The following copyright duration periods are for material published, or with existing copyright, on or after the date that the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement came into effect (i.e. 1 January 2005). For fuller details of materials pre and post the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement see the Australian Copyright Council factsheet entitled 'Duration of Copyright'.

Published literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works other than photographs

Copyright lasts until the end of the calendar year the author dies plus a further 70 years [Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) s 33(2)].

Computer programs and artistic works (other than photographs and engravings)

Copyright lasts for 70 years from the death of the author.

Literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works published anonymously or under a pseudonym where the identity of the author cannot be determined by reasonable enquiry

Copyright lasts for 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was first published [s 34].

Photographs

Copyright lasts for 70 years from the death of the creator.

Sound recordings and films

Copyright lasts for 70 years from the end of the calendar year of first publication [ss 93, 94].

Television or sound broadcasts

Copyright lasts for 50 years from the year in which the broadcast was made [s 95].

Published editions

Copyright lasts for 25 years from the end of the year of first publication [s 96].

Material published by government

Copyright generally lasts for 50 years from the year in which the material was first published [ss 180, 181].

Literary, dramatic or musical works, or engravings that are unpublished before the author’s death

Copyright lasts for 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work is first published, performed in public, broadcast or offered for sale [ss 33(3) and (5)]. However, if they remain unpublished copyright continues indefinitely.