Generally, the period of copyright protection lasts until 50 years after the work’s creator passes away. However, there are some minor differences to this general rule depending on the type of work. Nevertheless, your copyright will expire on the 31st of December of the last calendar year of the period of protection.
Specific duration of copyright protection
According to sections 17-21 of the Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528), the specific periods of protection for the nine protected categories of work are as follows:
- Literary works: The author’s life span plus 50 years.
- Artistic works: The author’s life span plus 50 years.
- Musical works: The author’s life span plus 50 years.
- Dramatic works: The author’s life span plus 50 years.
- Films: The life span of the last survivor of certain designated persons (i.e. the screenplay’s author, the dialogue’s author, the principal director or the music’s composer) plus 50 years.
- Broadcasts: It lasts 50 years from the date of the first broadcast.
- Sound recordings: It generally lasts 50 years from the date of making. However, if the sound recording is later released, the copyright will last 50 years from the date of release.
- Cable programmes: It lasts 50 years from the first inclusion in a cable programme service.
- Typographical arrangements of published editions: It lasts 25 years from the date of the first publication of the edition.