See our Copyright FAQ for more detailed information. This table provides the general rules for copyright in the following types of material:

  • Published Textual Material
  • Unpublished Textual Material
  • Maps and Plans
  • Photos
  • Films/Videos
  • Sound Recordings
Type of MaterialFirst Copyright HolderTerm of Copyright

The law specifies who the first owner of copyright is; however, that person or organization can enter into an agreement to assign the copyright to someone else

PamphletsAuthor, or employer if done in course of employmentLife of author + 50 years
Newspaper articles or clippings; Periodical articlesPublisher of the newspaper or periodical if the writer was an employee; Author if a freelance writer (unless there is an agreement transferring copyright to the publisher)Life of author + 50 years
Entire newspapersPublisherLife of author (likely the editor) + 50 years
Note: Although not based in law, some organizations have applied a 90-year rule to newspapers, so that newspapers more than 90 years old are considered to be in the public domain.
School yearbooksThe yearbook itself: the school
Items in the yearbook (e.g., photos, text, artwork): Most likely the author (but depends on the media type)
Life of author (likely the editor) + 50 years
Most likely life of author + 50 years (but depends on the media type)
Government Publications (federal or provincial)CrownFirst publication + 50 years
Unpublished records of an organization e.g., letters, memos, reports, etc.Organization if the author was one of its employees; otherwise the copyright holder is the author of each workLife of author + 50 years
Note: There is a complicated series of term rules for unpublished works whose authors died before 1999. Consult further sources.
Unpublished government records (federal and provincial) in all media typesCrownFirst publication + 50 years
Unpublished personal manuscripts e.g., letters, diaries, memoirsAuthorLife of author + 50 years
Note: There is a complicated series of term rules for unpublished works whose authors died before 1999. Consult further sources.
Scrapbooks; other multi-media works or compilations
Note: There are two “layers” of copyright in multi-media works or compilations (See What about compilations…?)
The scrapbook itself: Author (whoever selected and arranged the contents)
Items in the scrapbook: Depends on the media type
Life of author + 50 years
Items in the scrapbook: Depends on the media type
Dissertations, theses, essaysAuthorsLife of author + 50 years
Maps and plans (published or unpublished)Employer if the author was one of its employees; otherwise copyright holder is the authorLife of author + 50 years
Photographs (incl. postcards) taken before 1949 that are NOT Crown worksN/APublic Domain
Photographs taken between 1949 and 6 Nov. 2012, whose author was a personAuthor OR Employer if made in the course of employmentLife of author + 50 years
Photographs taken between 1949 and 1961 whose “author” was a corporation N/APublic Domain
Photographs taken between 1962 and 6 Nov. 2012 whose “author” was a corporation Author (defined as the owner of the initial negative at the time the negative was made)Life of human author (creator) + 50 years
Commissioned photographs (e.g., wedding pictures) ordered between 1949 and 6 Nov. 2012Person who ordered the photograph (e.g., the bride)Life of author + 50 years
All photographs taken after 6 Nov. 2012 AuthorLife of author + 50 years
Films or videosAuthor
Note: The Act does not specify who the “author” of a film or video is. Generally, the author is the person responsible for the intellectual or artistic content of a work; in the case of moving image materials it may be the director.
OR Employer if made in the course of employment
Life of author + 50 years
Note: There is a complicated series of term rules for unpublished works whose authors died before 1999, and other special rules for films or videos that do not have “original “character.” Consult further sources.
Sound recordings, i.e., any recording of sounds fixed in any material form (e.g., audiotapes, vinyl disks, CDs)Maker50 years after the sounds were first recorded
Oral HistoriesMaker (most likely the interviewer unless there is an agreement to the contrary)50 years after the interview was first recorded