Arikah Map

List of countries' copyright length

This is an alphabetic list of different countries and the length of their standard copyright in years. Most countries now have copyright terms that are based on the death dates of the authors. Laws regarding anonymous works, corporate-authored works, or non-literary works vary per country. It is not intended to be used as a legal guideline since it cannot reflect the complexity of the copyright laws in effect at any one time and since copyright laws are changing continuously. It is intended only as an overview of the portions of the world which are under any particular style of copyright. See the external links at the end of this article for more details.

Although they are not countries, the list also includes entries for the European Union and the Berne Convention.

Country Date of copyright restoration Usual term of copyright protection Reference
Afghanistan none† unknown
Akrotiri unknown
Albania January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 17, Law no. 7564 of 19 April 1992, as modified by Law no. 7923 of 19 May 1995
Algeria April 19, 1998 50 pma;
photographs 50 pr		 Arts. 54 & 59, Ordonnance n° 03-05 du 19 Joumada El Oula 1424 correspondant au 19 juillet 2003 relative aux droits d’auteur et aux droits voisins
American Samoa unknown
Andorra June 2, 2004 70 pma Art. 18, Law on Copright and Related Rights of 1999
Angola November 23, 1996 50 pma
Anguilla unknown
Antigua and Barbuda January 1, 1996 50 pma;
computer 50 pr		 s. 10, Copyright Act, 2002
Argentina January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 5, Ley 11.723 del 28 de septiembre de 1933, as modified by Ley 24.870 del 11 de septiembre de 1997
Armenia October 19, 2000 50 pma Art. 26, Law on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights of 12 January 2000
Aruba unknown
Australia January 1, 1996* 70 pma;
50 pma (death before 1955)
photographs 50 pd		 s. 33, Copyright Act 1968
Austria January 1, 1996* 70 pma § 60, Urheberrechtsgesetz;
§ 1(2), Urheberrechtsgesetznovelle 1972 (Nr. 492, 1972-12-16)
Azerbaijan June 4, 1999 50 pma Art. 25, Law on Copyright and Related Rights of 5 June 1996
Bahamas January 1, 1996 Berne
Bahrain January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 31, Legislative Decree no. 10 of 1993
Baker Island unknown
Bangladesh January 1, 1996 50 pma
Barbados January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 17, http://www.wipo.int/clea/docs_new/en/bb/bb009en.html Copyright Act 1998
Bassas da India unknown
Belarus December 12, 1997 50 pma Art. 22, Law 194-3 of 11 August 1998
Belgium January 1, 1996*(a) 70 pma Art. 2, Loi relative au droit d’auteur et aux droits voisins du 30 juin 1994
Belize January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 10, Copyright Act Ch. 252
Benin January 1, 1996 50 pma
Bermuda unknown
Signatories of the Berne Convention photographic work minimum 25 years after creation; cinematographic work minimum 50 years after first showing or creation if not shown for 50 years after creation; all other works life plus a minimum of 50 years
Bhutan November 25, 2004 50 pma s. 18, Copyright Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2001
Bolivia January 1, 1996* 50 pma Art. 18, Ley No 1322 de 13 de abril de 1992
Bosnia and Herzegovina January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 84, Law on Copyright and Related Rights (7/02)
Botswana January 1, 1996 Berne, TRIPS, WCT Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, Act No. 8 of 2000
Bouvet Island unknown
Brazil January 1, 1996* 70 pma Art. 41, Law no 9610 of 19 February 1998
British Indian Ocean Territory unknown
British Virgin Islands unknown
Brunei January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 14, Emergency (Copyright) Order 1999
Bulgaria January 1, 1996 50 pma (EU) Art. 27, Law on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights of 16 June 1993
Burkina Faso January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 34, Loi N°032-99AN portant protection de la propriété littéraire et artistique
Burundi January 1, 1996 50 pma
Cambodia October 13, 2004 50 pma Art. 30, Law on Copyright and Related Rights of 2003
