How long does copyright last? Copyright duration can depend on a variety of factors. Below are a few guidelines and tools to help you determine whether or not a work is still protected under copyright.
Expansion of U.S. Copyright Term
The United States has expanded the U.S. Copyright Term six times since it was enacted in 1790, so the duration of copyright on the work will depend on when it was created and the law at the time of creation.
Public Domain or Copyright Protected (by year of creation)
The American Library Association's Digital Copyright Slider below can help you determine whether or not a work is in the public domain or covered by copyright based on the date of first publication.
International Public Domain
The Public Domain Calculator below can help you to determine whether or not a work created outside of the U.S. falls within the public domain of use.
Copyright Renewal
In some circumstances or time periods, the copyright of a work may have been renewed. To find out more about copyright renewal and to search Stanford's Copyright Renewal Database, follow the link below.
Public Domain
Copyright Term and Public Domain
Public Domain Flow Chart and Handbook (University of California)
