How long does copyright last?
Answer
In Canada, copyright protection generally applies to a work for the life of the creator, plus 50 years.
In Europe and the United States, copyright protection generally lasts for the life of the creator, plus 70 years.
After the copyright expires, a work enters the Public Domain, although copyright protection may still apply to more recent editions, arrangements, or adaptations of the work. Be careful; not everything you find on the Internet is in the public domain just because it is publicly available.
For more information about duration of copyright protection in Canada see the Government of Canada's About Copyright and the Canadian Public Domain Flowchart (pdf).
