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Copyright Law of the United States of AmericaLibrary of Congress. Copyright Office

Copyright Law of the United States of America

by OpenStories

Original author: Library of Congress. Copyright Office

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"Copyright Law of the United States of America" is a federal legal framework originating in 1789. This system governs when creative works—from novels to paintings to sound recordings—enter the public domain. Through successive Congressional acts from 1790 to 1998, copyright terms have been repeatedly extended, creating a complex timeline that determines which works remain protected and which belong freely to the public. The law shapes what cultural treasures Americans can access without restriction.

Copyright Law of the United States of America, by Library of Congress. Copyright Office. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #252.

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74 Chapters

  1. 1.Section 101: Definitions1,611 words
  2. 2.Section 102: Subject matter of copyright: In general134 words
  3. 3.Section 103: Subject matter of copyright: Compilations and derivative114 words
  4. 4.Section 104: Subject matter of copyright: National origin303 words
  5. 5.Section 106: Exclusive rights in copyrighted works128 words
  6. 6.Section 107: Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use141 words
  7. 7.Section 108: Limitations on exclusive rights: Reproduction by1,098 words
  8. 8.Section 109: Limitations on exclusive rights: Effect of transfer of391 words
  9. 9.Section 110: Limitations on exclusive rights: Exemption of certain1,006 words
  10. 10.Section 111: Limitations on exclusive rights: Secondary transmissions4,125 words
  11. 11.Section 112: Limitations on exclusive rights: Ephemeral recordings672 words
  12. 12.Section 113: Scope of exclusive rights in pictorial, graphic, and194 words
  13. 13.Section 114: Scope of exclusive rights in sound recordings399 words
  14. 14.Section 115: Scope of exclusive rights in nondramatic musical works982 words
  15. 15.Section 116: Scope of exclusive rights in nondramatic musical works1,508 words
  16. 16.Section 117: Limitations on exclusive rights: Computer programs164 words
  17. 17.Section 118: Scope of exclusive rights: Use of certain works in1,170 words
  18. 18.Section 201: Ownership of copyright364 words
  19. 19.Section 202: Ownership of copyright as distinct from ownership of92 words
  20. 20.Section 203: Termination of transfers and licenses granted by the1,014 words
  21. 21.Section 204: Execution of transfers of copyright ownership142 words
  22. 22.Section 205: Recordation of transfers and other documents410 words
  23. 23.Chapter 3: DURATION OF COPYRIGHT. Analysis41 words
  24. 24.Section 301: Preemption with respect to other laws309 words
  25. 25.Section 302: Duration of copyright: Works created on or after January554 words
  26. 26.Section 303: Duration of copyright: Works created but not published or77 words
  27. 27.Section 304: Duration of copyright: Subsisting copyrights1,614 words
  28. 28.Chapter 4: COPYRIGHT NOTICE, DEPOSIT, AND REGISTRATION. Analysis81 words
  29. 29.Section 401: Notice of copyright: Visually perceptible copies238 words
  30. 30.Section 402: Notice of copyright: Phonorecords of sound recordings184 words
  31. 31.Section 403: Notice of copyright: Publications incorporating United59 words
  32. 32.Section 404: Notice of copyright: Contributions to collective works132 words
  33. 33.Section 405: Notice of copyright: Omission of notice322 words
  34. 34.Section 406: Notice of copyright: Error in name or date284 words
  35. 35.Section 407: Deposit of copies or phonorecords for Library of Congress829 words
  36. 36.Section 408: Copyright registration in general803 words
  37. 37.Section 409: Application for copyright registration283 words
  1. 38.Section 410: Registration of claim and issuance of certificate244 words
  2. 39.Section 411: Registration as prerequisite to infringement suit272 words
  3. 40.Section 412: Registration as prerequisite to certain remedies for85 words
  4. 41.Chapter 5: COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES. Analysis51 words
  5. 42.Section 501: Infringement of copyright310 words
  6. 43.Section 502: Remedies for infringement: Injunctions119 words
  7. 44.Section 503: Remedies for infringement: Impounding and disposition of133 words
  8. 45.Section 504: Remedies for infringement: Damages and profits468 words
  9. 46.Section 505: Remedies for infringement: Costs and attorney's fees58 words
  10. 47.Section 506: Criminal offenses182 words
  11. 48.Section 507: Limitations on actions51 words
  12. 49.Section 508: Notification of filing and determination of action172 words
  13. 50.Section 509: Seizure and forfeiture257 words
  14. 51.Section 510: Remedies for alteration of programing by cable systems144 words
  15. 52.Section 601: Manufacture, importation, and public distribution of1,005 words
  16. 53.Section 602: Infringing importation of copies or phonorecords360 words
  17. 54.Section 603: Importation prohibitions: Enforcement and disposition of226 words
  18. 55.Chapter 7: COPYRIGHT OFFICE. Analysis70 words
  19. 56.Section 701: The Copyright Office: General responsibilities and200 words
  20. 57.Section 702: Copyright Office regulations49 words
  21. 58.Section 703: Effective date of actions in Copyright Office73 words
  22. 59.Section 704: Retention and disposition of articles deposited in394 words
  23. 60.Section 705: Copyright Office records: Preparation, maintenance,113 words
  24. 61.Section 706: Copies of Copyright Office records71 words
  25. 62.Section 707: Copyright Office forms and publication161 words
  26. 63.Section 708: Copyright Office fees446 words
  27. 64.Section 709: Delay in delivery caused by disruption of postal or other104 words
  28. 65.Section 710: Reproduction for use of the blind and physically133 words
  29. 66.Chapter 8: COPYRIGHT ROYALTY TRIBUNAL. Analysis42 words
  30. 67.Section 801: Copyright Royalty Tribunal: Establishment and purpose768 words
  31. 68.Section 802: Membership of the Tribunal204 words
  32. 69.Section 803: Procedures of the Tribunal59 words
  33. 70.Section 804: Institution and conclusion of proceedings497 words
  34. 71.Section 805: Staff of the Tribunal54 words
  35. 72.Section 806: Administrative support of the Tribunal146 words
  36. 73.Section 809: Effective date of final determinations106 words
  37. 74.Section 810: Judicial review81 words