Are unpublished works copyrighted?

Legal analysis: works enjoy copyright as soon as they are produced, and the term of rights is 50 years after the author's death. However, if the work is not published within 50 years after the creation is completed, it will no longer be protected by copyright law. .

Legal basis: Copyright Law of People's Republic of China (PRC).

Article 2 Works of China citizens, legal persons or unincorporated entities, whether published or not, shall enjoy copyright in accordance with this Law.

Article 21 The protection period of citizens' rights of publication, use and remuneration is the author's life and fifty years after his death, ending on1February 3 1 day of the fiftieth year after his death; If it is a cooperative work, it ends on1February 3 1 day in the fiftieth year after the death of the last deceased author. The copyright (except the right of signature) enjoyed by a legal person or entity without legal personality works, legal persons or entities without legal personality shall be protected for fifty years, ending on1February 3 1 day in the fiftieth year after the first publication of the works. However, if the work is not published within 50 years after the creation is completed, this law will no longer protect it. The term of protection of the right to publish, the right to use and the right to receive remuneration for a film, television, video and photographic work is fifty years, ending on1February 3 1 day in the fiftieth year after the first publication of the work. However, if a work is not published within 50 years after the completion of the creation, this law will no longer protect it.