions. Bermuda copyright legislation / government fact sheets · Primary / official start |
| Chile | medium | Life + 70 years | Term extended in the FTA era; verify consolidated IP code for category exceptions. Chilean IP / copyright legislation (post-FTA consolidations) · Primary / official start |
| Denmark | high | Life + 70 years (EU term alignment) | Consolidated Copyright Act; neighboring rights separate. Danish Copyright Act; Ministry of Culture consolidations · Primary / official start |
| Israel | medium | Life + 70 years (Copyright Act 2007 framework) | Confirm official Hebrew/English consolidated text for exceptions and related rights. Copyright Act, 2007 (Israel) · Primary / official start |
| Jamaica | medium | Life + 95 years (modern term for many author works) | 2015 reforms substantially lengthened terms (among the longest worldwide). Transitional rules can depend on death/publication dates. Verify current Copyright Act sections before clearance. Jamaica Copyright Act (as amended; s.10 lineage per secondary digests) · Primary / official start |
| Kenya | medium | Life + 50 years | Confirm latest consolidated Kenyan copyright statute and regulations; related rights may differ. Kenya Copyright Act (consolidated) · Primary / official start |
| Namibia | medium | Life + 50 years | Verify current Copyright Act and any TRIPS/FTA-driven updates against official text. Namibia copyright statute · Primary / official start |
| North Korea | low | Statutory terms reported in secondary analyses (treat as non-operational for commercial clearance) | Open English primary sources are scarce; practical enforcement is atypical. Do not use for rights clearance or BLB citation replacement. Secondary analyses of DPRK Copyright Act only · Primary / official start |
| Norway | high | Life + 70 years | Åndsverkloven framework; regulations supplement the Act. Norwegian Copyright Act; Lovdata · Primary / official start |
| Saudi Arabia | medium | Life + 50 years (author economic rights) | Legal-person / anonymous / audiovisual / applied-art works use publication- or completion-based terms under current Saudi copyright law summaries (including 2026 law commentary). Prefer Arabic statute + official English if available. Saudi copyright law (current consolidated / 2026 reform materials) · Primary / official start |
| Spain | high | Life + 70 years | Texto refundido de la Ley de Propiedad Intelectual lineage (e.g. RDL 1/1996 as amended). Spanish consolidated IP law · Primary / official start |
| Sri Lanka | medium | Life + 70 years | Audiovisual and unpublished works can use different publication/completion clocks—confirm NIPO guidance. Sri Lanka copyright legislation; NIPO materials · Primary / official start |
| Syria | low | Life + 50 years (Law No. 12/2001-era framing in open digests) | Conflict and enforcement conditions may affect practical access. Prefer primary Arabic text over historical English PDFs alone. Syrian copyright law texts (Law 12/2001 lineage) · Primary / official start |
| Uganda | medium | Life + 50 years | URSB guidance URLs change frequently—prefer statute text over brochure pages. Uganda Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act lineage; URSB materials · Primary / official start |
| Vatican City | low | Special regime — do not assume EU defaults | Historical Italian-language instruments; rare commercial use case. Not suitable as a general citation substitute for EU term rules. Historical Vatican copyright instruments · Primary / official start |
Regional patterns
- Europe: Life + 70 is common for author works after EU term harmonization (national laws still matter).
- United States: Life + 70 for most post-1977 personal works; separate hire/anonymous rules.
- Many Berne members outside the EU/US: Life + 50 remains a frequent baseline, with extensions in some markets.
- Asia-Pacific: Mixed—Japan/Singapore often life + 70; China/Vietnam commonly life + 50 for many works.
Vietnam vs United States vs EU (business snapshot)
| Topic | Vietnam | United States | EU (general) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical author term | Life + 50 | Life + 70 (post-1977 personal works) | Life + 70 |
| Hire / corporate works | Check IP Law categories | 95/120 rule often applies | National implementation varies |
| Intermediary takedowns | Platform policies + local law | DMCA notice-and-takedown / counter-notice | EU intermediary rules + national law |
If a competitor uses a copyright complaint to remove search visibility, the legal duration of the underlying work is a separate question from whether the notice was valid. See our guides on copyfraud, false DMCA / §512(f), and how to file a counter-notice.
DMCA, Google removal, and duration
A successful or unsuccessful DMCA index check does not change how long copyright lasts. Duration is statutory. Platform processes affect availability and search visibility, not the underlying term clock. For restoration workflows, start with documentation, counter-notice form preparation, and—if needed— professional filing support.
FAQ
How long does copyright last in the United States?
For most works created on or after 1 January 1978, copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. Works made for hire and certain anonymous or pseudonymous works generally last 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first. Pre-1978 works follow a different set of rules. See copyright.gov duration FAQ.
Is copyright duration the same in every country?
No. The Berne Convention sets minimum standards (commonly life of the author plus at least 50 years for many works), but countries may grant longer terms. Always check the national statute that governs the work and the country where protection is claimed.
What is the copyright term in Vietnam?
Under Vietnam’s Intellectual Property Law (Luật Sở hữu trí tuệ, see the consolidated text on vanban.chinhphu.vn), many author works are protected for the life of the author plus 50 years. Cinematographic, photographic, applied-art and some anonymous works often use fixed terms from first publication (commonly discussed as 75 years in current consolidations)—not life+50. Confirm the latest consolidated VBHN text and guiding decrees; IP Viet Nam (ipvietnam.gov.vn) publishes related guidance.
When does a work enter the public domain?
A work typically enters the public domain when its copyright term expires, or when the right holder dedicated it to the public domain, or when it was never eligible for copyright. Term expiry is country-specific; a work can be public domain in one country and still protected in another.
Does a DMCA takedown change copyright duration?
No. A DMCA notice or Google de-index action is a notice-and-takedown / intermediary process. It does not shorten or extend the underlying copyright term. Duration is set by copyright law, not by platform procedures.
How reliable is this table for citation?
Use high-confidence rows as a starting map, then open the primary URL / statute before citing in legal or editorial work. Medium- and low-confidence rows need independent verification. This page is educational, not a substitute for primary law.
Sources, update policy, and how to cite this page
We maintain this table for researchers, editors, and website owners who encounter dead official PDFs (including broken Wikipedia citations). Prefer primary statutes and official IP office pages when available. Historical UNESCO country files and treaty mirrors are useful for archaeology of sources—not as a substitute for current law.
How we cite: each row includes an instrument label and a starting primary URL. For editorial replacement of a broken link, open that URL (or WIPO Lex / national gazette) and quote the statute section—not only this summary cell.
Suggested citation: DMCA AI, “Copyright duration by country,” 2026-07-12,https://dmcaai.com/en/copyright-duration-by-country/
Related reading: What is copyright? ·What is copyfraud? ·Public domain ·AI and copyright ·English blog