The short answer
The UK, EU and Australia use life plus 70 years. Canada moved from life plus 50 to life plus 70 at the end of 2022, but not retroactively, so works by authors who died in 1971 or earlier are free there. New Zealand still uses life plus 50. The US counts older works from publication: anything published before 1931 is free.
| Territory | Rule for books | Free today if |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Life plus 70 | The author died in 1955 or earlier |
| European Union | Life plus 70 | The author died in 1955 or earlier |
| United States | From publication for older works | First published in 1930 or earlier, or 1931 to 1963 without renewal |
| Canada | Life plus 70 since 30 December 2022 | The author died in 1971 or earlier |
| Australia | Life plus 70 | The author died in 1954 or earlier |
| New Zealand | Life plus 50 | The author died in 1975 or earlier |
The final column is as of 2026. Each 1 January another year joins the public domain in each territory.
Canada: a change that did not reach back
Canada extended its term from life plus 50 to life plus 70 on 30 December 2022. The change did not revive copyrights that had already expired, so authors who died in 1971 or earlier are in the Canadian public domain, while those who died from 1972 onwards now get 70 years.
Australia: 1955 is the line
Australia moved to life plus 70 in 2005 without reviving expired works. Authors who died before 1955 are free; those who died from 1955 get the full 70 years. Australia has separate rules for unpublished works, so check those individually.
New Zealand: still life plus 50
New Zealand's term is the life of the author plus 50 years, which puts many works into its public domain twenty years before the UK. New Zealand has agreed in its trade agreement with the UK to move to life plus 70 in future; until its law changes, the shorter term applies.
Why this matters for a production
A film is financed and sold territory by territory. A property that is free in Canada and New Zealand but protected in the UK and US may still need a licence for your main markets. Plan the rights for every territory you intend to sell into, not just the one you are in.
Questions
Canada used life plus 50 until the end of 2022 and did not revive works that had already expired, so authors who died in 1971 or earlier are free there while the UK still protects many of them.
The author's life plus 50 years. New Zealand has agreed to move to life plus 70 in future, but until its law changes the 50-year term applies.
Not safely. You need the rights, or public domain status, in each territory where the film will be shown or sold.