A question on IP and copyrights

[javelin98]

Do we have any lawyers in the house? When do an author's intellectual property rights or copyrights expire? I believe someone once told me it was 90+ years, so that anything published in the 1800's and before is now public domain, but I'm not entirely clear on what the law is here.

Thanks!
Andreas/javelin98

 

[Stewart]

70 years after the death of the author.

 

[javelin98]

Thanks. So, it's really open at that point to any use, then? How would I find out if someone has subsequently bought the rights to it, or is that even possible?

 

[igkuk7]

On copyright, I seem to remember something about the copyright on Mickey Mouse being up soon, so then everyone and anyone can make a Mickey Mouse cartoon.

 

[Ashlea]

the copyright laws are readily available on the web, it's different for different mediums so it would be best to consult the source.