# died more than 90 years ago
**Wikidata**: [Q114827872](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114827872)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/died-more-than-90-years-ago

## Summary
"Died more than 90 years ago" is a heuristic used to determine copyright status of creators, specifically indicating that copyrights on their works have expired. This copyright determination applies when 90 years or more have passed since the author's death, and it operates in jurisdictions with 90 years post mortem auctoris (PMA) or shorter copyright terms.

## Key Facts
- Functions as a heuristic for determining copyright status of creators
- Constitutes a specific type of post mortem auctoris (after the death of the author) determination
- The cause is defined as "90 years after author's death"
- Results in the effect that "copyrights on works have expired"
- Applies specifically to countries with 90 years PMA or shorter copyright terms
- Has the characteristic of being "90 years or more after author(s) death"
- Is classified as different from "died more than 50 years ago," "died more than 70 years ago," and "died more than 100 years ago"

## FAQs
### Q: What does "died more than 90 years ago" determine in copyright law?
A: "Died more than 90 years ago" determines that copyrights on works by the creator have expired, making their works part of the public domain in jurisdictions with 90 years post mortem auctoris or shorter terms.

### Q: In which countries does the "died more than 90 years ago" copyright rule apply?
A: This copyright determination applies specifically to countries with 90 years PMA (post mortem auctoris) or shorter copyright terms, which includes many but not all jurisdictions worldwide.

### Q: How does "died more than 90 years ago" differ from other similar time-based copyright rules?
A: This specific heuristic is distinct from "died more than 50 years ago" and "died more than 70 years ago" rules, representing a longer copyright protection period. It's also different from "died more than 100 years ago" which represents an even longer posthumous copyright period in some jurisdictions.

## Why It Matters
"Died more than 90 years ago" represents a critical threshold in copyright law that determines when creative works enter the public domain. This determination enables greater access to cultural heritage, facilitating scholarship, education, and creative reuse of older works. By establishing a clear temporal boundary for copyright expiration, this heuristic provides legal certainty for publishers, researchers, and the public. The 90-year standard balances the interests of creators' estates with the public's right to access cultural materials, though it varies by jurisdiction and continues to evolve in the digital age where preservation and access issues take on new dimensions.

## Notable For
- Serves as a definitive threshold for copyright expiration in numerous jurisdictions
- Represents a balance between protecting creator legacies and enabling public access to cultural works
- Functions as a key component in digital library and archive collection development policies
- Establishes a temporal boundary for works entering the public domain in many legal systems
- Differentiates itself from shorter (50 or 70 years) and longer (100+ years) posthumous copyright periods

## Body
### Nature and Purpose
"Died more than 90 years ago" functions as a temporal heuristic in copyright law, specifically designed to determine when works enter the public domain. This criterion is particularly relevant for literary, artistic, musical, and other creative works whose copyright protection is measured from the date of the creator's death.

### Legal Framework
The heuristic operates within the framework of post mortem auctoris (PMA) copyright terms, which extend protection for a defined period after an author's death. In jurisdictions adopting the 90-year standard, works by authors who died more than 90 years ago generally have their copyright expire, transitioning into the public domain where they can be freely used, distributed, and adapted without permission or payment.

### Jurisdictional Application
This copyright determination applies specifically to countries with 90 years PMA or shorter terms. It does not apply in jurisdictions with longer copyright terms (such as life plus 100 years in some countries), where works may remain protected even if the author died more than 90 years ago.

### Relationship to Other Copyright Terms
The "died more than 90 years ago" heuristic forms part of a spectrum of temporal copyright determinations, including "died more than 50 years ago," "died more than 70 years ago," and "died more than 100 years ago." Each represents a different threshold for copyright expiration, with the 90-year mark representing a relatively longer protection period compared to some jurisdictions but shorter than others.

### Practical Implications
Works determined to be "died more than 90 years ago" become valuable resources for researchers, educators, and cultural institutions. These works can be digitized, republished, and incorporated into new creative works without the complexities and costs associated with negotiating permissions with copyright holders or estates. This heuristic thus facilitates the preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage while acknowledging the legitimate interests of creators and their descendants in controlling the commercial exploitation of their works during the protection period.