Legal corpus: the complete U.S. Code (59,740 sections, all 53 titles)

Ingested titles 12–51 and 54 from OLRC USLM XML @119-100 (the whole Code
now, uniform edition; Title 53 is reserved/empty). LegalText 11,221 ->
59,740; repo total 105,704 records. Deterministic (byte-identical rerun,
verified on Title 42's 8,356 sections); make check green. make
legal-us-code default now covers every title.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-103.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 103"
+description: "Subject matter of copyright: Compilations and derivative works"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "103"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 103"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s103"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "5ac7de67899fb145a9e806b7dff14c52807aeba66b924f21f8e6d44aa333f61b"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "c22f3471c709e757b2250b70e2c521b11954fb332df34696c8fa460c4321b073"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 103 - Subject matter of copyright: Compilations and derivative works
+
+## Text
+
+(a) The subject matter of copyright as specified by section 102 includes compilations and derivative works, but protection for a work employing preexisting material in which copyright subsists does not extend to any part of the work in which such material has been used unlawfully.
+
+(b) The copyright in a compilation or derivative work extends only to the material contributed by the author of such work, as distinguished from the preexisting material employed in the work, and does not imply any exclusive right in the preexisting material. The copyright in such work is independent of, and does not affect or enlarge the scope, duration, ownership, or subsistence of, any copyright protection in the preexisting material.
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2545.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476Section 103 complements section 102: A compilation or derivative work is copyrightable if it represents an “original work of authorship” and falls within one or more of the categories listed in section 102. Read together, the two sections make plain that the criteria of copyrightable subject matter stated in section 102 apply with full force to works that are entirely original and to those containing preexisting material. Section 103(b) is also intended to define, more sharply and clearly than does section 7 of the present law [section 7 of former title 17], the important interrelationship and correlation between protection of preexisting and of “new” material in a particular work. The most important point here is one that is commonly misunderstood today: copyright in a “new version” covers only the material added by the later author, and has no effect one way or the other on the copyright or public domain status of the preexisting material. Between them the terms “compilations” and “derivative works” which are defined in section 101 comprehend every copyrightable work that employs preexisting material or data of any kind. There is necessarily some overlapping between the two, but they basically represent different concepts. A “compilation” results from a process of selecting, bringing together, organizing, and arranging previously existing material of all kinds, regardless of whether the individual items in the material have been or ever could have been subject to copyright. A “derivative work,” on the other hand, requires a process of recasting, transforming, or adapting “one or more preexisting works”; the “preexisting work” must come within the general subject matter of copyright set forth in section 102, regardless of whether it is or was ever copyrighted. The second part of the sentence that makes up section 103(a) deals with the status of a compilation or derivative work unlawfully employing preexisting copyrighted material. In providing that protection does not extend to “any part of the work in which such material has been used unlawfully,” the bill prevents an infringer from benefiting, through copyright protection, from committing an unlawful act, but preserves protection for those parts of the work that do not employ the preexisting work. Thus, an unauthorized translation of a novel could not be copyrighted at all, but the owner of copyright in an anthology of poetry could sue someone who infringed the whole anthology, even though the infringer proves that publication of one of the poems was unauthorized. Under this provision, copyright could be obtained as long as the use of the preexisting work was not “unlawful,” even though the consent of the copyright owner had not been obtained. For instance, the unauthorized reproduction of a work might be “lawful” under the doctrine of fair use or an applicable foreign law, and if so the work incorporating it could be copyrighted.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-104a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,211 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 104A"
+description: "Copyright in restored works"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "104A"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 104A"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s104A"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "5b37828ec74cdd8b60f28747681fcf764f28057e1ba832001f6198bdfcbf5861"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "314d7774b2d6870b968d12e0fd3f2377c7e3d12b8046d6209d31ac990676fc08"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 104A - Copyright in restored works
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Automatic Protection and Term.— (1) Term.— (A) Copyright subsists, in accordance with this section, in restored works, and vests automatically on the date of restoration.
+
+(B) Any work in which copyright is restored under this section shall subsist for the remainder of the term of copyright that the work would have otherwise been granted in the United States if the work never entered the public domain in the United States.
+
+(2) Exception.— Any work in which the copyright was ever owned or administered by the Alien Property Custodian and in which the restored copyright would be owned by a government or instrumentality thereof, is not a restored work.
+
+(b) Ownership of Restored Copyright.— A restored work vests initially in the author or initial rightholder of the work as determined by the law of the source country of the work.
+
+(c) Filing of Notice of Intent to Enforce Restored Copyright Against Reliance Parties.— On or after the date of restoration, any person who owns a copyright in a restored work or an exclusive right therein may file with the Copyright Office a notice of intent to enforce that person’s copyright or exclusive right or may serve such a notice directly on a reliance party. Acceptance of a notice by the Copyright Office is effective as to any reliance parties but shall not create a presumption of the validity of any of the facts stated therein. Service on a reliance party is effective as to that reliance party and any other reliance parties with actual knowledge of such service and of the contents of that notice.
+
+(d) Remedies for Infringement of Restored Copyrights.— (1) Enforcement of copyright in restored works in the absence of a reliance party.— As against any party who is not a reliance party, the remedies provided in chapter 5 of this title shall be available on or after the date of restoration of a restored copyright with respect to an act of infringement of the restored copyright that is commenced on or after the date of restoration.
+
+(2) Enforcement of copyright in restored works as against reliance parties.— As against a reliance party, except to the extent provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), the remedies provided in chapter 5 of this title shall be available, with respect to an act of infringement of a restored copyright, on or after the date of restoration of the restored copyright if the requirements of either of the following subparagraphs are met:
+
+(A) (i) The owner of the restored copyright (or such owner’s agent) or the owner of an exclusive right therein (or such owner’s agent) files with the Copyright Office, during the 24-month period beginning on the date of restoration, a notice of intent to enforce the restored copyright; and
+
+(ii) (I) the act of infringement commenced after the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date of publication of the notice in the Federal Register;
+
+(II) the act of infringement commenced before the end of the 12-month period described in subclause (I) and continued after the end of that 12-month period, in which case remedies shall be available only for infringement occurring after the end of that 12-month period; or
+
+(III) copies or phonorecords of a work in which copyright has been restored under this section are made after publication of the notice of intent in the Federal Register.
+
+(B) (i) The owner of the restored copyright (or such owner’s agent) or the owner of an exclusive right therein (or such owner’s agent) serves upon a reliance party a notice of intent to enforce a restored copyright; and
+
+(ii) (I) the act of infringement commenced after the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date the notice of intent is received;
+
+(II) the act of infringement commenced before the end of the 12-month period described in subclause (I) and continued after the end of that 12-month period, in which case remedies shall be available only for the infringement occurring after the end of that 12-month period; or
+
+(III) copies or phonorecords of a work in which copyright has been restored under this section are made after receipt of the notice of intent.
+
+In the event that notice is provided under both subparagraphs (A) and (B), the 12-month period referred to in such subparagraphs shall run from the earlier of publication or service of notice.
+
+(3) Existing derivative works.— (A) In the case of a derivative work that is based upon a restored work and is created—
+
+(i) before the date of the enactment of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, if the source country of the restored work is an eligible country on such date, or
+
+(ii) before the date on which the source country of the restored work becomes an eligible country, if that country is not an eligible country on such date of enactment,
+
+a reliance party may continue to exploit that derivative work for the duration of the restored copyright if the reliance party pays to the owner of the restored copyright reasonable compensation for conduct which would be subject to a remedy for infringement but for the provisions of this paragraph.
+
+(B) In the absence of an agreement between the parties, the amount of such compensation shall be determined by an action in United States district court, and shall reflect any harm to the actual or potential market for or value of the restored work from the reliance party’s continued exploitation of the work, as well as compensation for the relative contributions of expression of the author of the restored work and the reliance party to the derivative work.
+
+(4) Commencement of infringement for reliance parties.— For purposes of section 412, in the case of reliance parties, infringement shall be deemed to have commenced before registration when acts which would have constituted infringement had the restored work been subject to copyright were commenced before the date of restoration.
+
+(e) Notices of Intent To Enforce a Restored Copyright.— (1) Notices of intent filed with the copyright office.— (A) (i) A notice of intent filed with the Copyright Office to enforce a restored copyright shall be signed by the owner of the restored copyright or the owner of an exclusive right therein, who files the notice under subsection (d)(2)(A)(i) (hereafter in this paragraph referred to as the “owner”), or by the owner’s agent, shall identify the title of the restored work, and shall include an English translation of the title and any other alternative titles known to the owner by which the restored work may be identified, and an address and telephone number at which the owner may be contacted. If the notice is signed by an agent, the agency relationship must have been constituted in a writing signed by the owner before the filing of the notice. The Copyright Office may specifically require in regulations other information to be included in the notice, but failure to provide such other information shall not invalidate the notice or be a basis for refusal to list the restored work in the Federal Register.
+
+(ii) If a work in which copyright is restored has no formal title, it shall be described in the notice of intent in detail sufficient to identify it.
+
+(iii) Minor errors or omissions may be corrected by further notice at any time after the notice of intent is filed. Notices of corrections for such minor errors or omissions shall be accepted after the period established in subsection (d)(2)(A)(i). Notices shall be published in the Federal Register pursuant to subparagraph (B).
+
+(B) (i) The Register of Copyrights shall publish in the Federal Register, commencing not later than 4 months after the date of restoration for a particular nation and every 4 months thereafter for a period of 2 years, lists identifying restored works and the ownership thereof if a notice of intent to enforce a restored copyright has been filed.
