How long does copyright last in unpublished works?
• Copyright in works of art lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years after their death; • Copyright in unpublished literary or dramatic works, regardless of the date of publication or how old they are, will last until 2039 (1988 Copyright Designs and Patent Act); • Copyright in unpublished works belonging to the Crown will last until 2039; • Copyright in anonymous unpublished art works will last until 2039; • If the author of any work died after 1969, copyright duration will depend upon when they died.
