Duration of copyright protection 

The protection period determines for how long copyright is valid. Once this period has expired, the work can be freely used without permission. This is sometimes referred to as being ‘in the public domain’. 

In Ireland works are generally protected for the creator’s lifetime plus 70 years after the end of the year of the creator’s death.  

In the case of works with multiple creators, i.e. a joint work, the protection period is counted from the end of the year of death of the last surviving creator.  

The protection period for films is calculated from the end of the year of death of the last surviving main director, screenwriter, script writer, or composer of the film music. 

The protection period for related rights is usually 50 years and starts from the time when the object of related rights protection comes into existence.  

[CRRA Sec. 24-36]