When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform. The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain in 2031 under the most common copyright regimes, assuming no further extensions to copyright terms become law in the interim.
Countries with life + 70 years
Except for Belarus (Life + 50 years) and Spain (which has a copyright term of Life + 80 years for creators that died before 1988), a work enters the public domain in Europe 70 years after the creator's death, if it was published during the creator's lifetime. In addition, several other countries have a limit of 70 years. The list is sorted alphabetically and includes a notable work of the creator.
NamesCountryDeathOccupationNotable work Chris van Abkoude Writer, Novelist Pietje Bell Vai. Mu. Kothainayaki Ammal NovelistLady Cynthia AsquithAuthor and editorThis Mortal Coil Rajshekhar Basu Chemist Eric Temple BellMathematician and science fiction writer Albert Camus Philosopher, author The Stranger A. Chakravarti Professor Indira Devi Chaudhurani Musician Sudhindranath Dutta Poet, journalist Victor Rousseau EmanuelAuthorJohn Russell FearnAuthor M. Raghava Iyengar 1960 Literary scholar Albert Kesselring General Soldat bis zum letzten Tag Jigar Moradabadi Poet Yeh Hai Maikada Bal Krishna Sharma Naveen Poet, journalist, activist Elsie J. Oxenham Children's novelist Abbey Series of books Boris Pasternak Poet, author Doctor ZhivagoEden PhillpottsAuthor, poet and dramatistThe Farmer's Wife Kesari Balakrishna Pillai Literary critic, journalist Kesari Nathuram Premi Poet, publisher Navaratna Rama Rao 1960 Political leader, scholar Sushila Samad Poet, journalist Sripada Krishnamurty Sastry Poet Mahamahopadhyaya Kshitimohan Sen Professor Acharya Chatursen Shastri Writer Dharamputra Krishnalal Shridharani Poet, playwright Nevil Shute Aeronautical engineer, novelist On the Beach Victor Sjöström Film director, actor The Phantom Carriage C. J. Thomas Playwright, academic, artist Dadasaheb Torne Film director Shree Pundalik Ethel Voynich Novelist The Gadfly
Countries with life + 60 years
In Bangladesh, India, and Venezuela a work enters the public domain 60 years after the creator's death.
NamesCountryDeathOccupationNotable work Abdul Hosein Amini Theologian Al-GhadirRita Angus 25 January 1970PainterCass Shmuel Yosef Agnon Writer The Bridal Canopy Fernando Arbello Musician Otto Baecker Cinematographer GoldArchibald Baxter 10 August 1970Socialist, pacifistWe Will Not Cease William Beaudine Film director, actor Boys Will Be Boys George Blair Film Director R. V. C. Bodley Army officer, author Algeria From Within Louise Bogan Poet Body of This Death Vera Brittain Writer Testament of Youth William J. Brown Architect Mohamed Fadhel Ben Achour Theologian WorksDulce Carman 1970AuthorNeath the Maori Moon Rudolf Carnap Philosopher Der Logische Aufbau der Welt Choe Hyeon-bae 23 March 1970 Educationalist Selected publications Poet Works Charles Cotton 29 June 1970 Geologist Geomorphology of New Zealand Mohamed Abdelaziz Djaït Theologian Works William Dobell Artist Mr Joshua SmithGuy EndoreAuthor, screenwriterThe Werewolf of Paris E. M. Forster Writer Works Babbis Friis-Baastad Children's writer Ikke ta Bamse Erle Stanley Gardner Author, lawyer Perry Mason series of books Maurice Gemayel Politician Tripoli and Decentralization L. Wolfe Gilbert Songwriter Down Yonder Rube Goldberg Cartoonist, News reporter, Sculptor, Engineer John Gunther Author Death Be Not Proud Muhsin al-Hakim 1970 Theologian Minhaj as-Saleheen Alice Hamilton Physician, research scientist Industrial Poisons in the United States Lawren Harris Painter Marlen Haushofer Writer Erich Heckel Artist Roquairol