Guides
Understand the rule behind the answer
2026-09-11
What Canada's 2022 term extension changed
Canada moved to a general life plus 70-year term without reviving works that were already public domain.
Canada · term rules2026-09-11Composition versus recording, two clocks in every song
The written song and a recorded performance can have different owners, terms and public domain dates.
music · sound recordings2026-09-11How United States copyright terms actually work
Publication year, renewal, authorship and work type each change the term calculation.
United States · term rules2026-09-11Why 1 January matters for the public domain
Many copyright terms run through the end of a calendar year, making 1 January the practical release date.
public domain · dates