EU — Compositions (life + 70)
Johnny Cash (1932–2003) → public domain for compositions on Jan 1, 2074 in EU.
Rule: life of the author + 70 years; PD on Jan 1 following expiry.
How long until the Man in Black is public domain?
This page tracks countdowns for compositions and sound recordings in the U.S. and EU. It also includes calculators for specific publication years.
Not legal advice. Dates reflect general statutory rules. Individual works can differ due to publication history, renewals, and other factors.
Fixed-countdown tiles
U.S. — Compositions (unpublished / created post‑1977)
For Johnny Cash, unpublished works follow life + 70 → Jan 1, 2074.
Rule: life + 70 (for works created 1978+ or unpublished pre‑1978).
U.S. — Compositions published pre‑1978 (example: 1956)
Pre‑1978 published musical works: 95 years from publication.
Example shown: 1956 publication → PD Jan 1, 2052 (assuming proper formalities).
Calculators
Calculator — U.S. Compositions published pre‑1978
Enter the original U.S. publication year for a composition. The PD date is 95 years from publication, showing Jan 1 of that year.
Calculator — EU Sound Recordings
For released recordings, the EU term is generally 70 years from publication. Enter the release year.
Calculator — U.S. Sound Recordings
This follows the U.S. Music Modernization Act schedules:
- 1923–1946: 100 years from publication (Jan 1 of that year)
- 1947–1956: 110 years from publication (Jan 1 of that year)
- 1957–1972: protected until Feb 15, 2067
- 1972+: generally 95 years from publication (Jan 1 of that year)
Notes
These countdowns assume standard cases and recognized rules. Actual status can vary with renewal history, publication details, restorations, and country‑specific nuances. For specific uses, talk to an IP lawyer.