Cameroon January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 37, Loi no 2000/011 du 19 décembre 2000
Canada January 1, 1996*(b) 50 pma s. 6, Copyright Act, R.S., c. C-30;
s. 7, S.C. 1997, c. 24
Cape Verde July 7, 1997 50 pma Art. 19, Lei no. 101/III/90 de 29 de dezembro de 1990
Cayman Islands unknown
Central African Republic January 1, 1996 Berne, TRIPS
Chad January 1, 1996 Berne, TRIPS
Chile January 1, 1996* 50 pma Art. 10, Ley No 17336 de propriedad intelectual
China (People's Republic) January 1, 1996*(c) 50 pma Art. 21, Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China
Colombia January 1, 1996* 80 pma Art. 21, Ley 23 de 1982
Comoros April 17, 2005 Berne
Congo (Democratic Republic) January 1, 1996 Berne, TRIPS
Congo (Republic) January 1, 1996 Berne, TRIPS
Costa Rica January 1, 1996* 70 pma Art. 58, Ley de Derechos de Autor y Derechos Conexos modified by the Ley 7979 del 6 del enero del 2000
Cote d'Ivoire January 1, 1996 99 pma Art. 45, Loi no. 96-564 du 25 juillet 1996
Croatia January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 99, Copyright and Related Rights Act 197/2003
Cuba January 1, 1996* 50 pma
Cyprus January 1, 1996 50 pma
(EU, WCT)		 s. 4, Copyright Law 1976
Czech Republic January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 27, Law No. 121/2000 Coll.
Denmark January 1, 1996* 70 pma s. 63, Act on Copyright 1995
Djibouti January 1, 1996 25 pma
(Berne, TRIPS)		 Art. 59, Loi n°114/AN/96/3e L relatif à la protection du droit d'auteur
Dominica January 1, 1996 70 pma s. 11, Copyright Act 2003
Dominican Republic January 1, 1996* 50 pma Art. 21, Ley sobre Derecho de Autor del 24 de julio de 2000
Ecuador January 1, 1996* 70 pma Art. 80, Ley No 83 de Propiedad Intelectual (1998)
Egypt January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 150, Law on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
El Salvador January 1, 1996* 50 pma Art. 86, Decreto Legislativo No. 604 del 15 de julio de 1993
Equatorial Guinea June 26, 1997 Berne
Eritrea none unknown
Estonia January 1, 1996 50 pma (EU) Art. 38, Copyright Act of 11 November 1992
Ethiopia none† unknown
Members of the European Union 70 pma
Fiji January 1, 1996 50 pma Copyright Act 1999
Finland January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 43, Law No. 404/1961, as amended by Law No. 1654/1995
France January 1, 1996*(a) 70 pma Art. L123-1, Code de la propriété intellectuelle
Gabon January 1, 1996 Berne, TRIPS, WCT
Gambia January 1, 1996 50 pma Copyright Act 1956 (p)
Georgia January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 31, Law on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights of 22 June 1999
Germany(d) January 1, 1996* 70 pma § 64, Urheberrechtsgesetz, as amended by the Law of 23 June 1995
Ghana January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 12, Copyright Act, 2005
Greece January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 29, Law 2121/1993
Grenada February 22, 1996 Berne, TRIPS Copyright Act, dated 3 February 1989
Guatemala January 1, 1996 75 pma Art. 43, Decreto No. 33-98, as modified by Art. 13, Decreto No. 56-2000
Guinea January 1, 1996 TRIPS, WCT
Guinea-Bissau January 1, 1996 Berne, TRIPS
Guyana January 1, 1996 50 pma Copyright Act 1956
Haiti January 11, 1996* Berne, TRIPS Decree of January 9, 1968, relating to Copyright in Literary, Scientific and Artistic Works
Honduras January 1, 1996 75 pma
Hong Kong(e) January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 17, Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528)
Hungary January 1, 1996* 70 pma Art. 31, Act No. LXXVI of 1999
Iceland January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 43, Act No. 73/1972, as amended by Art. 4, Act No. 145/1996
India January 1, 1996 60 pma (literary or musical works or artistic works)
photographs 60 pd [1][2]		 s. 22, Copyright Act, 1957
s. 25, Copyright Act, 1957
Indonesia January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 29, Law No. 19 of 2002
Iran none† 30 pma;
photographs 30 pd		 Arts. 12 & 16, Copyright Law of 12 January 1970
Iraq none† 50 pma s. 2(11), Coalition Provisional Authority Order No. 2004/83
Ireland January 1, 1996 70 pma s. 24, Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000
