What is the term of a copyright?

In Texas, the term of a copyright is the amount of time for which the copyright holder has exclusive rights over the copyright material. Generally, a copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years for works created since 1978. In the case of a joint work, when two or more authors created the work, the copyright lasts for the life of the last surviving author plus 70 years. In certain cases, the copyright term can be shorter or longer than the general rule. For anonymous or pseudonymous works, the copyright term lasts 95 years from the year of first publication or 120 years from the year of creation, whichever is shorter. In some other cases, if the copyright owner has not renewed the copyright, the copyright term runs out before the general rule. In Texas, copyright protection is automatic, meaning that no registration or notice is required in order for a work to be protected under copyright. Although works created after 1978 are automatically protected under copyright, some authors choose to register their works with the U.S. Copyright Office in order to have more protection if a dispute arises. The purpose of copyright law is to protect the rights of creators to their works and to promote the progress of science and art for the benefit of society. By providing exclusive rights to authors, copyright law incentivizes creativity and encourages the spread of knowledge.

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