Chapter 5 Duration of copyright

Question 1

What is the duration of copyright for literary works?

Answer 1

Life + 70 years

Question 2

What is the duration of copyright for literary works under the Berne convention?

Answer 2

Life + 50 years

Question 3

Until when are existing unpublished works protected?

Answer 3

Until 2039

Question 4

What is the copyright protection for works that have never been published, where the copyright expired, but are now lawfully published or communicated to the public?

Answer 4

25 years

Question 5

What is the copyright protection for computer-generated works?

Answer 5

50 years from the end of the calendar year which the work is produced.

Question 6

What is the copyright protection for films, broadcasts & soundrecordings?

Answer 6

50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work is produced.

Question 7

What is the copyright protection for typographical arrangements of published works?

Answer 7

25 years

Question 8

Explain the twofold approach the EU has taken for Orphan works

Answer 8

1. Potential producer has to exercise due diligence to identify the copyright owner
2. If not found, then the work may be published as long as there is recognition that retrospective royalties will be paid if the copyright owner is identified.

Question 9

What is the rational behind the life + 70 years protection of copyright?

Answer 9

The protection should extend for the life of the author and benefit 2 generations of the author’s heirs.