[growingkittens]

I think you misunderstand what I mean by originator: the actual creator of the work. There are no large or small originators because an originator can only be an individual.

If a company or different individual hires someone to create work for them, the work would transfer from the originator to the company or individual, thus putting it on the faster track automatically.

[piaste]

So, if I create art and sell it online directly to customer, I get the longer protection, but once I register as a one-person LLC, my copyright becomes shorter? Or am I still the originator, and it only shortens once I hire another person? Or do I keep the longer protection as long as the company is 100% originator-owned, and only lose it after someone else buys a share?

[growingkittens]

Originator sells online to customer without transferring copyright: originator gets the longest protection.

Originator sells online to customer and transfers copyright: shorter protection applies, since the originator no longer owns it.

Originator transfers work to LLC: shorter protection applies. You gain LLC benefits for a shorter copyright term.