Anonymous creative work is protected by copyright laws, and the copyright reverts to the creator if their identity is disclosed while the copyright is still in effect. Anonymous works can be truly unknown or simply undisclosed, and old works may be considered anonymous due to lost information. People may choose to produce anonymous work due to concerns about personal safety or social standing. Copyright laws can be frustrating when it comes to reproducing anonymous work.
Anonymous work is creative work produced by an unknown person. There are a variety of reasons a creator’s identity may be hidden, ranging from security concerns to the obscurity of time. Such works are protected by applicable copyright laws, and if the creator is disclosed while the copyright is still in effect, the copyright will revert to the creator. In the United States, for example, anonymous works are protected by copyright for 120 years from the date of creation or 95 years from the date of first publication, whichever has an earlier expiration date.
The creators can be truly unknown or simply undisclosed. Sometimes publishers work with people who wish to remain anonymous and publish the work anonymously, while remaining aware of the identity of the creator. The published piece is considered an anonymous work because the creator’s name is not made available to members of the public, and steps are taken to ensure concealment, such as destroying or protecting documents with the creator’s name and identifying information about them .
It is not uncommon for very old pieces of creative work to be considered anonymous because the creator’s name has been lost over time. Fragments of poetry, unsigned artwork, and works published under pseudonyms may have had creators known to the public at the time, but the information has not been successfully passed on through the ages. This is also the case with pooled photos, a common practice in the 20th century which has sometimes led to confusion over the photographers’ identities; some very iconic photographic works are attributed to anonymous photographers.
People may choose to produce an anonymous work because they are concerned about the impact the work might have on their social standing or personal safety. Expositions are often published anonymously or under assumed names, as revealing the author’s name could provide insight into sources or expose the author to risk, especially for people writing in repressive countries. In these cases it is the responsibility of the publisher to actually check the anonymous work and confirm as much as possible the validity of the information.
The application of copyright laws to anonymous work can sometimes be a source of frustration. Legally, such works may not be reproduced without the consent of the creator or an authorized agent. If a piece has been published, it may be possible to obtain permission for reproduction from the publisher, if the publisher is authorized to act as an agent. Otherwise, legally, people have to wait for the copyright term to expire.
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