How long does US recording copyright last from release?

How long does US recording copyright last from release?

• A. 70 years from release.
• B. Life of the songwriter plus 70 years.
• C. 95 years from release.
• D. 120 years from creation.

Answer: (C)

US sound recordings have a separate copyright term from the underlying song, and for classic recordings released before 1972, the term is 95 years from publication. The Sonny Bono Act extended those pre-1972 recordings to this fixed 95-year term, counted from their initial release. So, a recording released in that era stays under copyright for 95 years from its publication date, not for the life of the creator or a fixed 70-year span after release. The other options don’t fit this scenario: 70 years from release isn’t the standard term for these classic recordings; the copyright in the underlying musical work (the composition) follows different rules, like life of the author plus 70 years, which is about the song rather than the recording; and 120 years from creation isn’t how these pre-1972 sound recordings are billed.

US sound recordings have a separate copyright term from the underlying song, and for classic recordings released before 1972, the term is 95 years from publication. The Sonny Bono Act extended those pre-1972 recordings to this fixed 95-year term, counted from their initial release. So, a recording released in that era stays under copyright for 95 years from its publication date, not for the life of the creator or a fixed 70-year span after release.

The other options don’t fit this scenario: 70 years from release isn’t the standard term for these classic recordings; the copyright in the underlying musical work (the composition) follows different rules, like life of the author plus 70 years, which is about the song rather than the recording; and 120 years from creation isn’t how these pre-1972 sound recordings are billed.