How long does a copyright protection last?

In Texas, the duration of copyright protection for original works of authorship is the life of the author plus 70 years. After the 70 year period, the original work is considered to be in the public domain and is no longer subject to copyright protection. For works with multiple authors, the protection period is the life of the last surviving author plus 70 years. For anonymous and pseudonymous works, the protection period is 95 years from the date of publication, or 120 years from the date of creation, whichever is shorter. The special case of works made for hire is also worth noting. In this instance, the employer or person for whom the work was made is considered to be the author for the purpose of copyright protection. In this case, the protection period lasts 95 years from the date of publication or 120 years from the date of creation, whichever period is shorter. It is important to note that the length of the copyright protection is subject to change. In the United States, the Copyright Act of 1976 gave authors and creators more protection than what was previously available and extended the duration of copyright protection from an initial term of 28 years to life plus 70 years for all works created on or after January 1, 1978.

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