Israel January 1, 1996 50 pma (may have changed to 70 pma) Art. 3, Copyright Act 1911
Italy January 1, 1996* 70 pma
[50 pma]		 Art. 25, Law No. 633 of 22 April 1941, as amended by Art. 17, Law No. 52 of 6 February 1996
Jamaica January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 10, Copyright Act 1993
Japan January 1, 1996*(f) 50 pma(f) (Only the Motion pictures is 70 years) Art. 51, Law No. 48 of 6 May 1970
Jordan July 28, 1999 50 pma Art. 30, Law No. 22 of 1992, as amended
Kazakhstan April 12, 1999 50 pma Art. 28, Law on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights of 1996
Kenya January 1, 1996 50 pma;
photographs 50 pd		 s. 23(2), Copyright Act, 2001
Kiribati none‡ 50 pma Copyright Act 1956 (p)
Korea, North April 28, 2003 Berne
Korea, South January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 36, Copyright Act of 30 December 1989
Kuwait January 1, 1996 TRIPS Decree Law No. 64 of 1999 concerning Intellectual Property Rights
Kyrgyzstan December 20, 1998 50 pma Art. 27, Law on Copyright and Related Rights of 16 December 1997
Laos none†(g) unknown
Latvia January 1, 1996 70 pma
[50 pma]		 Art. 36, Copyright Law of 6 April 2000
Art. 28, Law on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights of 11 May 1993
Lebanon January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 49, Loi sur la protection de la propriété littéraire et artistique (no. 75 du 3 avril 1999)
Lesotho March 8, 1989 50 pma Copyright Act 1956 (p)
Libya January 1, 1996 25 pma with 50-year minimum (as of 1968; may have changed since)
Liechtenstein January 1, 1996 70 pma
[50 pma]		 Art. 32, Law of 19 May 1999
[Art. 36, Law of 26 October 1928]
Lithuania January 1, 1996 70 pma
[50 pma]		 Art. 34, Law No. IX-1355 (2003)
[Art. 536, Civil Code as modified by Law No. I-459 (1994)]
Luxembourg January 1, 1996* 70 pma
[50 pma]		 Art. 9, Law of 18 April 2001
[Art. 2, Law of 29 March 1972]
Macau(e) January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 21, Decree-Law 43/99/M of August 16, 1999
Macedonia January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 44, Law on Copyright and Related Rights No. 47/96 as amended
Madagascar January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 52, Loi no. 94-036 portant sur la propriété littéraire et artistique
Malawi January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 13, Copyright Act, 1989
Malaysia January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 17, Copyright Act 1987
Maldives January 1, 1996 TRIPS
Mali January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 90, Loi No. 8426/AN-RM
Malta January 1, 1996 70 pma s. 4(2), Copyright Act, 2000
Marshal Islands none
Mauritania January 1, 1996 Berne, TRIPS
Mauritius January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 12, Copyright Act 1997
Mexico January 1, 1996 75 pma (100 pma since July 2003) Art. 29, Ley Federal del Derecho de Autor (1996)
Micronesia October 7, 2003 50 pma § 113, Federated States of Micronesia Code, Title 35
Moldova January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 17, Law No. 293-XIII of 23 November 1994
Monaco January 1, 1996 WCT
Mongolia January 29, 1997 50 pma Art. 17, Law on Copyright of 1993
Montenegro(h) January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 100, Law on Copyright and Related Rights
Morocco January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 25, Loi no. 2-00 relative aux droits d’auteur et droits voisins
Mozambique January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 22, Law No. 4/2001
Myanmar January 1, 1996 TRIPS
Namibia January 1, 1996 50 pma;
photographs 50 pd		 s. 3, Copyright Act 98 of 1978, as amended by s. 3, Act 52 of 1984, s. 3, Act 125 of 1992 and by s. 52, Act 38 of 1997
Nauru none‡ unknown
Nepal April 23, 2004 50 pma Pustun Pradhan (2004). "Nepal's New Law on Copyright: Some Reflections", UNESCO e-Copyright Bulletin, January–March 2004.
Netherlands(i) January 1, 1996* 70 pma Art. 37, Copyright Act, 1912, as amended by the Acts of 21 December 1995
New Zealand January 1, 1996* 50 pma;
computer 50 pr		 s. 22, Copyright Act 1994
Nicaragua January 1, 1996* 70 pma Art. 27, Ley de Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos (No. 312)
