For how long does a copyright typically last?

The duration of copyright protection is typically defined as the life of the author plus an additional 70 years. This means that once the creator of a work passes away, their copyright remains in effect for another 70 years, allowing their heirs or beneficiaries to control the use and distribution of the work during that time. This length of protection encourages the creation of original works by ensuring that authors and their families can benefit financially from their creations for a considerable period.

In cases where a work is made for hire or if the author is an anonymous or pseudonymous creator, copyright can last for 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter. Nonetheless, the general rule of life plus 70 years applies to most individual authors and their original works, making this the standard duration recognized by copyright law in many jurisdictions.