+
+(ii) Not less than 1 list containing all notices of intent to enforce shall be maintained in the Public Information Office of the Copyright Office and shall be available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours pursuant to sections 705 and 708.
+
+(C) The Register of Copyrights is authorized to fix reasonable fees based on the costs of receipt, processing, recording, and publication of notices of intent to enforce a restored copyright and corrections thereto.
+
+(D) (i) Not later than 90 days before the date the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property referred to in section 101(d)(15) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act enters into force with respect to the United States, the Copyright Office shall issue and publish in the Federal Register regulations governing the filing under this subsection of notices of intent to enforce a restored copyright.
+
+(ii) Such regulations shall permit owners of restored copyrights to file simultaneously for registration of the restored copyright.
+
+(2) Notices of intent served on a reliance party.— (A) Notices of intent to enforce a restored copyright may be served on a reliance party at any time after the date of restoration of the restored copyright.
+
+(B) Notices of intent to enforce a restored copyright served on a reliance party shall be signed by the owner or the owner’s agent, shall identify the restored work and the work in which the restored work is used, if any, in detail sufficient to identify them, and shall include an English translation of the title, any other alternative titles known to the owner by which the work may be identified, the use or uses to which the owner objects, and an address and telephone number at which the reliance party may contact the owner. If the notice is signed by an agent, the agency relationship must have been constituted in writing and signed by the owner before service of the notice.
+
+(3) Effect of material false statements.— Any material false statement knowingly made with respect to any restored copyright identified in any notice of intent shall make void all claims and assertions made with respect to such restored copyright.
+
+(f) Immunity From Warranty and Related Liability.— (1) In general.— Any person who warrants, promises, or guarantees that a work does not violate an exclusive right granted in section 106 shall not be liable for legal, equitable, arbitral, or administrative relief if the warranty, promise, or guarantee is breached by virtue of the restoration of copyright under this section, if such warranty, promise, or guarantee is made before January 1, 1995.
+
+(2) Performances.— No person shall be required to perform any act if such performance is made infringing by virtue of the restoration of copyright under the provisions of this section, if the obligation to perform was undertaken before January 1, 1995.
+
+(g) Proclamation of Copyright Restoration.— Whenever the President finds that a particular foreign nation extends, to works by authors who are nationals or domiciliaries of the United States, restored copyright protection on substantially the same basis as provided under this section, the President may by proclamation extend restored protection provided under this section to any work—
+
+(1) of which one or more of the authors is, on the date of first publication, a national, domiciliary, or sovereign authority of that nation; or
+
+(2) which was first published in that nation.
+
+The President may revise, suspend, or revoke any such proclamation or impose any conditions or limitations on protection under such a proclamation.
+
+(h) Definitions.— For purposes of this section and section 109(a):
+
+(1) The term “date of adherence or proclamation” means the earlier of the date on which a foreign nation which, as of the date the WTO Agreement enters into force with respect to the United States, is not a nation adhering to the Berne Convention or a WTO member country, becomes—
+
+(A) a nation adhering to the Berne Convention;
+
+(B) a WTO member country;
+
+(C) a nation adhering to the WIPO Copyright Treaty;
+
+(D) a nation adhering to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty; or
+
+(E) subject to a Presidential proclamation under subsection (g).
+
+(2) The “date of restoration” of a restored copyright is—
+
+(A) January 1, 1996, if the source country of the restored work is a nation adhering to the Berne Convention or a WTO member country on such date, or
+
+(B) the date of adherence or proclamation, in the case of any other source country of the restored work.
+
+(3) The term “eligible country” means a nation, other than the United States, that—
+
+(A) becomes a WTO member country after the date of the enactment of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act;
+
+(B) on such date of enactment is, or after such date of enactment becomes, a nation adhering to the Berne Convention;
+
+(C) adheres to the WIPO Copyright Treaty;
+
+(D) adheres to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty; or
+
+(E) after such date of enactment becomes subject to a proclamation under subsection (g).
+
+(4) The term “reliance party” means any person who—
+
+(A) with respect to a particular work, engages in acts, before the source country of that work becomes an eligible country, which would have violated section 106 if the restored work had been subject to copyright protection, and who, after the source country becomes an eligible country, continues to engage in such acts;
+
+(B) before the source country of a particular work becomes an eligible country, makes or acquires 1 or more copies or phonorecords of that work; or
+
+(C) as the result of the sale or other disposition of a derivative work covered under subsection (d)(3), or significant assets of a person described in subparagraph (A) or (B), is a successor, assignee, or licensee of that person.
+
+(5) The term “restored copyright” means copyright in a restored work under this section.
+
+(6) The term “restored work” means an original work of authorship that—
+
+(A) is protected under subsection (a);
+
+(B) is not in the public domain in its source country through expiration of term of protection;
+
+(C) is in the public domain in the United States due to—
+
+(i) noncompliance with formalities imposed at any time by United States copyright law, including failure of renewal, lack of proper notice, or failure to comply with any manufacturing requirements;
+
+(ii) lack of subject matter protection in the case of sound recordings fixed before February 15, 1972; or
+
+(iii) lack of national eligibility;
+
+(D) has at least one author or rightholder who was, at the time the work was created, a national or domiciliary of an eligible country, and if published, was first published in an eligible country and not published in the United States during the 30-day period following publication in such eligible country; and
+
+(E) if the source country for the work is an eligible country solely by virtue of its adherence to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, is a sound recording.
+
+(7) The term “rightholder” means the person—
+
+(A) who, with respect to a sound recording, first fixes a sound recording with authorization, or
+
+(B) who has acquired rights from the person described in subparagraph (A) by means of any conveyance or by operation of law.
+
+(8) The “source country” of a restored work is—
+
+(A) a nation other than the United States;
+
+(B) in the case of an unpublished work—
+
+(i) the eligible country in which the author or rightholder is a national or domiciliary, or, if a restored work has more than 1 author or rightholder, of which the majority of foreign authors or rightholders are nationals or domiciliaries; or
+
+(ii) if the majority of authors or rightholders are not foreign, the nation other than the United States which has the most significant contacts with the work; and
+
+(C) in the case of a published work—
+
+(i) the eligible country in which the work is first published, or
+
+(ii) if the restored work is published on the same day in 2 or more eligible countries, the eligible country which has the most significant contacts with the work.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 103–182, title III, § 334(a), Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2115; amended Pub. L. 103–465, title V, § 514(a), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4976; Pub. L. 104–295, § 20(e)(2), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3529; Pub. L. 105–80, § 2, Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1530; Pub. L. 105–304, title I, § 102(c), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2862.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe date of the enactment of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, referred to in subsecs. (d)(3)(A) and (h)(3), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 103–465, which was approved Dec. 8, 1994. Section 101(d)(15) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(1)(D)(i), is classified to section 3511(d)(15) of Title 19, Customs Duties.
+
+Amendments1998—Subsec. (h)(1)(A) to (E). Pub. L. 105–304, § 102(c)(1), added subpars. (A) to (E) and struck out former subpars. (A) and (B) which read as follows: “(A) a nation adhering to the Berne Convention or a WTO member country; or “(B) subject to a Presidential proclamation under subsection (g).” Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 105–304, § 102(c)(2), amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “The term ‘eligible country’ means a nation, other than the United States, that— “(A) becomes a WTO member country after the date of the enactment of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act; “(B) on such date of enactment is, or after such date of enactment becomes, a member of the Berne Convention; or “(C) after such date of enactment becomes subject to a proclamation under subsection (g). For purposes of this section, a nation that is a member of the Berne Convention on the date of the enactment of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act shall be construed to become an eligible country on such date of enactment.” Subsec. (h)(6)(E). Pub. L. 105–304, § 102(c)(3), added subpar. (E). Subsec. (h)(8)(B)(i). Pub. L. 105–304, § 102(c)(4), inserted “of which” before “the majority” and struck out “of eligible countries” after “domiciliaries”. Subsec. (h)(9). Pub. L. 105–304, § 102(c)(5), struck out par. (9) which read as follows: “The terms ‘WTO Agreement’ and ‘WTO member country’ have the meanings given those terms in paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively, of section 2 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.” 1997—Subsec. (d)(3)(A). Pub. L. 105–80, § 2(1), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “In the case of a derivative work that is based upon a restored work and is created— “(i) before the date of the enactment of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, if the source country of the derivative work is an eligible country on such date, or “(ii) before the date of adherence or proclamation, if the source country of the derivative work is not an eligible country on such date of enactment, a reliance party may continue to exploit that work for the duration of the restored copyright if the reliance party pays to the owner of the restored copyright reasonable compensation for conduct which would be subject to a remedy for infringement but for the provisions of this paragraph.” Subsec. (e)(1)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 105–80, § 2(2), struck out at end “Such list shall also be published in the Federal Register on an annual basis for the first 2 years after the applicable date of restoration.” Subsec. (h)(2), (3). Pub. L. 105–80, § 2(3), (4), amended pars. (2) and (3) generally. Prior to amendment, pars. (2) and (3) read as follows: “(2) The ‘date of restoration’ of a restored copyright is the later of— “(A) the date on which the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property referred to in section 101(d)(15) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act enters into force with respect to the United States, if the source country of the restored work is a nation adhering to the Berne Convention or a WTO member country on such date; or “(B) the date of adherence or proclamation, in the case of any other source country of the restored work. “(3) The term ‘eligible country’ means a nation, other than the United States, that is a WTO member country, adheres to the Berne Convention, or is subject to a proclamation under subsection (g).” 1996—Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 104–295 substituted “subsection (g)” for “section 104A(g)”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–465 substituted “Copyright in restored works” for “Copyright in certain motion pictures” as section catchline and amended text generally, substituting present provisions for provisions restoring copyright in certain motion pictures and providing for effective date of protection as well as use of previously owned copies.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1998 AmendmentSubsec. (h)(1)(A), (B), (E), (3)(A), (B), (E) of this section and amendment by section 102(c)(4), (5) of Pub. L. 105–304 effective Oct. 28, 1998, except as otherwise provided, subsec. (h)(1)(C), (3)(C) of this section effective Mar. 6, 2002, and subsec. (h)(1)(D), (3)(D) of this section and amendment by section 102(c)(3) of Pub. L. 105–304 effective May 20, 2002, see section 105(a), (b)(1)(C), (D), (2)(D)–(F) of Pub. L. 105–304, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
+
+Effective DateSection effective on the date the North American Free Trade Agreement enters into force with respect to the United States (Jan. 1, 1994), see section 335(a) of Pub. L. 103–182, formerly set out in an Effective Date of 1993 Amendment note under section 1052 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
+
+Executive Documents
+
+Uruguay Round Agreements: Entry Into ForceThe Uruguay Round Agreements, including the World Trade Organization Agreement and agreements annexed to that Agreement, as referred to in section 3511(d) of Title 19, Customs Duties, entered into force with respect to the United States on Jan. 1, 1995. See note set out under section 3511 of Title 19.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-105.md

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 105"
+description: "Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "105"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 105"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s105"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "1b1026e870031659e1e0f5a03946f2a8ec405830a20dede0620717bbfdd119a8"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "c8b2da295b9d516a910d50dd8c58d336e45f4ebda8a7145d213c2b5b195c12f0"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 105 - Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In General.— Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government, but the United States Government is not precluded from receiving and holding copyrights transferred to it by assignment, bequest, or otherwise.
