If an author dies more than seventy years ago and a previously unpublished work is published before December 31, 2002, how long will the copyright last?

The rationale behind copyright durations for works is often based on the life of the author and subsequent terms of protection that can apply. In this case, when an author dies, their works are typically protected for a specific period of time following their death.

For the scenario presented, if an author died more than seventy years ago, his or her works would fall under copyright laws that address published works. Since the work was unpublished before the author’s death and is being published after, the copyright lasts for the duration of the author's life plus 70 years. Given that the work was published before December 31, 2002, the length of protection would extend to December 31, 2047, which is 70 years after the author’s death if they died before 1932. This timing adheres to the standard copyright duration established by relevant laws that consider factors such as the publication date and the author's lifespan. Thus, the correct answer reflects that the copyright will last until December 31, 2047, taking into account the specific details regarding both the author's death and the publication date of the work.