Copyright is a limited period right that is granted to the owner of a creative work. Once the period of the copyright eclipses, the work falls into the public domain, bringing an end to the rights of the owner.
These works, other than photographs, are valid for the entire lifetime of the author or creator and are valid for a period of 60 years from the year from which the author or creator dies.
During the period after the death of the author, the ownership of the work goes to the legal heirs.
For Example, The copyright for the musical compositions of all of AR Rahman’s songs are will be owned by him throughout his life and for 60 years from the year after his death.
The same principle goes for books, poems, paintings and other such works.
When these works are not published, performed, displayed to the public, or offered for sale, then the copyright of the work will be valid for 60 years from the year such a work was created.
Anonymous and pseudonymous publications are also treated in the same manner.
Unlike literary and artistic works, the term of these works is calculated from the year in which there were first published or broadcasted.
The copyright for these works is counted from 60 years after the year in which it was first published or aired.
For Example, The Story of Cinderella was created by Charles Perrault in 1697. Since his copyright has long expired, the work has fallen into the public domain. That is the reason that there are several derivatives of these works created by multiple people around the world without seeking permission from the original creator.
The same principle is applicable to works of international organisations and posthumous publications.
Section 25 of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 was amended to conform to the Standards of the Berne Convention. The Act was amended in 2010 to include the term of protection of copyrights of photographs – now, the protection of photographs extend for a period of 60 years following the year in which the photograph was first published.
Although Indian is part of the Berne Convention and must conform to its norms, the Article of the Berne Convention leave the term of the copyright to the discretion of domestic legislation of the nation, as long it conforms with the minimum requirements. International treaties serve as a mere guide for the domestic validity of the copyright in different countries.