+
+(b) Copyright Protection of Certain Works.— Subject to subsection (c), the covered author of a covered work owns the copyright to that covered work.
+
+(c) Use by Federal Government.— (1) Secretary of defense authority.— With respect to a covered author who produces a covered work in the course of employment at a covered institution described in subparagraphs (A) through (L) of subsection (d)(2) and subparagraph (M) of such subsection when the Coast Guard is operating as a service in the Navy, the Secretary of Defense may direct the covered author to provide the Federal Government with an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, nonexclusive license to reproduce, distribute, perform, or display such covered work for purposes of the United States Government.
+
+(2) Secretary of the department in which the coast guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the navy authority.— With respect to a covered author who produces a covered work in the course of employment at the covered institution described in subsection (d)(2)(M), the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Navy may direct the covered author to provide the Federal Government with an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, nonexclusive license to reproduce, distribute, perform, or display such covered work for purposes of the United States Government.
+
+(3) Director of national intelligence authority.— With respect to a covered author who produces a covered work in the course of employment at the covered institution described in subsection (d)(2)(N), the Director of National Intelligence may direct the covered author to provide the Federal Government with an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, nonexclusive license to reproduce, distribute, perform, or display such covered work for purposes of the United States Government.
+
+(4) Secretary of transportation authority.— With respect to a covered author who produces a covered work in the course of employment at the covered institution described in subsection (d)(2)(O), the Secretary of Transportation may direct the covered author to provide the Federal Government with an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, nonexclusive license to reproduce, distribute, perform, or display such covered work for purposes of the United States Government.
+
+(d) Definitions.— In this section:
+
+(1) Covered author.— The term “covered author” means a civilian member of the faculty of a covered institution.
+
+(2) Covered institution.— The term “covered institution” means the following:
+
+(A) National Defense University.
+
+(B) United States Military Academy.
+
+(C) Army War College.
+
+(D) United States Army Command and General Staff College.
+
+(E) United States Naval Academy.
+
+(F) Naval War College.
+
+(G) Naval Postgraduate School.
+
+(H) Marine Corps University.
+
+(I) United States Air Force Academy.
+
+(J) Air University.
+
+(K) Defense Language Institute.
+
+(L) Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
+
+(M) United States Coast Guard Academy.
+
+(N) National Intelligence University.
+
+(O) United States Merchant Marine Academy.
+
+(3) Covered work.— The term “covered work” means a literary work produced by a covered author in the course of employment at a covered institution for publication by a scholarly press or journal.
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title V, § 544, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1376; Pub. L. 117–263, div. C, title XXXV, § 3514, div. F, title LXIII, § 6306, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3068, 3504; Pub. L. 118–159, div. F, title LXIX, § 6902(e), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2518; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title XVII, § 1702, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1210.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476Scope of the Prohibition. The basic premise of section 105 of the bill is the same as that of section 8 of the present law [section 8 of former title 17]—that works produced for the U.S. Government by its officers and employees should not be subject to copyright. The provision applies the principle equally to unpublished and published works. The general prohibition against copyright in section 105 applies to “any work of the United States Government,” which is defined in section 101 as “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties.” Under this definition a Government official or employee would not be prevented from securing copyright in a work written at that person’s own volition and outside his or her duties, even though the subject matter involves the Government work or professional field of the official or employee. Although the wording of the definition of “work of the United States Government” differs somewhat from that of the definition of “work made for hire,” the concepts are intended to be construed in the same way. A more difficult and far-reaching problem is whether the definition should be broadened to prohibit copyright in works prepared under U.S. Government contract or grant. As the bill is written, the Government agency concerned could determine in each case whether to allow an independent contractor or grantee, to secure copyright in works prepared in whole or in part with the use of Government funds. The argument that has been made against allowing copyright in this situation is that the public should not be required to pay a “double subsidy,” and that it is inconsistent to prohibit copyright in works by Government employees while permitting private copyrights in a growing body of works created by persons who are paid with Government funds. Those arguing in favor of potential copyright protection have stressed the importance of copyright as an incentive to creation and dissemination in this situation, and the basically different policy considerations, applicable to works written by Government employees and those applicable to works prepared by private organizations with the use of Federal funds. The bill deliberately avoids making any sort of outright, unqualified prohibition against copyright in works prepared under Government contract or grant. There may well be cases where it would be in the public interest to deny copyright in the writings generated by Government research contracts and the like; it can be assumed that, where a Government agency commissions a work for its own use merely as an alternative to having one of its own employees prepare the work, the right to secure a private copyright would be withheld. However, there are almost certainly many other cases where the denial of copyright protection would be unfair or would hamper the production and publication of important works. Where, under the particular circumstances, Congress or the agency involved finds that the need to have a work freely available outweighs the need of the private author to secure copyright, the problem can be dealt with by specific legislation, agency regulations, or contractual restrictions. The prohibition on copyright protection for United States Government works is not intended to have any effect on protection of these works abroad. Works of the governments of most other countries are copyrighted. There are no valid policy reasons for denying such protection to United States Government works in foreign countries, or for precluding the Government from making licenses for the use of its works abroad. The effect of section 105 is intended to place all works of the United States Government, published or unpublished, in the public domain. This means that the individual Government official or employee who wrote the work could not secure copyright in it or restrain its dissemination by the Government or anyone else, but it also means that, as far as the copyright law is concerned, the Government could not restrain the employee or official from disseminating the work if he or she chooses to do so. The use of the term “work of the United States Government” does not mean that a work falling within the definition of that term is the property of the U.S. Government.
+
+limited exception for national technical information serviceAt the House hearings in 1975 the U.S. Department of Commerce called attention to its National Technical Information Service (NTIS), which has a statutory mandate, under Chapter 23 [§ 1151 et seq.] of Title 15 of the U.S. Code, to operate a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of scientific, technical and engineering information. Under its statute, NTIS is required to be as self-sustaining as possible, and not to force the general public to bear publishing costs that are for private benefit. The Department urged an amendment to section 105 that would allow it to secure copyright in NTIS publications both in the United States and abroad, noting that a precedent exists in the Standard Reference Data Act (15 U.S.C. § 290(e) [§ 290e]). In response to this request the Committee adopted a limited exception to the general prohibition in section 105, permitting the Secretary of Commerce to “secure copyright for a limited term not to exceed five years, on behalf of the United States as author or copyright owner” in any NTIS publication disseminated pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Chapter 23 [§ 1151 et seq.]. In order to “secure copyright” in a work under this amendment the Secretary would be required to publish the work with a copyright notice, and the five-year term would begin upon the date of first publication. Proposed Saving Clause. Section 8 of the statute now in effect [section 8 of former title 17] includes a saving clause intended to make clear that the copyright protection of a private work is not affected if the work is published by the Government. This provision serves a real purpose in the present law because of the ambiguity of the undefined term “any publication of the United States Government.” Section 105 of the bill, however, uses the operative term “work of the United States Government” and defines it in such a way that privately written works are clearly excluded from the prohibition; accordingly, a saving clause becomes superfluous. Retention of a saving clause has been urged on the ground that the present statutory provision is frequently cited, and that having the provision expressly stated in the law would avoid questions and explanations. The committee here observes: (1) there is nothing in section 105 that would relieve the Government of its obligation to secure permission in order to publish a copyrighted work; and (2) publication or other use by the Government of a private work would not affect its copyright protection in any way. The question of use of copyrighted material in documents published by the Congress and its Committees is discussed below in connection with section 107. Works of the United States Postal Service. The intent of section 105 [this section] is to restrict the prohibition against Government copyright to works written by employees of the United States Government within the scope of their official duties. In accordance with the objectives of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 [Pub. L. 91–375, which enacted title 39, Postal Service], this section does not apply to works created by employees of the United States Postal Service. In addition to enforcing the criminal statutes proscribing the forgery or counterfeiting of postage stamps, the Postal Service could, if it chooses, use the copyright law to prevent the reproduction of postage stamp designs for private or commercial non-postal services (for example, in philatelic publications and catalogs, in general advertising, in art reproductions, in textile designs, and so forth). However, any copyright claimed by the Postal Service in its works, including postage stamp designs, would be subject to the same conditions, formalities, and time limits as other copyrightable works.