Niger January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 22, Ordonnance no. 93-027 du 30 mars 1993
Nigeria January 1, 1996 70 pma
photographs 50 pd		 Schedule I, Copyright Act (Cap. 68) 1990
Norway January 1, 1996* 70 pma s. 40, Act No. 2 of 12 May 1961
Oman July 14, 1999 50 pma Art. 7, Royal Decree 37-2000
Pakistan January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 18, Copyright Ordinance, 1962
Palau none‡ 50 pma s. 16, Republic of Palau Copyright Act of 2003
Panama June 8, 1996* 50 pma Art. 42, Ley No. 15 de 8 de agosto de 1994
Papua New Guinea June 9, 1996 50 pma s. 17, Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act 2000
Paraguay January 1, 1996* 70 pma Art. 47, Ley No. 1328/98 de Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos
Peru January 1, 1996* 70 pma Art. 52, Decreto legislativo 822 del 23 de abril de 1996
Philippines January 1, 1996 50 pma;
photographs 50 pd		 s. 213, Intellectual Property Code
Poland January 1, 1996 50 pma (EU) Art. 36, Law of February 4, 1994, on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights
Portugal January 1, 1996* 70 pma
[50 pma]		 Art. 31, Code of Copyright and Related Rights, as amended by Decree Law No. 334/97 of 27 November 1997
Qatar January 13, 1996 50 pma s. 15, Law No. 7 of 2002
Romania January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 27, Law No. 8 of March 14, 1996
Russia January 1, 1996 50 pma (death before 1953); 70 pma starting July 28, 2004 (Source) Art. 2, Law 72-FZ, 2004
Rwanda January 1, 1996 Berne, TRIPS
St. Kitts and Nevis January 1, 1996 50 pma Copyright Act 1956 (p)
St. Lucia January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 10, Copyright Act, 1995
St. Vincent and the Grenadines January 1, 1996 75 pma s. 8, Copyright Act, 2003
Samoa July 21, 2006 Berne
San Marino none unknown
Sao Tome and Principe none†‡ unknown
Saudi Arabia March 11, 2004 50 pma
Senegal January 1, 1996 Berne, TRIPS
Serbia(j) January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 100, Law on Copyright and Related Rights
Seychelles none†‡ 25 pma;
photographs 25 pd		 s. 9, Copyright Act, revised edition 1991
Singapore January 1, 1996 70 pma Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
Slovakia January 1, 1996 70 pma § 18, Act No. 383/1997
Slovenia January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 59, Copyright and Related Rights Act of 30 March 1995
Solomon Islands July 26, 1996 50 pma s. 3, Copyright Act (Ch. 138)
Somalia none‡ unknown
South Africa January 1, 1996*(k) 50 pma s. 3(2), Copyright Act, 1978
Spain January 1, 1996* 70 pma
[80 pma(1879 - 1987), 60 pma(1987 - 1994)]		 Art. 23, Real Decreto 1/1996
Sri Lanka January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 19, Code of Intellectual Property Act No. 52 of 1979
Sudan December 28, 2000 50 pma
photographs 25 pd		 s. 13, Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Protection Act 1996
Suriname January 1, 1996 Berne, TRIPS
Swaziland January 1, 1996 50 pma Copyright Act No. 36 of 1912
Sweden January 1, 1996* 70 pma Art. 43, Act 1960:729, as modified by Act 1995:1273
Switzerland January 1, 1996*(a) 70 pma Urheberrechtgesetz
Syria June 11, 2004 50 pma Arts. 22 & 23, Law No. 12/2001
Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) January 1, 2002*(c) TRIPS
Tajikistan March 9, 2000 Berne
Tanzania January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 14, Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, 1999
Thailand January 1, 1996* 50 pma s. 19, Copyright Act, B.E. 2537 (1994)
Timor Leste January 1, 1996(l) 50 pma Art. 29, Law No. 19 of 2002
Togo January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 36, Loi no. 91-12 portant protection du droit d'auteur, du folklore et des droits voisins
Tonga June 14, 2001 50 pma s. 13, Copyright Act (Cap. 121)
Trinidad and Tobago January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 19, Copyright Act, 1997
Tunisia January 1, 1996 50 pma Art. 18, Loi no. 94-36
Turkey January 1, 1996 70 pma Art. 27, Law No. 5846 of 5 December 1951
Turkmenistan none(m) unknown
Tuvalu none‡ 50 pma Copyright Act 1956 (p)
Uganda January 1, 1996 TRIPS
Ukraine January 1, 1996 70 pma
[50 pma]		 Art. 28, Law on Copyright and Related Rights of 2001
 
