How long does your copyright protection last?

Categories: Copyright, Copyright Protection

Ellis Sweetenham
May 23, 2025

In the United Kingdom, the duration of copyright protection varies depending on the type of work and its creation or publication date. Here’s an overview of the standard time limits

📚 Literary, Dramatic, Musical, and Artistic Works

Duration: 70 years after the death of the author.
If the work has multiple authors, the term lasts 70 years after the death of the last surviving author.

🎬 Films

Duration: 70 years after the death of the last of the following: principal director, screenplay author, dialogue author, or composer of original music.

🎵 Sound Recordings

Duration: 70 years from the date of first publication.

📻 Broadcasts

Duration: 50 years from the date of the first broadcast.

📖 Typographical Arrangements (Published Editions)

Duration: 25 years from the date of first publication.

🖼️ Anonymous or Pseudonymous Works

Duration: 70 years from the end of the year in which the work was made. If the author becomes known within that period, the standard term (70 years after the author’s death) applies.

🧠 Database Rights

Duration: 15 years from the date of creation. However, if substantial changes are made, the 15-year term resets from the date of the latest change.

📸 Photographs and Digital Images

Duration: Generally, 70 years after the death of the photographer. For digitised copies of older images, new copyright may arise only if significant creative effort is involved in the digitisation process.

If you would like further information on copyright protection, get in touch with the Lawdit team today.

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Written By:

Ellis Sweetenham

Ellis is a contentious and non-contentious intellectual property (IP) solicitor at Lawdit Solicitors. Ellis also is an the Director and an intellectual property law consultant at Lawdit’s sister company Trademarkroom. Ellis qualified as a solicitor in 2019, and over her qualified years has gained valuable experience in all contentious and non- contentious matters relating to trade marks, copyright, designs and patents. Ellis has represented clients in a variety of matters, including those relating to infringement, licensing, oppositions, cancellations, invalidations, assignment, portfolio management, pre-filing due diligence and registration. This includes matters before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, UK Intellectual Property Office, EU Intellectual Property Office and Word Intellectual Property Organisation. In addition to IP matters, Ellis is also experienced in other commercial law matters, including music law, defamation, data protection, civil litigation and commercial disputes. Ellis has built a reputation for being detail-focused and thorough, always available to provide clients with the highest level of client care. Ellis acts with the highest level of professionalism to ensure that her clients are well informed and their best interests are at the centre of all advice given and action taken. Ellis is a regular on the Lawdit Solicitors Mark Wing Podcast, and has written many legal articles, both for Lawdit and Trademarkroom’s reading room, as well as for external IP publications. Ellis is based in our Isle of Wight office.