Not all audio files are "sound recordings". Sounds accompanying a motion picture or other audiovisual work are not sound recordings under U.S. copyright law. Use this template's equivalent, {{PD-US-expired}}, for works that are not sound recordings.
Article 5: Ownership of works belongs to their authors during their lifetime and to their heirs or beneficiaries for a period of 70 years starting from January 1 of the year following the death of the author.
Article 5 prime: Ownership of performances fixed on recordings shall fall to the performers for a period of 70 years starting from January 1 of the year following publication. Likewise, ownership of the recordings shall fall to the producers of the recordings or their beneficiaries for the same period.
Article 36: The authors of literary, dramatic, and musical works enjoy the exclusive right to authorize:
Public performances of their works.
Public distribution through any means of the performance of their works.
Nevertheless, it will be licit, and exempt from the copyright payment established in Article 56, to perform literary or artistic works that have already been published in public performances organized by educational institutions in connection with their educational goals and curriculum, as long as the performance is not distributed outside of the location where it takes place, and as long as the performance is free of charge.
The performance of musical works in concerts, auditions and public performances by orchestras, bands, brass choirs, choirs, and other musical ensembles belonging to the national, provincial or municipal government will also enjoy the exemptions referred to in the previous paragraph, as long as public attendance to those performances is free of charge.
Note that a few countries have copyright terms longer than 70 years: Mexico has 100 years, Jamaica has 95 years, Colombia has 80 years, and Guatemala and Samoa have 75 years. This image may not be in the public domain in these countries, which moreover do not implement the rule of the shorter term. Honduras has a general copyright term of 75 years, but it does implement the rule of the shorter term. Copyright may extend on works created by French who died for France in World War II (more information), Russians who served in the Eastern Front of World War II (known as the Great Patriotic War in Russia) and posthumously rehabilitated victims of Soviet repressions (more information).
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