Jimi Hendrix Musician, singer-songwriter "Purple Haze" Roman Ingarden Philosopher The Literary Work of Art Michał Kalecki Economist Próba teorii koniunktury William Archibald Mackintosh Economist Economic Problems Of The Prairie Provinces Leopoldo Marechal Writer Adam Buenosayres François Mauriac Writer Thérèse DesqueyrouxBruce McLaren 2 June 1970Racing car driverBruce McLaren: From the Cockpit Yukio Mishima Novelist, playwright, poet, writer, essayist, critic Works Gamal Abdel Nasser Politician Philosophy of Revolution Charles Olson Poet Works John Dos Passos Novelist U.S.A. trilogy Waldo Peirce Painter Legends of the Hudson Vladimir Propp Folklorist Morphology of the Tale Alf Prøysen Musician, Writer, Composer Works Erich Maria Remarque Novelist All Quiet on the Western Front Ali Riahi Musician Gonzalo Roig Composer Cecilia ValdésMark Rothko 25 February 1970Abstract painterBlack on Maroon Bertrand Russell Philosopher, mathematician Principia Mathematica Nelly Sachs Poet, Writer Works Ruth Sawyer Writer Roller Skates Slim Harpo Blues Musician I'm a King Bee William Stewart Wallace Historian Encyclopedia of Canada Hassan Taqizadeh Politician Old Iranian Calendars Sophie Treadwell Playwright Machinal Jacob Viner Economist Works Otto Heinrich Warburg Physiologist The Metabolism of TumoursLeonard Wild 23 July 1970Agricultural scientist, writerAn Experiment in Self-government, Soils and Manures in New Zealand Harry M. Woods Songwriter When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)Abraham Zapruder 30 August 1970Clothing manufacturerZapruder film Mahmoud Zulfikar DirectorFilmography
Countries with life + 50 years In most countries of Africa and Asia, as well as Belarus, Bolivia, New Zealand, Egypt and Uruguay, a work enters the public domain 50 years after the creator's death.
NamesCountryDeathOccupationNotable work Joy Adamson Conservationist, writer Born Free Todhunter Ballard Genre novelist Roland Barthes Literary theorist Mythologies, "The Death of the Author" Patrick Campbell, 3rd Baron Glenavy Journalist, humorist Alejo Carpentier Novelist, writer The Kingdom of this World Amy Clarke Mystical poet Margaret Cole Political writer, biographer, activist John Collier Short story writer Marc Connelly Playwright Sam Cree Playwright Gareth Evans Philosopher George Sutherland Fraser Poet, critic Romain Gary Novelist Les Racines du ciel, La Vie devant soi Jacky Gillott Novelist Salvator Gotta Writer Traian Herseni Social scientist, journalist Alfred Hitchcock Film director Filmography P. M. Hubbard Crime writer Idris Jamma' Poet John Lennon Musician, songwriter, author Discography Olivia Manning Novelist, poet Fortunes of War Marshall McLuhan Philosopher Works Carey McWilliams Author, editor, lawyer David Mercer Dramatist Henry Miller Novelist Works Vinicius de Moraes Poet, songwriter Katherine Anne Porter Novelist, essayist Marin Preda Novelist Moromeții, Cel mai iubit dintre pământeni Caradog Prichard Poet, novelist Un Nos Ola Leuad Barbara Pym Novelist Irene Rathbone Novelist Mart Raud Poet, playwright, writer Nelson Rodrigues Playwright, journalist, novelist Jean-Paul Sartre Philosopher, novelist, dramatist Nichita Smochină Ethnographer, journalist C. P. Snow Novelist, scientist Strangers and Brothers, The Two Cultures Eugeniu Ștefănescu-Est Poet, novelist, cartoonist Ben Travers Playwright, screenwriter, novelist Kenneth Tynan Theater critic Marie Under Poet James Wright Poet The Branch Will Not Break
Countries with life + 80 years
Spain has a copyright term of life + 80 years for creators that died before 1988. In Colombia and Equatorial Guinea, a work enters the public domain 80 years after the creator's death.