Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States
1 January 2011¹

Never Published, Never Registered Works²

Type of Work

Copyright Term

What was in the public domain in the U.S. as of 1 January 2011³

Unpublished works

Life of the author + 70 years

Works from authors who died before 1941

Unpublished anonymous and pseudonymous works, and works made for hire (corporate authorship)

120 years from date of creation

Works created before 1891

Unpublished works when the death date of the author is not known⁴

120 years from date of creation⁵

Works created before 1891⁵

Works Registered or First Published in the U.S.

Date of Publication⁶

Conditions⁷

Copyright Term³

Before 1923

None

None. In the public domain due to copyright expiration

1923 through 1977

Published without a copyright notice

None. In the public domain due to failure to comply with required formalities

1978 to 1 March 1989

Published without notice, and without subsequent registration within 5 years

None. In the public domain due to failure to comply with required formalities

1978 to 1 March 1989

Published without notice, but with subsequent registration within 5 years

70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first

1923 through 1963

Published with notice but copyright was not renewed⁸

None. In the public domain due to copyright expiration

1923 through 1963

Published with notice and the copyright was renewed⁸

95 years after publication date

1964 through 1977

Published with notice

95 years after publication date

1978 to 1 March 1989

Created after 1977 and published with notice

70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first

1978 to 1 March 1989

Created before 1978 and first published with notice in the specified period

The greater of the term specified in the previous entry or 31 December 2047

From 1 March 1989 through 2002

Created after 1977

70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first

From 1 March 1989 through 2002

Created before 1978 and first published in this period

The greater of the term specified in the previous entry or 31 December 2047

Anytime

Works prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person's official duties. ²¹