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Copyright term calculator
Find out when a work enters the public domain in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada or the Netherlands.
The main rules, by country
| USA | UK | Canada | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual author | Life + 70 (works from 1978) | Life + 70 | Life + 70 if the author died in 1972 or later | Life + 70 |
| Older published works | Published 1930 or earlier: public domain. 1931–1977: 95 years from publication | Measured by the author’s life | ||
| Anonymous works | 95 years from publication or 120 from creation, whichever is shorter | 70 years from publication | 75 years from publication (or 100 from creation) | 70 years from publication |
| Sound recordings | Pre-1923 public domain; 1923–1946: 100 years; 1947–1956: 110 years; pre-1972: until Feb 15, 2067 | 70 years from publication | ||
Terms run to the end of the calendar year, so works enter the public domain on January 1. On January 1, 2026, U.S. works published in 1930 and sound recordings from 1925 entered the public domain, and in life + 70 countries, works by authors who died in 1955.
Common questions
How long does copyright last?
In the USA, UK, Canada and the Netherlands, usually the author’s life plus 70 years. The USA has special rules for works published before 1978.
What entered the U.S. public domain in 2026?
Works published in 1930 and sound recordings from 1925, including books such as The Maltese Falcon and As I Lay Dying.
Did Canada change its copyright term?
Yes. On December 30, 2022 Canada moved from life + 50 to life + 70, but not retroactively: works by authors who died in 1971 or earlier remain in the public domain.
Is a public domain work free to use everywhere?
No. A work can be public domain in one country and protected in another. Check each country where you will use it.
Keep going
Services
- DMCA takedown serviceComplete § 512(c)(3) notices, host escalation and a report of every URL.
By country
- UK takedownsRemoving copied content from UK hosts and platforms.
- Canada takedownsNotice and notice, and how Canadians still get content removed.
- Netherlands takedownsDSA notices and Dutch hosts: removing infringing content in the Netherlands.
Free tools
- Fair use checkerFair use and fair dealing, by country.
- Copyright notice generatorThe © line for your website footer.
Guides
- What is the DMCA? Complete guideNotices, counter-notices, safe harbor and what changed in 2026.