They are not identical.

In the UK, as John said, copyright on "recordings" lasts 50 years from the date of recording. However, copyright on the "songs" lasts long after the death of the songwriter.

So whereas UK record labels can re-issue (without paying royalties to the recording act or the original label) any recording made prior to 1958, they still have to pay royalties to the songwriter.

In the USA, the situation is different, and somewhat complex.

Songs created after 1/1/1978 - life of the longest surviving author plus 70 years - earliest possible Public Domain date is 1/1/2048

Songs registered before 1/1/1978 - 95 years from the date copyright was secured.

Songs regsistered before 1/1/1923 - Copyright protection for 75 years has expired and these works are in the public domain.

The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act was signed into law on October 27, 1998.

Prior to the Sonny Bono 20 year copyright term extension, copyright protection for works registered before 1/1/1978 was 75 years; therefore, compositions registered in 1922 or earlier entered the public domain on 1/1/1998.

The 1998 copyright extension did not extend copyright protection from 75 to 95 years for songs already in the public domain so works published in the United States in 1922 or earlier are in the public domain even if they are not yet 95 years old.

No new works will enter the public domain until January 1, 2019.

Hope that helps.

• RE: Royalties - John 10/20/2008 09:50:52 EDT (1)