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2025—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1702(b)(1), substituted “subparagraphs (A) through (L) of subsection (d)(2) and subparagraph (M)” for “subparagraphs (A) through (K) of subsection (d)(2) and subparagraph (L)”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1702(b)(2), substituted “subsection (d)(2)(M)” for “subsection (d)(2)(L)”. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1702(b)(3), substituted “subsection (d)(2)(N)” for “subsection (d)(2)(M)”. Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1702(b)(4), substituted “subsection (d)(2)(O)” for “subsection (d)(2)(N)”. Subsec. (d)(2)(L) to (O). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1702(a), added subpar. (L) and redesignated former subpars. (L) to (N) as (M) to (O), respectively. 2024—Pub. L. 118–159 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to copyright protection for United States Government works. 2022—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–263, § 3514(1), substituted “Certain Works” for “Certain of Works” in heading. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–263, § 6306(2), added subsec. (c) and struck out former subsec. (c). Text read as follows: “A covered Secretary may direct the covered author of a covered work to provide the Federal Government with an irrevocable, royalty-free, world-wide, nonexclusive license to reproduce, distribute, perform, or display such covered work for purposes of the United States Government.” Pub. L. 117–263, § 3514(2), substituted “A covered Secretary” for “The Secretary of Defense”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–263, §§ 3514(3), 6306(1), made identical amendments, redesignating subsec. (c) relating to definitions as (d). Subsec. (d)(2)(M). Pub. L. 117–263, § 6306(3), added subpar. (M) relating to National Intelligence University. Pub. L. 117–263, § 3514(4)(A), added subpar. (M) relating to United States Merchant Marine Academy. Subsec. (d)(3), (4). Pub. L. 117–263, § 3514(4)(B), (C), added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4). 2019—Pub. L. 116–92 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b) and two subsecs. (c). Heading of subsec. (a) was conformed to the style used in this title.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Coordination With Other Amendments Made by Division F of Pub. L. 118–159Pub. L. 118–159, div. F, title LXIX, § 6902(f), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2519, provided that: “For purposes of applying amendments made by provisions of this division [div. F of Pub. L. 118–159, see Tables for classification] other than this section, the amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 3024, 3033, 3232a, 3234, 3244, 3304, and 3614 of Title 50, War and National Defense] shall be treated as having been enacted immediately before any such amendments by other provisions of this division.”

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-106a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 106A"
+description: "Rights of certain authors to attribution and integrity"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "106A"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 106A"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s106A"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "b2d61e5f63148a0814cc64c3128a395ed5851c21c2232c283725e321dc3873fb"
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+text_hash: "bf7faa5d28824c77fcd13d0cb725d39be05d4b1249ab14416781c58efbd44abe"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 106A - Rights of certain authors to attribution and integrity
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Rights of Attribution and Integrity.— Subject to section 107 and independent of the exclusive rights provided in section 106, the author of a work of visual art—
+
+(1) shall have the right—
+
+(A) to claim authorship of that work, and
+
+(B) to prevent the use of his or her name as the author of any work of visual art which he or she did not create;
+
+(2) shall have the right to prevent the use of his or her name as the author of the work of visual art in the event of a distortion, mutilation, or other modification of the work which would be prejudicial to his or her honor or reputation; and
+
+(3) subject to the limitations set forth in section 113(d), shall have the right—
+
+(A) to prevent any intentional distortion, mutilation, or other modification of that work which would be prejudicial to his or her honor or reputation, and any intentional distortion, mutilation, or modification of that work is a violation of that right, and
+
+(B) to prevent any destruction of a work of recognized stature, and any intentional or grossly negligent destruction of that work is a violation of that right.
+
+(b) Scope and Exercise of Rights.— Only the author of a work of visual art has the rights conferred by subsection (a) in that work, whether or not the author is the copyright owner. The authors of a joint work of visual art are coowners of the rights conferred by subsection (a) in that work.
+
+(c) Exceptions.— (1) The modification of a work of visual art which is a result of the passage of time or the inherent nature of the materials is not a distortion, mutilation, or other modification described in subsection (a)(3)(A).
+
+(2) The modification of a work of visual art which is the result of conservation, or of the public presentation, including lighting and placement, of the work is not a destruction, distortion, mutilation, or other modification described in subsection (a)(3) unless the modification is caused by gross negligence.
+
+(3) The rights described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) shall not apply to any reproduction, depiction, portrayal, or other use of a work in, upon, or in any connection with any item described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of the definition of “work of visual art” in section 101, and any such reproduction, depiction, portrayal, or other use of a work is not a destruction, distortion, mutilation, or other modification described in paragraph (3) of subsection (a).
+
+(d) Duration of Rights.— (1) With respect to works of visual art created on or after the effective date set forth in section 610(a) of the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, the rights conferred by subsection (a) shall endure for a term consisting of the life of the author.
+
+(2) With respect to works of visual art created before the effective date set forth in section 610(a) of the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, but title to which has not, as of such effective date, been transferred from the author, the rights conferred by subsection (a) shall be coextensive with, and shall expire at the same time as, the rights conferred by section 106.
+
+(3) In the case of a joint work prepared by two or more authors, the rights conferred by subsection (a) shall endure for a term consisting of the life of the last surviving author.
+
+(4) All terms of the rights conferred by subsection (a) run to the end of the calendar year in which they would otherwise expire.
+
+(e) Transfer and Waiver.— (1) The rights conferred by subsection (a) may not be transferred, but those rights may be waived if the author expressly agrees to such waiver in a written instrument signed by the author. Such instrument shall specifically identify the work, and uses of that work, to which the waiver applies, and the waiver shall apply only to the work and uses so identified. In the case of a joint work prepared by two or more authors, a waiver of rights under this paragraph made by one such author waives such rights for all such authors.
+
+(2) Ownership of the rights conferred by subsection (a) with respect to a work of visual art is distinct from ownership of any copy of that work, or of a copyright or any exclusive right under a copyright in that work. Transfer of ownership of any copy of a work of visual art, or of a copyright or any exclusive right under a copyright, shall not constitute a waiver of the rights conferred by subsection (a). Except as may otherwise be agreed by the author in a written instrument signed by the author, a waiver of the rights conferred by subsection (a) with respect to a work of visual art shall not constitute a transfer of ownership of any copy of that work, or of ownership of a copyright or of any exclusive right under a copyright in that work.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 603(a), Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5128.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextSection 610(a) of the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 [Pub. L. 101–650], referred to in subsec. (d), is set out as an Effective Date note below.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective DatePub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 610, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132, provided that: “(a) In General.—Subject to subsection (b) and except as provided in subsection (c), this title [enacting this section, amending sections 101, 107, 113, 301, 411, 412, 501, and 506 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 101 of this title] and the amendments made by this title take effect 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 1, 1990]. “(b) Applicability.—The rights created by section 106A of title 17, United States Code, shall apply to—“(1) works created before the effective date set forth in subsection (a) but title to which has not, as of such effective date, been transferred from the author, and “(2) works created on or after such effective date, but shall not apply to any destruction, distortion, mutilation, or other modification (as described in section 106A(a)(3) of such title) of any work which occurred before such effective date. “(c) Section 608.—Section 608 [set out below] takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.”
+
+Studies by Copyright OfficePub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 608, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132, directed the Register of Copyrights to study the extent to which authorship rights have been waived by visual artists under this section and to submit a final report to Congress not later than 5 years after Dec. 1, 1990, and also directed the Register of Copyrights to study the feasibility of implementing a requirement that, after the first sale of a work of art, would enable authors of visual art to share monetarily in the resale and enhanced value of that work, with a report to Congress due not later than 18 months after Dec. 1, 1990.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-113.md

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 113"
+description: "Scope of exclusive rights in pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "113"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 113"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s113"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "6414f5b1929b84e76971389e12e35496f14f0adb3c8a04a19fa628bf903dd2dc"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "d1ebbeab7069e21d2385bb995bff0951df98ef11e589deb7a952afc8d28d737d"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 113 - Scope of exclusive rights in pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Subject to the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the exclusive right to reproduce a copyrighted pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work in copies under section 106 includes the right to reproduce the work in or on any kind of article, whether useful or otherwise.
+
+(b) This title does not afford, to the owner of copyright in a work that portrays a useful article as such, any greater or lesser rights with respect to the making, distribution, or display of the useful article so portrayed than those afforded to such works under the law, whether title 17 or the common law or statutes of a State, in effect on December 31, 1977, as held applicable and construed by a court in an action brought under this title.
+
+(c) In the case of a work lawfully reproduced in useful articles that have been offered for sale or other distribution to the public, copyright does not include any right to prevent the making, distribution, or display of pictures or photographs of such articles in connection with advertisements or commentaries related to the distribution or display of such articles, or in connection with news reports.