United Arab Emirates April 10, 1996 50 pma s. 20, Federal Law No. 7 of 2002
United Kingdom January 1, 1996*(a,n) 70 pma s. 12, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended by the Duration of Copyright and Rights in Performances Regulations 1995
United States of America 28 (if copyright not renewed) or 95 years for works copyrighted 1923-1963; 95 years for works copyrighted 1964-1977; thereafter life plus 70 years. (Copyrights prior to 1923 have expired.)
Uruguay January 1, 1996* 50 pma Art. 14, Law on Copyright No. 9.739 of 17 December 1937
Uzbekistan April 19, 2005 50 pma Art. 38, Law No. 272-I of 30 August 1996
Vanuatu none†‡ unknown
Vatican City January 1, 1996 70 pma N. XII. Legge sil diritto di autore
Venezuela January 1, 1996 60 pma Art. 25,Ley sobre el Dercho de Autor as modified by the Decreto del 14 de agosto de 1993
Vietnam December 23, 1998(o) Berne
Yemen none†‡ 30 pma
Zambia January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 12, Copyright and Performance Rights Act, 1994
Zimbabwe January 1, 1996 50 pma s. 5, Copyright Act (Chapter 26:1)

Contents

Table notes and references

Dates of restoration were taken from information in U.S. Copyright Office Circular No. 38a, correct as of January 1, 2003, cross-checked and updated by reference to the Membership of the WTO, correct as of December 11, 2005, and to the [list of signatories of the Berne Convention], correct as of May 30, 2006 (quoted date, in fact the document records Samoa's accession on July 21, 2006). For convenience, dates of restoration for the predecessor countries have been quoted for countries which have become independent since copyright restoration (Montenegro, Timor Leste). Terms of protection were taken from a variety of sources, including WIPO, UNESCO and the University of Pennsylvania (see External links). Where no more specific information is available for a country, an indication of its probable minimum copyright term can be gained from its status as:

pma = post mortem auctoris, (years) after the death of the authorpd = post divulgatio or after publicationp.r. = post realisation or after creation

*Countries with a possibility of subsisting U.S. copyrights.
† WTO observer countries, which are required to start membership negotiations within five years of becoming observers. These countries will be eligible for copyright restoration once they join the WTO, or earlier if they choose to sign the Berne Convention or the WTO Copyright Treaty beforehand.
(a) Bilateral copyright relations between the United States and each of Belgium, France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom were established by Presidential Proclamation No. 3 of July 1, 1891 (27 Stat. 981) under the authority of The Chase Act of 1891.
(b) Bilateral copyright relations between the United States and Canada were effective from January 1, 1924.
(c) Bilateral copyright relations between the United States and China were established by treaty effective from January 13, 1904. The People's Republic of China does not consider this treaty to be binding, but the Republic of China (Taiwan) considers it still to be in force. Copyright relations were established between the United States and the People's Republic of China by a Presidential Declaration of March 17, 1992 under the authority of 17 104(b)(5) as modified by the Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988 (Pub. L. No. 100-568, 102 Stat. 2853). See "Chinese copyrights" above.
(d) The Federal Republic of Germany is the successor state to the German Democratic Republic and to the German Empire.
(e) The Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau have their own status, distinct from that of the rest of China, under international copyright and trade law.
(f) The bilateral copyright relations between the United States and Japan which were established on May 10, 1906 are considered by the U.S. Copyright Office to have been abrogated, and superseded by the adherence of Japan to the Geneva Act of the UCC on April 28, 1956.
(g) Laos is a signatory of the Geneva Act of the UCC, effective September 16, 1955.
(h) Montenegro is assumed to have succeeded to the copyright obligations of Serbia and Montenegro (see note (i)).
(i) Including the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba: although Dutch adhesion to the Berne convention only applies to the Kingdom in Europe, membership of the WTO includes the overseas territories.
(j) Serbia is deemed to be a successor state of Serbia and Montenegro, which itself was a successor state to Yugoslavia for international copyright treaties, notably the Berne Convention, effective June 17, 1930.
(k) Bilateral copyright relations between the United States and South Africa were effective from July 1, 1924.
(l) Timor Leste is assumed to retain the copyright status it held as a part of Indonesia, a signatory of the Berne convention.
(m) Turkmenistan has confirmed its status as a successor to the obligations of the USSR under the Geneva Act of the UCC, effective from May 27, 1973, in a bilateral agreement with the United States on October 25, 1993.
(n) The United Kingdom's adhesion to the Berne Convention extends to the Isle of Man, effective March 18, 1996.
(o) Restoration of Vietnamese copyrights occurred through Presidential Proclamation No. 7161 of December 23, 1998 [63 Fed. Reg. 71571 (1998)], prior to Vietnam's signature of the Berne Convention on October 26, 2004.

Notes

  1. ^ http://copyright.gov.in/handbook.htm
  2. ^ http://ezinearticles.com/?Copyright-in-India:-Law-and-Procedure&id=73309

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