How long does a copyright last for a work created after January 1, 1978?

For any work created after January 1, 1978 (so this includes any work created now or in the future), the copyright lasts for as long as the author of that work is alive, plus an additional 70 years. Where the work in question has joint authors, copyright protection lasts for the duration of all of the authors’ lives, plus 70 years from the death of the last author.

There are two major situations where this author’s-life-plus-70-years rule does not apply. If a work is an anonymous work or a pseudonymous work, the copyright will last for 95 years from the date of publication or 120 years from the date of creation, whichever date expires first. The same rule applies to works made for hire - their copyrights last for 95 years after publication or 120 years from the date of creation, whichever expires first.

Finally, the term of protection always runs to the end of the year. Thus, if the 70 year anniversary of the author’s death falls in June, the work in question will be protected through December of that 70th year anniversary, not June.