An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion , which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(June 2025) |
When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform. The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain in 2038 under the most common copyright regimes.
Except for Belarus (Life + 50 years) [1] and Spain (which has a copyright term of Life + 80 years for creators that died before 1988), a work enters the public domain in Europe 70 years after the creator's death, if it was published during the creator's lifetime. [2] [3] In addition, several other countries have a limit of 70 years. The list is sorted alphabetically and includes a notable work of the creator.
In most countries of Africa and Asia, as well as Belarus, Bolivia, New Zealand, Egypt and Uruguay, a work enters the public domain 50 years after the creator's death.
Spain has a copyright term of life + 80 years for creators that died before 1988. [4] In Colombia and Equatorial Guinea, a work enters the public domain 80 years after the creator's death.
Under the Copyright Term Extension Act, books published in 1942, films released in 1942, and other works published in 1942 will enter the public domain in 2038. [5] Sound recordings published in 1937 and unpublished works whose authors died in 1967 will also enter the public domain.