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Act of May 31, 1790, 1st Cong. 2d. sess., 1 Stat. 124 (Max Copyright term = 28 years)
The first U.S. Copyright Statute provided for an initial term of 14 years with a possibility of renewal for an additional 14-year period.
Act of Feb. 3, 1831, 21st Cong. 2d. sess., 4 stat. 436 (Max Copyright Term = 42 years)
In 1831, Congress extended the initial copyright period to 28 years with a possibility of an additional renewal of 14 years.
Act of Mar. 4, 1909, 60th Cong. 2d. sess., 35 stat. 1075 (Max Term = 56 years)
The 1909 congress extended the renewal period to 28 years.
Copyright Act of 1976, 55 Public Law 94-553, 94th Cong. 2d. sess., 90 stat. 2541 (Max Copyright Term = Life of the author plus 50 years)
All works created prior to January 1, 1978 were protected for a maximum of 75 years from the date of publication or 100 years from the date of creation whichever is less. The adoption of a term of life of the author plus fifty years gave the U.S. the same standard as the majority of international countries under the Berne Convention. See Act of Brussels of June 26, 1948.
1994 - (TRIPS) Agreement on the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
Established a mandatory minimum copyright period of life of the author plus fifty years for all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Final Act embodying the results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral trade negotiations, Annex 1C, Agreements on trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property, art 9(1) (15 Apr. 1994).
October 7, 1998 - S.505 U.S. Copyright Term Extension Act (max term = Life + 70 years)
| Last modified April 11, 1999. | Berkman Center for Internet & Society |