US Copyright Office Examines "Orphan Works" Issues

[Plaz]

@lempkee

If they use the music copyrights as an example, the copyright last for the life of the artist plus 70 years. Copyright Basics
If software is similar, none of use will care when the 1985 version of Elite for the C64 goes public domain in about 2105 :-)
But if they base it on the death date of the company instead of the author, you might cut a few years off and make it available in about 2060  :-P

Plaz
(Disclaimer, My dates are horribly poor estimates  and do not represent any thing useful  8-) )

[Plaz]

@Lemmink

The copyright office will take the poor orphaned titel in his arms give them a new home and you have to pay lizense fees to the copyright office.

They're only a record keeper and don't charge license fees. Now when the lawyers get involved, that's what will break the bank.  :-)

Plaz