COPYRIGHT in the United States of America

COPYRIGHT in the United States of America

It had a very complex method of copyright before the 1st January 1978 after this date it became a lot easier both to register and its implementation. All work is copyrighted for 70 years after the death of its author of if the work is unknown or written under a pseudonym then the period is 95 years from its publishing or 120 from its creation, whichever is shorter.
Pre 1st January 1978 it was for 28 years from the date of registration but during the final year it can be re-registered and extended for 47 years. Further legislation in 1979 extended the term to 95 years.
A copyright can be bequeath by will, is the new owner able to extend its original term???

Berne Convention for the protection of Literary and Artistic Work

First came into being in 1886 before the Berne Convention national copyright usually applied to work created in each respective country. The UK signed up in 1887 but didn’t implement large parts of the convention ruling until 1988.
Most countries of the world belong to the (WIPO) World Intellectual Property Organisation. As of 2007 there are 163 member countries of the Berne Convention. Members require that all members of the organisation recognise the copyright of authors in their respective countries. Its states as its main guideline that, all works, except photographic and cinematographical work, shall be copyrighted for 50 years after the authors death. Photography is recommended to be for 25 from when the image was produced and Cinema work for 50 years after its first showing.
Not all member countries have adopted this as the norm.
The United States only became a member, in 1989

References: -
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1
Accessed 18/11/07
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berne_Convention_for_the_Protection_of_Literary_and_Artistic_Works
Accessed 18/11/07