If people uploads heaps of vintage (80s, 70s,90s) commercials into YouTube publicly, does that mean they own copyright or is it public domain automatically?

Question

What makes it okay for them to upload it without the original owners of them to not complain about them being uploaded?

In: Other

Answer 1

The original creators of the commercials still have copyright. For anything made after 1978, he copyright lasts for the entire life of the creator(s) plus 70 years. Things made by an anonymous author or made for a corporation last 95 years from its first publication, or 120 years from its creation, whichever comes first.

For things made between 1946 and 1978, it’s complicated

For things made between 1923 and 1946, it lasts 100 years.

Only after that period has elapsed does it belong to the public domain unless the copyright holder specifically gives it to the public domain.

The only thing stopping you from using it is if the copyright holder tries to stop you, but if they don’t, they don’t forfeit their copyright (like they would for a trademark)