+
+(d) (1) In a case in which—
+
+(A) a work of visual art has been incorporated in or made part of a building in such a way that removing the work from the building will cause the destruction, distortion, mutilation, or other modification of the work as described in section 106A(a)(3), and
+
+(B) the author consented to the installation of the work in the building either before the effective date set forth in section 610(a) of the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990, or in a written instrument executed on or after such effective date that is signed by the owner of the building and the author and that specifies that installation of the work may subject the work to destruction, distortion, mutilation, or other modification, by reason of its removal,
+
+then the rights conferred by paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 106A(a) shall not apply.
+
+(2) If the owner of a building wishes to remove a work of visual art which is a part of such building and which can be removed from the building without the destruction, distortion, mutilation, or other modification of the work as described in section 106A(a)(3), the author’s rights under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 106A(a) shall apply unless—
+
+(A) the owner has made a diligent, good faith attempt without success to notify the author of the owner’s intended action affecting the work of visual art, or
+
+(B) the owner did provide such notice in writing and the person so notified failed, within 90 days after receiving such notice, either to remove the work or to pay for its removal.
+
+For purposes of subparagraph (A), an owner shall be presumed to have made a diligent, good faith attempt to send notice if the owner sent such notice by registered mail to the author at the most recent address of the author that was recorded with the Register of Copyrights pursuant to paragraph (3). If the work is removed at the expense of the author, title to that copy of the work shall be deemed to be in the author.
+
+(3) The Register of Copyrights shall establish a system of records whereby any author of a work of visual art that has been incorporated in or made part of a building, may record his or her identity and address with the Copyright Office. The Register shall also establish procedures under which any such author may update the information so recorded, and procedures under which owners of buildings may record with the Copyright Office evidence of their efforts to comply with this subsection.
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2560; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 604, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5130.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476Section 113 deals with the extent of copyright protection in “works of applied art.” The section takes as its starting point the Supreme Court’s decision in Mazer v. Stein, 347 U.S. 201 (1954) [74 S.Ct. 460, 98 L.Ed. 630, rehearing denied 74 S.Ct. 637, 347 U.S. 949, 98 L.Ed. 1096], and the first sentence of subsection (a) restates the basic principle established by that decision. The rule of Mazer, as affirmed by the bill, is that copyright in a pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work will not be affected if the work is employed as the design of a useful article, and will afford protection to the copyright owner against the unauthorized reproduction of his work in useful as well as nonuseful articles. The terms “pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works” and “useful article” are defined in section 101, and these definitions are discussed above in connection with section 102. The broad language of section 106(1) and of subsection (a) of section 113 raises questions as to the extent of copyright protection for a pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work that portrays, depicts, or represents an image of a useful article in such a way that the utilitarian nature of the article can be seen. To take the example usually cited, would copyright in a drawing or model of an automobile give the artist the exclusive right to make automobiles of the same design? The 1961 Report of the Register of Copyrights stated, on the basis of judicial precedent, that “copyright in a pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work, portraying a useful article as such, does not extend to the manufacture of the useful article itself,” and recommended specifically that “the distinctions drawn in this area by existing court decisions” not be altered by the statute. The Register’s Supplementary Report, at page 48, cited a number of these decisions, and explained the insuperable difficulty of finding “any statutory formulation that would express the distinction satisfactorily.” Section 113(b) reflects the Register’s conclusion that “the real need is to make clear that there is no intention to change the present law with respect to the scope of protection in a work portraying a useful article as such.” Section 113(c) provides that it would not be an infringement of copyright, where a copyright work has been lawfully published as the design of useful articles, to make, distribute or display pictures of the articles in advertising, in feature stories about the articles, or in the news reports. In conformity with its deletion from the bill of Title II, relating to the protection of ornamental designs of useful articles, the Committee has deleted subsections (b), (c), and (d) of section 113 of S. 22 as adopted by the Senate, since they are no longer relevant.
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextSection 610(a) of the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 [Pub. L. 101–650], referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(B), is set out as an Effective Date note under section 106A of this title.
+
+Amendments1990—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–650 added subsec. (d).
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–650 effective 6 months after Dec. 1, 1990, see section 610 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as an Effective Date note under section 106A of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-116.md

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 116"
+description: "Negotiated licenses for public performances by means of coin-operated phonorecord players"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "116"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 116"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s116"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "1d1108a99998bbca423dedc2679e829c71a478a7ed9fb598e9cd0232357982d0"
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+text_hash: "2bae6b5971db5624f2046210d11571dd91ad4c3a0357c25a51341dd54566c1f3"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 116 - Negotiated licenses for public performances by means of coin-operated phonorecord players
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Applicability of Section.— This section applies to any nondramatic musical work embodied in a phonorecord.
+
+(b) Negotiated Licenses.— (1) Authority for negotiations.— Any owners of copyright in works to which this section applies and any operators of coin-operated phonorecord players may negotiate and agree upon the terms and rates of royalty payments for the performance of such works and the proportionate division of fees paid among copyright owners, and may designate common agents to negotiate, agree to, pay, or receive such royalty payments.
+
+(2) Chapter 8 proceeding.— Parties not subject to such a negotiation may have the terms and rates and the division of fees described in paragraph (1) determined in a proceeding in accordance with the provisions of chapter 8.
+
+(c) License Agreements Superior to Determinations by Copyright Royalty Judges.— License agreements between one or more copyright owners and one or more operators of coin-operated phonorecord players, which are negotiated in accordance with subsection (b), shall be given effect in lieu of any otherwise applicable determination by the Copyright Royalty Judges.
+
+(d) Definitions.— As used in this section, the following terms mean the following:
+
+(1) A “coin-operated phonorecord player” is a machine or device that—
+
+(A) is employed solely for the performance of nondramatic musical works by means of phonorecords upon being activated by the insertion of coins, currency, tokens, or other monetary units or their equivalent;
+
+(B) is located in an establishment making no direct or indirect charge for admission;
+
+(C) is accompanied by a list which is comprised of the titles of all the musical works available for performance on it, and is affixed to the phonorecord player or posted in the establishment in a prominent position where it can be readily examined by the public; and
+
+(D) affords a choice of works available for performance and permits the choice to be made by the patrons of the establishment in which it is located.
+
+(2) An “operator” is any person who, alone or jointly with others—
+
+(A) owns a coin-operated phonorecord player;
+
+(B) has the power to make a coin-operated phonorecord player available for placement in an establishment for purposes of public performance; or
+
+(C) has the power to exercise primary control over the selection of the musical works made available for public performance on a coin-operated phonorecord player.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 100–568, § 4(a)(4), Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2855, § 116A; renumbered § 116 and amended Pub. L. 103–198, § 3(b)(1), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2309; Pub. L. 105–80, § 5, Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1531; Pub. L. 108–419, § 5(e), Nov. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2365.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Prior ProvisionsA prior section 116, Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2562; Pub. L. 100–568, § 4(b)(1), Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2857, related to scope of exclusive rights in nondramatic musical works and compulsory licenses for public performances by means of coin-operated phonorecord players, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–198, § 3(a), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2309.
+
+Amendments2004—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 108–419, § 5(e)(1), amended heading and text of par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Parties not subject to such a negotiation may determine, by arbitration in accordance with the provisions of chapter 8, the terms and rates and the division of fees described in paragraph (1).” Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–419, § 5(e)(2), substituted “Determinations by Copyright Royalty Judges” for “Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel Determinations” in heading and “the Copyright Royalty Judges” for “a copyright arbitration royalty panel” in text. 1997—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105–80, § 5(1), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “(2) Arbitration.—Parties to such a negotiation, within such time as may be specified by the Librarian of Congress by regulation, may determine the result of the negotiation by arbitration. Such arbitration shall be governed by the provisions of title 9, to the extent such title is not inconsistent with this section. The parties shall give notice to the Librarian of Congress of any determination reached by arbitration and any such determination shall, as between the parties to the arbitration, be dispositive of the issues to which it relates.” Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–80, § 5(2), added subsec. (d). 1993—Pub. L. 103–198, § 3(b)(1)(A), renumbered section 116A of this title as this section. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–198, § 3(b)(1)(B), (C), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b), substituted “Librarian of Congress” for “Copyright Royalty Tribunal” in two places in par. (2), and struck out former subsec. (b) which related to limitation on exclusive right if licenses not negotiated. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–198, § 3(b)(1)(B), (D), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c), in heading substituted “Arbitration Royalty Panel” for “Royalty Tribunal”, and in text substituted “subsection (b)” for “subsection (c)” and “a copyright arbitration royalty panel” for “the Copyright Royalty Tribunal”. Subsecs. (d) to (g). Pub. L. 103–198, § 3(b)(1)(B), (E), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c) and struck out subsecs. (e) to (g) which provided, in subsec. (e), for a schedule for negotiation of licenses, in subsec. (f), for a suspension of various ratemaking activities by the Copyright Royalty Tribunal, and in subsec. (g), for transition provisions and retention of Copyright Royalty Tribunal jurisdiction.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2004 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–419 effective 6 months after Nov. 30, 2004, subject to transition provisions, see section 6 of Pub. L. 108–419, set out as an Effective Date; Transition Provisions note under section 801 of this title.
