On a Facebook group, I asked when the copyright protection on Lewis’ works set to expire in the USA. I had already come across the Canadian Gutenberg project, so I knew it had expired in Canada, but had heard conflicting reports regarding the United States.
Probably the most definitive-sounding answer came from a post on Quora:
The depressing truth: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe isn’t scheduled to enter the public domain in the US until 2045. The rest of the books will come later, based on their publication dates.
Some mistakenly believe the Narnia books are already in the US public domain since they’re available to adapt in Canada now, and can be read for free on Canada’s version of Project Gutenberg.
However, the books are not available on the US version of Project Gutenberg, and the laws defining the public domain in Canada and the US do not always align.
Some also wrongly believe that the books will enter the worldwide public domain in 2033, the year they become public property in the United Kingdom. This is an understandable assumption; US law, in many cases, says that books will enter the public domain seventy years after the death of their author, and Lewis died in 1963 (1963 + 70 = 2033)—and how could the US possibly hold onto the books longer than their country of origin?
However, this site (maintained by Cornell University) is both conclusive and clear. It says that for works first published outside the US that were: (a) Published between 1925 and 1977 and (b) Published in compliance with all US formalities (i.e., notice, renewal) that copyright holds until 95 years after the publication date.
Stephanie Ann Foster, M.F.A. from Hollins University
She then offers some calculations for the Narnian Chronicles:
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950 + 95 years =) 2045
Prince Caspian (1951 + 95 years =) 2046
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952 + 95 years =) 2047
The Silver Chair (1953 + 95 years =) 2048
The Horse and His Boy (1954 + 95 years =) 2049
The Magician’s Nephew (1955 + 95 years =) 2050
The Last Battle (1956 + 95 years =) 2051
She notes at the end an additional complication:
I’ll twist the dagger deeper and tell you that Narnia has also been trademarked. Trademarks can be renewed indefinitely, so instead of going any further with this, I’ll just join you all in shedding some tears in my Turkish delight.
Stephanie Ann Foster, M.F.A. from Hollins University
Speaking personally, I have a few projects I’d like to do with Lewis’ works before I shuffle off this mortal coil, and they will most likely require the copyright to have expired. I guess I’d better eat a salad and get back on the Peloton to make sure I live that long!
