Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

Overview
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (c. 48) (CDPA) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which received Royal Assent on November 15, 1988. It reformulated almost completely the statutory basis of copyright law (including performing rights) in the United Kingdom, which had, until then, been governed by the Copyright Act 1956 (c. 74). It also creates an unregistered design right, and contains a number of modifications to the law of the U.K. on Registered Designs and patents.

The 1988 Act and amendment establishes that copyright in most works lasts until 70 years after the death of the creator, if known, otherwise 70 years after the work was created or published (fifty years for computer-generated works).