Duration of copyright
Copyright generally lasts 70 years after the death of the creator or after the first year of publication, depending on the type of material and/or when it was first published:
- Artistic works, including photographs
- Dramatic works
- Literary works
- Musical works
- Films and television broadcasts
- Sound recordings and radio broadcasts
Unpublished works, such as material found in archives, is now treated similarly to published work. Copyright no longer lasts into perpetuity but lasts 70 years after the death of the creator, or after the first year of publication.
The copyright in works created by Government departments lasts 50 years after the date of first publication.
Where there are multiple authors or creators, copyright last for 70 years after the death of the last remaining author or creator.
Copyright cannot be renewed and once it has expired the work is considered to be in the public domain and can be used without the copyright owner's permission.