When Works Pass Into the Public Domain

Date of Work	Protected From	Term
Created 1-1-78 or after	When work is fixed in tangible medium of expression	Life + 50 years (or, if work of corporate authorship, 75 years from publication, or 100 years from creation, whichever is first)
Published more than 75 years ago	Now in public domain	None
Published between 75 years ago and the end of 1963	When published with notice	28 years + could be renewed for 47 years; if not so renewed, now in public domain
Published from 1964-1977	When published with notice	28 years for first term; now automatic extenmsion of 47 years for second term
Created before 1-1-78 but not published	1-1-78, the effective date of the 1976 Act which eliminated common law copyright	Life + 50 years or 12-31-2002, whichever is greater
Created before 1-1-78 but published between then and 12-31-2002	1-1-78, the effective date of the 1976 Act which eliminated common law copyright	Life + 50 years or 12-31-2027, whichever is greater

Table Compiled by Laura Gasaway
Director of the Kathrine R. Everett Law Library
and Professor of Law
University of North Carolina

Revised 12/3/96

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