+
+Effective DateSection effective Mar. 1, 1989, with any cause of action arising under this title before such date being governed by provisions as in effect when cause of action arose, see section 13 of Pub. L. 100–568, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-116a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 116A"
+description: "Renumbered § 116]"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "116A"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 116A"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s116A"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "7ec34c8ed9df1c60edbb8e2015722dbe657b8f785d4390c7257967cc9f6c5908"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "01ba4719c80b6fe911b091a7c05124b64eeece964e09c058ef8f9805daca546b"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 116A - Renumbered § 116]
+
+

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-117.md

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 117"
+description: "Limitations on exclusive rights: Computer programs"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "117"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 117"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s117"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "df2eb7044a71e291ffd1670b0f6da16879515a66d43c9328d43b6c5097fe9123"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "009d10d49ef11ebd225ff9cee38861517aa1d648ab96240da215f56e13904a8c"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 117 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Computer programs
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Making of Additional Copy or Adaptation by Owner of Copy.— Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation of that computer program provided:
+
+(1) that such a new copy or adaptation is created as an essential step in the utilization of the computer program in conjunction with a machine and that it is used in no other manner, or
+
+(2) that such new copy or adaptation is for archival purposes only and that all archival copies are destroyed in the event that continued possession of the computer program should cease to be rightful.
+
+(b) Lease, Sale, or Other Transfer of Additional Copy or Adaptation.— Any exact copies prepared in accordance with the provisions of this section may be leased, sold, or otherwise transferred, along with the copy from which such copies were prepared, only as part of the lease, sale, or other transfer of all rights in the program. Adaptations so prepared may be transferred only with the authorization of the copyright owner.
+
+(c) Machine Maintenance or Repair.— Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement for the owner or lessee of a machine to make or authorize the making of a copy of a computer program if such copy is made solely by virtue of the activation of a machine that lawfully contains an authorized copy of the computer program, for purposes only of maintenance or repair of that machine, if—
+
+(1) such new copy is used in no other manner and is destroyed immediately after the maintenance or repair is completed; and
+
+(2) with respect to any computer program or part thereof that is not necessary for that machine to be activated, such program or part thereof is not accessed or used other than to make such new copy by virtue of the activation of the machine.
+
+(d) Definitions.— For purposes of this section—
+
+(1) the “maintenance” of a machine is the servicing of the machine in order to make it work in accordance with its original specifications and any changes to those specifications authorized for that machine; and
+
+(2) the “repair” of a machine is the restoring of the machine to the state of working in accordance with its original specifications and any changes to those specifications authorized for that machine.
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2565; Pub. L. 96–517, § 10(b), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 3028; Pub. L. 105–304, title III, § 302, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2887.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476As the program for general revision of the copyright law has evolved, it has become increasingly apparent that in one major area the problems are not sufficiently developed for a definitive legislative solution. This is the area of computer uses of copyrighted works: the use of a work “in conjunction with automatic systems capable of storing, processing, retrieving, or transferring information.” The Commission on New Technological Uses is, among other things, now engaged in making a thorough study of the emerging patterns in this field and it will, on the basis of its findings, recommend definitive copyright provisions to deal with the situation. Since it would be premature to change existing law on computer uses at present, the purpose of section 117 is to preserve the status quo. It is intended neither to cut off any rights that may now exist, nor to create new rights that might be denied under the Act of 1909 or under common law principles currently applicable. The provision deals only with the exclusive rights of a copyright owner with respect to computer uses, that is, the bundle of rights specified for other types of uses in section 106 and qualified in sections 107 through 116 and 118. With respect to the copyright-ability of computer programs, the ownership of copyrights in them, the term of protection, and the formal requirements of the remainder of the bill, the new statute would apply. Under section 117, an action for infringement of a copyrighted work by means of a computer would necessarily be a federal action brought under the new title 17. The court, in deciding the scope of exclusive rights in the computer area, would first need to determine the applicable law, whether State statutory or common law or the Act of 1909. Having determined what law was applicable, its decision would depend upon its interpretation of what that law was on the point on the day before the effective date of the new statute.
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1998—Pub. L. 105–304 designated existing provisions as subsecs. (a) and (b), inserted headings, and added subsecs. (c) and (d). 1980—Pub. L. 96–517 substituted provision respecting limitations on exclusive rights in connection with computer programs for prior provision enunciating scope of exclusive rights and use of the work in conjunction with computers and similar information systems and declaring owner of copyright in a work without any greater or lesser rights with respect to the use of the work in conjunction with automatic systems capable of storing, processing, retrieving, or transferring information, or in conjunction with any similar device, machine, or process, than those afforded to works under the law, whether this title or the common law or statutes of a State, in effect on Dec. 31, 1977, as held applicable and construed by the court in an action brought under this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-120.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 120"
+description: "Scope of exclusive rights in architectural works"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "120"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 120"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s120"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "75a89d9b89be0a3b1fb4725fc0a97d1680097e2a35bc190ff56e8ea17116e11f"
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+text_hash: "02dd361b3549ccaeebda9e6c8c8d556b1b1ed777219c47dd776d09d146dd332b"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 120 - Scope of exclusive rights in architectural works
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Pictorial Representations Permitted.— The copyright in an architectural work that has been constructed does not include the right to prevent the making, distributing, or public display of pictures, paintings, photographs, or other pictorial representations of the work, if the building in which the work is embodied is located in or ordinarily visible from a public place.
+
+(b) Alterations to and Destruction of Buildings.— Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106(2), the owners of a building embodying an architectural work may, without the consent of the author or copyright owner of the architectural work, make or authorize the making of alterations to such building, and destroy or authorize the destruction of such building.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 101–650, title VII, § 704(a), Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5133.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective DateSection applicable to any architectural work created on or after Dec. 1, 1990, and any architectural work, that, on Dec. 1, 1990, is unconstructed and embodied in unpublished plans or drawings, except that protection for such architectural work under this title terminates on Dec. 31, 2002, unless the work is constructed by that date, see section 706 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as an Effective Date of 1990 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-121.md

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 121"
+description: "Limitations on exclusive rights: Reproduction for blind or other people with disabilities"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "121"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 121"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s121"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "b6ac6cdf2dcc6838b01020e31ed282e905feea8a4ca332af7b483dfe07b993f2"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "daa7e0978a691d0d1426399ce7cfa63285c32601b2b72726db9ef05d14d983a0"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 121 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Reproduction for blind or other people with disabilities
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement of copyright for an authorized entity to reproduce or to distribute in the United States copies or phonorecords of a previously published literary work or of a previously published musical work that has been fixed in the form of text or notation if such copies or phonorecords are reproduced or distributed in accessible formats exclusively for use by eligible persons.
+
+(b) (1) Copies or phonorecords to which this section applies shall—
+
+(A) not be reproduced or distributed in the United States in a format other than an accessible format exclusively for use by eligible persons;
+
+(B) bear a notice that any further reproduction or distribution in a format other than an accessible format is an infringement; and
+
+(C) include a copyright notice identifying the copyright owner and the date of the original publication.
+
+(2) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to standardized, secure, or norm-referenced tests and related testing material, or to computer programs, except the portions thereof that are in conventional human language (including descriptions of pictorial works) and displayed to users in the ordinary course of using the computer programs.
+
+(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement of copyright for a publisher of print instructional materials for use in elementary or secondary schools to create and distribute to the National Instructional Materials Access Center copies of the electronic files described in sections 612(a)(23)(C), 613(a)(6), and section 674(e) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that contain the contents of print instructional materials using the National Instructional Material Accessibility Standard (as defined in section 674(e)(3) of that Act), if—
+
+(1) the inclusion of the contents of such print instructional materials is required by any State educational agency or local educational agency;
+
+(2) the publisher had the right to publish such print instructional materials in print formats; and
+
+(3) such copies are used solely for reproduction or distribution of the contents of such print instructional materials in accessible formats.
+
+(d) For purposes of this section, the term—
+
+(1) “accessible format” means an alternative manner or form that gives an eligible person access to the work when the copy or phonorecord in the accessible format is used exclusively by the eligible person to permit him or her to have access as feasibly and comfortably as a person without such disability as described in paragraph (3);
+
+(2) “authorized entity” means a nonprofit organization or a governmental agency that has a primary mission to provide specialized services relating to training, education, or adaptive reading or information access needs of blind or other persons with disabilities;
+
+(3) “eligible person” means an individual who, regardless of any other disability—
+
+(A) is blind;
+
+(B) has a visual impairment or perceptual or reading disability that cannot be improved to give visual function substantially equivalent to that of a person who has no such impairment or disability and so is unable to read printed works to substantially the same degree as a person without an impairment or disability; or
+
+(C) is otherwise unable, through physical disability, to hold or manipulate a book or to focus or move the eyes to the extent that would be normally acceptable for reading; and
+
+(4) “print instructional materials” has the meaning given under section 674(e)(3)(C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 104–197, title III, § 316(a), Sept. 16, 1996, 110 Stat. 2416; amended Pub. L. 106–379, § 3(b), Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1445; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, § 13210(3)(A), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1909; Pub. L. 108–446, title III, § 306, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2807; Pub. L. 115–261, § 2(a)(1), Oct. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 3667.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextSections 612, 613, and 674 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsecs. (c) and (d)(4), are classified to sections 1412, 1413, and 1474, respectively, of Title 20, Education.
