The law provides that in no case would the term of copyright for works in this category expire before December 31, 2002, and for works published on or before December 31, 2002, the term of copyright will not expire before December 31, 2047.note: Sound recordings are defined in the law as âworks that result from the fixation of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds, but not including the sounds accompanying a motion picture or other audiovisual work.â Common. Copyright Basics Â· 2. examples include recordings of music, drama, or lectures.