US copyright duration depends on when a work was published, who authored it, and sometimes whether old formalities were observed. This calculator applies the main duration rules to tell you whether a work is in the public domain today and, if not, roughly when its copyright is expected to expire.
The three rule sets in US copyright
US copyright law changed substantially in 1978 when the Copyright Act took effect, and again in 1998 with the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act. The duration rules therefore depend heavily on when a work was created or published.
Works published before 1929 (as of 2026)
The rolling public-domain cutoff advances one year every 1 January. As of 2026, anything published in 1929 or earlier is in the public domain in the United States. In 2027 that cutoff will move to 1930. You can freely reproduce, adapt, or build upon these works without permission.
Works published 1929–1977
This is the most complex period. Copyright for works published between 1929 and 1963 required an initial registration and then a timely renewal in the 28th year. Many works were never renewed — estimates suggest fewer than half of eligible works from the 1930s–1950s were actually renewed. This tool flags the uncertainty so you know to verify in the US Copyright Office’s renewal records before relying on a work being free.
Works published 1964–1977 had automatic renewal under a 1992 amendment, so most are still protected if they cleared the 28-year initial term.
Works created on or after 1 January 1978
Two rules apply depending on authorship:
- Known individual author: life of the author plus 70 years. For joint works, 70 years after the last surviving co-author’s death.
- Work made for hire / anonymous / pseudonymous: 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first.
How it works
The tool branches on work type and dates. The key rules it applies are:
published in (current year − 95) or earlier → public domain
known author, created 1978+ → death year + 70
work made for hire / anonymous → publication year + 95
published 1929–1977 → depends on renewal (flagged)As of 2026 the rolling public-domain cutoff is 1929: anything published that year or before is free to use. The cutoff moves forward one year each January 1.
Example and tips
A novel by an author who died in 1960 and that was first published in 1955 entered the public domain only if its copyright lapsed under old formalities. If the copyright was properly renewed, the life-plus-70 rule means it remains protected until the end of 2030 (1960 + 70 = 2030). By contrast, a corporate work-made-for-hire film published in 1928 is already public domain because it predates the 95-year rolling cutoff as of 2026.
A song written by a songwriter who died in 1980 and released in 1975 falls in the tricky mid-century window: check for renewal records if it matters, but if no renewal was filed, it may already be free.
When a work falls in the 1929–1977 window, always check the Copyright Office’s renewal records before treating it as free — many, but not all, were never renewed. The tool gives an estimate; for anything you intend to publish or commercially exploit, consult the Copyright Office catalogue or an intellectual property attorney.