Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000

Chapter 3

Duration of Copyright

Duration of copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work or an original database.

24.—(1) The copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, or an original database shall expire 70 years after the death of the author, irrespective of the date on which the work is first lawfully made available to the public.

(2) The copyright in a work specified in subsection (1) which is anonymous or pseudonymous shall expire 70 years after the date on which the work is first lawfully made available to the public.

(3) In respect of an anonymous or pseudonymous work referred to in subsection (2)

(a) where the pseudonym adopted by the author leaves no doubt as to his or her identity,

(b) where the author discloses his or her identity, or

(c) where his or her identity becomes known during the 70 years from the date on which the work is first lawfully made available to the public,

the copyright in that work shall expire 70 years after the death of that author.