{FAQ} How long do copyrights last?
Copyrights have a time limit. The duration of copyrights (economic rights) is the life of the author plus 70 years after the author’s death. If the work is a joint work with two or more authors, the duration lasts for 70 years after the last surviving author’s death.
After the time limit, the work is said to be “in the public domain” because the term of copyright protection has expired and the work no longer has its right owner. Once a work has been in the public domain, the general public can use or exploit the work without any authorization (permission) from the former right owner.
It should be noted that there are some exceptions to this basic duration of protection. For example, as for the duration of protection for a cinematographic work, the copyright lasts for 70 years after the cinematographic work is made public, and if the cinematographic work has not been made public within the 70 years of its creation, the copyright lasts for 70 years after the creation of the cinematographic work.
【For more information→】http://www.kls-law.org/