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Term Of Copyright

The term of copyright varies according to the nature of the work and whether the author is a natural person or a legal person e.g. a Corporation, Government Institution, etc., or whether the work is anonymous or pseudonymous.

1. In the case of literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work (other than a photograph) when published during the lifetime of the author, copyright subsists during the lifetime of the author plus fifty years. This is a universally accepted term.

2. Where the work is of joint authorship the fifty years period will start after the death of the author who dies last.

3. In the case of anonymous or pseudonymous works the terms of copyright is until fifty years from the year of publication. If the identity of the author is disclosed before the expiry of the fifty years period the term will extend to fifty years after the death of the author.

4. In the case of posthumous publications the term will be fifty years from the year of publication.

5. The period of copyright for a photograph is fifty years from the year of its publication.

6. For cinematography film and record also the term is fifty years of publication.

7. Where the first owner of copyright is the government or a public undertaking the term of copyright is fifty years from the year of publication.

8. Copyright works of International Organization also have a term of fifty years from the year of publication.

Thus it may be seen that in the case of literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works where the author is a natural person the term is lifetime plus fifty years. In all other cases the term if fifty years from the years of publication.