The works of James Joyce are, however, in an unusual position following the harmonisation of the UK's copyright law in 1996. Until then, copyright existed during the author's life plus 50 years. Because Joyce died in 1941, copyright expired in 1991. In 1996, copyright was extended to last for the author' s life plus 70 years. The extension was retrospective, and so copyright in Joyce's works was revived.
Special rules exist for works with revived copyrights.
Anyone planning to exploit a work subject to copyright should take advice to avoid a claim of infringement.