+
+Amendments2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–261, § 2(a)(1)(A), inserted “in the United States” after “distribute” and “or of a previously published musical work that has been fixed in the form of text or notation” after “literary work”, struck out “, nondramatic” after “previously published”, and substituted “accessible formats” for “specialized formats” and “eligible persons” for “blind or other persons with disabilities”. Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 115–261, § 2(a)(1)(B)(i), inserted “in the United States” after “distributed” and substituted “an accessible format” for “a specialized format” and “eligible persons” for “blind or other persons with disabilities”. Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–261, § 2(a)(1)(B)(ii), substituted “an accessible format” for “a specialized format”. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 115–261, § 2(a)(1)(C), substituted “accessible formats” for “specialized formats”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–261, § 2(a)(1)(D), added pars. (1) and (3), redesignated former pars. (1) and (3) as (2) and (4), respectively, substituted a period for “; and” at end of par. (4), and struck out former pars. (2) and (4) which defined “blind or other persons with disabilities” and “specialized formats”, respectively. 2004—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–446, § 306(2), added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–446, § 306(1), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d). Subsec. (d)(3), (4). Pub. L. 108–446, § 306(3), added pars. (3) and (4) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “ ‘specialized formats’ means braille, audio, or digital text which is exclusively for use by blind or other persons with disabilities.” 2002—Pub. L. 107–273 substituted “Reproduction” for “reproduction” in section catchline. 2000—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–379 substituted “section 106” for “sections 106 and 710”.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-121a.md

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 121A"
+description: "Limitations on exclusive rights: reproduction for blind or other people with disabilities in Marrakesh Treaty countries"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "121A"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 121A"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s121A"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "352830b5ca18613ca282bd2872bc4d464b0078f82b7e7a1d0deea8e4461f6522"
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+text_hash: "835a83dd0703707dc2f423728d7b341694ad212945b5ce322b2799a43dd7296f"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 121A - Limitations on exclusive rights: reproduction for blind or other people with disabilities in Marrakesh Treaty countries
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 602, it is not an infringement of copyright for an authorized entity, acting pursuant to this section, to export copies or phonorecords of a previously published literary work or of a previously published musical work that has been fixed in the form of text or notation in accessible formats to another country when the exportation is made either to—
+
+(1) an authorized entity located in a country that is a Party to the Marrakesh Treaty; or
+
+(2) an eligible person in a country that is a Party to the Marrakesh Treaty,
+
+if prior to the exportation of such copies or phonorecords, the authorized entity engaged in the exportation did not know or have reasonable grounds to know that the copies or phonorecords would be used other than by eligible persons.
+
+(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 602, it is not an infringement of copyright for an authorized entity or an eligible person, or someone acting on behalf of an eligible person, acting pursuant to this section, to import copies or phonorecords of a previously published literary work or of a previously published musical work that has been fixed in the form of text or notation in accessible formats.
+
+(c) In conducting activities under subsection (a) or (b), an authorized entity shall establish and follow its own practices, in keeping with its particular circumstances, to—
+
+(1) establish that the persons the authorized entity serves are eligible persons;
+
+(2) limit to eligible persons and authorized entities the distribution of accessible format copies by the authorized entity;
+
+(3) discourage the reproduction and distribution of unauthorized copies;
+
+(4) maintain due care in, and records of, the handling of copies of works by the authorized entity, while respecting the privacy of eligible persons on an equal basis with others; and
+
+(5) facilitate effective cross-border exchange of accessible format copies by making publicly available—
+
+(A) the titles of works for which the authorized entity has accessible format copies or phonorecords and the specific accessible formats in which they are available; and
+
+(B) information on the policies, practices, and authorized entity partners of the authorized entity for the cross-border exchange of accessible format copies.
+
+(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to establish—
+
+(1) a cause of action under this title; or
+
+(2) a basis for regulation by any Federal agency.
+
+(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability to engage in any activity otherwise permitted under this title.
+
+(f) For purposes of this section—
+
+(1) the terms “accessible format”, “authorized entity”, and “eligible person” have the meanings given those terms in section 121; and
+
+(2) the term “Marrakesh Treaty” means the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities concluded at Marrakesh, Morocco, on June 28, 2013.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 115–261, § 2(a)(2), Oct. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 3668.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-1/section-122.md

@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 122"
+description: "Limitations on exclusive rights: Secondary transmissions of local television programming by satellite"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "1"
+chapter_name: "SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "122"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 122"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s122"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "7a53c755a094250f2ba9e5e92eea2113e0e6e845c54ea2f8bd61de906e1a248e"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "92b9fd6dd309ae07bc00a21ad88efa29ec56511276f9003e7da7e643eead9d0f"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 122 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Secondary transmissions of local television programming by satellite
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Secondary Transmissions Into Local Markets.— (1) Secondary transmissions of television broadcast stations within a local market.— A secondary transmission of a performance or display of a work embodied in a primary transmission of a television broadcast station into the station’s local market shall be subject to statutory licensing under this section if—
+
+(A) the secondary transmission is made by a satellite carrier to the public;
+
+(B) with regard to secondary transmissions, the satellite carrier is in compliance with the rules, regulations, or authorizations of the Federal Communications Commission governing the carriage of television broadcast station signals; and
+
+(C) the satellite carrier makes a direct or indirect charge for the secondary transmission to—
+
+(i) each subscriber receiving the secondary transmission; or
+
+(ii) a distributor that has contracted with the satellite carrier for direct or indirect delivery of the secondary transmission to the public.
+
+(2) Significantly viewed stations.— (A) In general.— A secondary transmission of a performance or display of a work embodied in a primary transmission of a television broadcast station to subscribers who receive secondary transmissions of primary transmissions under paragraph (1) shall be subject to statutory licensing under this paragraph if the secondary transmission is of the primary transmission of a network station or a non-network station to a subscriber who resides outside the station’s local market but within a community in which the signal has been determined by the Federal Communications Commission to be significantly viewed in such community, pursuant to the rules, regulations, and authorizations of the Federal Communications Commission in effect on April 15, 1976, applicable to determining with respect to a cable system whether signals are significantly viewed in a community.
+
+(B) Waiver.— A subscriber who is denied the secondary transmission of the primary transmission of a network station or a non-network station under subparagraph (A) may request a waiver from such denial by submitting a request, through the subscriber’s satellite carrier, to the network station or non-network station in the local market affiliated with the same network or non-network where the subscriber is located. The network station or non-network station shall accept or reject the subscriber’s request for a waiver within 30 days after receipt of the request. If the network station or non-network station fails to accept or reject the subscriber’s request for a waiver within that 30-day period, that network station or non-network station shall be deemed to agree to the waiver request.
+
+(3) Secondary transmission of low power programming.— (A) In general.— Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), a secondary transmission of a performance or display of a work embodied in a primary transmission of a television broadcast station to subscribers who receive secondary transmissions of primary transmissions under paragraph (1) shall be subject to statutory licensing under this paragraph if the secondary transmission is of the primary transmission of a television broadcast station that is licensed as a low power television station, to a subscriber who resides within the same designated market area as the station that originates the transmission.
+
+(B) No applicability to repeaters and translators.— Secondary transmissions provided for in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any low power television station that retransmits the programs and signals of another television station for more than 2 hours each day.
+
+(C) No impact on other secondary transmissions obligations.— A satellite carrier that makes secondary transmissions of a primary transmission of a low power television station under a statutory license provided under this section is not required, by reason of such secondary transmissions, to make any other secondary transmissions.
+
+(4) Special exceptions.— A secondary transmission of a performance or display of a work embodied in a primary transmission of a television broadcast station to subscribers who receive secondary transmissions of primary transmissions under paragraph (1) shall, if the secondary transmission is made by a satellite carrier that complies with the requirements of paragraph (1), be subject to statutory licensing under this paragraph as follows:
+
+(A) States with single full-power network station.— In a State in which there is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission a single full-power station that was a network station on January 1, 1995, the statutory license provided for in this paragraph shall apply to the secondary transmission by a satellite carrier of the primary transmission of that station to any subscriber in a community that is located within that State and that is not within the first 50 television markets as listed in the regulations of the Commission as in effect on such date (47 C.F.R. 76.51).
+
+(B) States with all network stations and non-network stations in same local market.— In a State in which all network stations and non-network stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission within that State as of January 1, 1995, are assigned to the same local market and that local market does not encompass all counties of that State, the statutory license provided under this paragraph shall apply to the secondary transmission by a satellite carrier of the primary transmissions of such station to all subscribers in the State who reside in a local market that is within the first 50 major television markets as listed in the regulations of the Commission as in effect on such date (section 76.51 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations).
+
+(C) Additional stations.— In the case of that State in which are located 4 counties that—
+
+(i) on January 1, 2004, were in local markets principally comprised of counties in another State, and
+
+(ii) had a combined total of 41,340 television households, according to the U.S. Television Household Estimates by Nielsen Media Research for 2004,
+
+the statutory license provided under this paragraph shall apply to secondary transmissions by a satellite carrier to subscribers in any such county of the primary transmissions of any network station located in that State, if the satellite carrier was making such secondary transmissions to any subscribers in that county on January 1, 2004.
+
+(D) Certain additional stations.— If 2 adjacent counties in a single State are in a local market comprised principally of counties located in another State, the statutory license provided for in this paragraph shall apply to the secondary transmission by a satellite carrier to subscribers in those 2 counties of the primary transmissions of any network station located in the capital of the State in which such 2 counties are located, if—
+
+(i) the 2 counties are located in a local market that is in the top 100 markets for the year 2003 according to Nielsen Media Research; and
+
+(ii) the total number of television households in the 2 counties combined did not exceed 10,000 for the year 2003 according to Nielsen Media Research.
