The correct answer is B. The life of the author plus 60 years.
Copyright is a legal right that protects original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works. The term of copyright protection for an author’s work is the life of the author plus 60 years. This means that the copyright in a work will last for the life of the author plus 60 years, even if the work is published or not.
For example, if an author dies in 2023, the copyright in their work will last until 2083. If the author publishes the work in 2020, the copyright will last until 2083.
There are a few exceptions to the general rule that copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 60 years. For example, if a work is created by an employee within the scope of their employment, the copyright will belong to the employer. Additionally, if a work is created by a government employee, the copyright will belong to the government.
Copyright protection is important because it allows authors to control how their work is used. For example, an author can decide whether to publish their work, who can use their work, and how their work can be used. Copyright protection also encourages authors to create new works by giving them the incentive to know that their work will be protected.
If you have any further questions about copyright, please feel free to ask.