expire

[Nami Nami]

I read the following on the Internet.

(1) "The contract between the two companies will expire at the end of the year."
Does it mean the contract is still valid up to 31 Dec, but will become invalid on 1 Jan the following year?

(2) "The contract between the two companies will expire in December 2010."
That means the contract is valid up to 30 November or 31 December?

(3) "The 1994 ban on assault weapons will expire on September 4, 2004."
That means the 1994 ban is valid up to 3 September or 4 September?

Thanks.

[Tukanja]

I read the following on the Internet.

(1) "The contract between the two companies will expire at the end of the year."
Does it mean the contract is still valid up to 31 Dec, but will become invalid on 1 Jan the following year? Yes it is.

(2) "The contract between the two companies will expire in December 2010."
That means the contract is valid up to 30 November or 31 December? We don't know when it is to expire exactly.On some day in the end of September. The sentence is wrong actually. Can not be used for such statements

(3) "The 1994 ban on assault weapons will expire on September 4, 2004."
That means the 1994 ban is valid up to 3 September or 4 September? Valid on the third September and not valid on the fourth September.

Thanks.

Not sure Nami Nami.