Final answer:
The original copyright act in the U.S. was established in 1790, with a term of 14 years, renewable once for another 14 years. Current copyright term is the life of the author plus 70 years.
Step-by-step explanation:
The original copyright act was established in the United States with the Copyright Act of 1790. Its term of copyright protection was initially 14 years, with an option to renew for another 14, making a total of 28 years. However, copyright laws have evolved significantly since then. The current term, for works created on or after January 1, 1978, lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. For joint works, the term is 70 years after the last surviving author's death. In the case of works made for hire, and anonymous or pseudonymous works, the duration of copyright is 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.