Conduct Annual Copyright Expiration Sweep

At the end of each calendar year, take stock of works entering the public domain. The collection should be assessed for:

  • Works published 95 years ago in the new year.
    (In 2024, works published in 1928 will enter the Public Domain.)

  • Unpublished works created by authors who will have died 70 years ago in the new year.
    (In 2024, works of creators who died in 1954 will enter the public domain.)

  • Unpublished anonymous, pseudonymous, corporate works, or unpublished works for which the death date of the author is unknown, that will have been created 120 years ago in the new year.
    (In 2024, works created in 1904 will enter the public domain.)

 

See Copyright Assignment Guidelines for assistance or Copyright Term and the Public Domain for assistance.