| Temporal limitations mean the duration of a copyright. Originally the timely scope of copyright was limited to 14 years after publication and registration of a work, later with the possible renewal of the registration for another 14 years. The Copyright Act 1831 extended the duration to 28 years with a possible renewal of 14 years, the Copyright Act 1909 extended the renewal period to also 28 years. With the Copyright Act 1976 the entire copyright duration system was changed as publication or registration were no longer requirements for copyright protection. The duration for all works created after January 1st 1978 was subsequent 50 years after death of the author. Earlier published works had a copyright term of 28 years with a possible renewal of 67 years; this renewal was automatically made by the Copyright Renewal Act 1992. |
| The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act 1998tried to save the copyright protection especially for all popular contents (e.g. Mickey Mouse, music of George Gershwin) that are mainly created since 1923 for a longer period. (Note: Other initiatives demanded a duration of “forever minus a day” as Constitution forbids a copyright protection forever). |