+
+(E) Networks of noncommercial educational broadcast stations.— In the case of a system of three or more noncommercial educational broadcast stations licensed to a single State, public agency, or political, educational, or special purpose subdivision of a State, the statutory license provided for in this paragraph shall apply to the secondary transmission of the primary transmission of such system to any subscriber in any county or county equivalent within such State, if such subscriber is located in a designated market area that is not otherwise eligible to receive the secondary transmission of the primary transmission of a noncommercial educational broadcast station located within the State pursuant to paragraph (1).
+
+(5) Applicability of royalty rates and procedures.— The royalty rates and procedures under section 119(b) shall apply to the secondary transmissions to which the statutory license under paragraph (4) applies.
+
+(b) Reporting Requirements.— (1) Initial lists.— A satellite carrier that makes secondary transmissions of a primary transmission made by a network station under subsection (a) shall, within 90 days after commencing such secondary transmissions, submit to the network that owns or is affiliated with the network station—
+
+(A) a list identifying (by name in alphabetical order and street address, including county and 9-digit zip code) all subscribers to which the satellite carrier makes secondary transmissions of that primary transmission under subsection (a); and
+
+(B) a separate list, aggregated by designated market area (by name and address, including street or rural route number, city, State, and 9-digit zip code), which shall indicate those subscribers being served pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (a).
+
+(2) Subsequent lists.— After the list is submitted under paragraph (1), the satellite carrier shall, on the 15th of each month, submit to the network—
+
+(A) a list identifying (by name in alphabetical order and street address, including county and 9-digit zip code) any subscribers who have been added or dropped as subscribers since the last submission under this subsection; and
+
+(B) a separate list, aggregated by designated market area (by name and street address, including street or rural route number, city, State, and 9-digit zip code), identifying those subscribers whose service pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (a) has been added or dropped since the last submission under this subsection.
+
+(3) Use of subscriber information.— Subscriber information submitted by a satellite carrier under this subsection may be used only for the purposes of monitoring compliance by the satellite carrier with this section.
+
+(4) Requirements of networks.— The submission requirements of this subsection shall apply to a satellite carrier only if the network to which the submissions are to be made places on file with the Register of Copyrights a document identifying the name and address of the person to whom such submissions are to be made. The Register of Copyrights shall maintain for public inspection a file of all such documents.
+
+(c) No Royalty Fee Required for Certain Secondary Transmissions.— A satellite carrier whose secondary transmissions are subject to statutory licensing under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a) shall have no royalty obligation for such secondary transmissions.
+
+(d) Noncompliance With Reporting and Regulatory Requirements.— Notwithstanding subsection (a), the willful or repeated secondary transmission to the public by a satellite carrier into the local market of a television broadcast station of a primary transmission embodying a performance or display of a work made by that television broadcast station is actionable as an act of infringement under section 501, and is fully subject to the remedies provided under sections 502 through 506, if the satellite carrier has not complied with the reporting requirements of subsection (b) or with the rules, regulations, and authorizations of the Federal Communications Commission concerning the carriage of television broadcast signals.
+
+(e) Willful Alterations.— Notwithstanding subsection (a), the secondary transmission to the public by a satellite carrier into the local market of a television broadcast station of a performance or display of a work embodied in a primary transmission made by that television broadcast station is actionable as an act of infringement under section 501, and is fully subject to the remedies provided by sections 502 through 506 and section 510, if the content of the particular program in which the performance or display is embodied, or any commercial advertising or station announcement transmitted by the primary transmitter during, or immediately before or after, the transmission of such program, is in any way willfully altered by the satellite carrier through changes, deletions, or additions, or is combined with programming from any other broadcast signal.
+
+(f) Violation of Territorial Restrictions on Statutory License for Television Broadcast Stations.— (1) Individual violations.— The willful or repeated secondary transmission to the public by a satellite carrier of a primary transmission embodying a performance or display of a work made by a television broadcast station to a subscriber who does not reside in that station’s local market, and is not subject to statutory licensing under section 119, subject to statutory licensing by reason of paragraph (2)(A), (3), or (4) of subsection (a), or subject to a private licensing agreement, is actionable as an act of infringement under section 501 and is fully subject to the remedies provided by sections 502 through 506, except that—
+
+(A) no damages shall be awarded for such act of infringement if the satellite carrier took corrective action by promptly withdrawing service from the ineligible subscriber; and
+
+(B) any statutory damages shall not exceed $250 for such subscriber for each month during which the violation occurred.
+
+(2) Pattern of violations.— If a satellite carrier engages in a willful or repeated pattern or practice of secondarily transmitting to the public a primary transmission embodying a performance or display of a work made by a television broadcast station to subscribers who do not reside in that station’s local market, and are not subject to statutory licensing under section 119, subject to statutory licensing by reason of paragraph (2)(A), (3), or (4) of subsection (a), or subject to a private licensing agreement, then in addition to the remedies under paragraph (1)—
+
+(A) if the pattern or practice has been carried out on a substantially nationwide basis, the court—
+
+(i) shall order a permanent injunction barring the secondary transmission by the satellite carrier of the primary transmissions of that television broadcast station (and if such television broadcast station is a network station, all other television broadcast stations affiliated with such network); and
+
+(ii) may order statutory damages not exceeding $2,500,000 for each 6-month period during which the pattern or practice was carried out; and
+
+(B) if the pattern or practice has been carried out on a local or regional basis with respect to more than one television broadcast station, the court—
+
+(i) shall order a permanent injunction barring the secondary transmission in that locality or region by the satellite carrier of the primary transmissions of any television broadcast station; and
+
+(ii) may order statutory damages not exceeding $2,500,000 for each 6-month period during which the pattern or practice was carried out.
+
+(g) Burden of Proof.— In any action brought under subsection (f), the satellite carrier shall have the burden of proving that its secondary transmission of a primary transmission by a television broadcast station is made only to subscribers located within that station’s local market or subscribers being served in compliance with section 119, paragraph (2)(A), (3), or (4) of subsection (a), or a private licensing agreement.
+
+(h) Geographic Limitations on Secondary Transmissions.— The statutory license created by this section shall apply to secondary transmissions to locations in the United States.
+
+(i) Exclusivity With Respect to Secondary Transmissions of Broadcast Stations by Satellite to Members of the Public.— No provision of section 111 or any other law (other than this section and section 119) shall be construed to contain any authorization, exemption, or license through which secondary transmissions by satellite carriers of programming contained in a primary transmission made by a television broadcast station may be made without obtaining the consent of the copyright owner.
+
+(j) Definitions.— In this section—
+
+(1) Distributor.— The term “distributor” means an entity that contracts to distribute secondary transmissions from a satellite carrier and, either as a single channel or in a package with other programming, provides the secondary transmission either directly to individual subscribers or indirectly through other program distribution entities.
+
+(2) Local market.— (A) In general.— The term “local market”, in the case of both commercial and noncommercial television broadcast stations, means the designated market area in which a station is located, and—
+
+(i) in the case of a commercial television broadcast station, all commercial television broadcast stations licensed to a community within the same designated market area are within the same local market; and
+
+(ii) in the case of a noncommercial educational television broadcast station, the market includes any station that is licensed to a community within the same designated market area as the noncommercial educational television broadcast station.
+
+(B) County of license.— In addition to the area described in subparagraph (A), a station’s local market includes the county in which the station’s community of license is located.
+
+(C) Designated market area.— For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “designated market area” means a designated market area, as determined by Nielsen Media Research and published in the 1999–2000 Nielsen Station Index Directory and Nielsen Station Index United States Television Household Estimates or any successor publication.
+
+(D) Certain areas outside of any designated market area.— Any census area, borough, or other area in the State of Alaska that is outside of a designated market area, as determined by Nielsen Media Research, shall be deemed to be part of one of the local markets in the State of Alaska. A satellite carrier may determine which local market in the State of Alaska will be deemed to be the relevant local market in connection with each subscriber in such census area, borough, or other area.
+
+(E) Market determinations.— The local market of a commercial television broadcast station may be modified by the Federal Communications Commission in accordance with section 338(l) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 338).
+
+(3) Low power television station.— The term “low power television station” means a low power TV station as defined in section 74.701(f) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on June 1, 2004. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “low power television station” includes a low power television station that has been accorded primary status as a Class A television licensee under section 73.6001(a) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations.
+
+(4) Network station; non-network station; satellite carrier; secondary transmission.— The terms “network station”, “non-network station”, “satellite carrier”, and “secondary transmission” have the meanings given such terms under section 119(d).
+
+(5) Noncommercial educational broadcast station.— The term “noncommercial educational broadcast station” means a television broadcast station that is a noncommercial educational broadcast station as defined in section 397 of the Communications Act of 1934, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010.
+
+(6) Subscriber.— The term “subscriber” means a person or entity that receives a secondary transmission service from a satellite carrier and pays a fee for the service, directly or indirectly, to the satellite carrier or to a distributor.
+
+(7) Television broadcast station.— The term “television broadcast station”—
+
+(A) means an over-the-air, commercial or noncommercial television broadcast station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission under subpart E of part 73 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, except that such term does not include a low-power or translator television station; and
+
+(B) includes a television broadcast station licensed by an appropriate governmental authority of Canada or Mexico if the station broadcasts primarily in the English language and is a network station as defined in section 119(d)(2)(A).
+
+(Added Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title I, § 1002(a)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–523; amended Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, § 13210(2)(A), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1909; Pub. L. 108–447, div. J, title IX [title I, § 111(b)], Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3409; Pub. L. 110–403, title II, § 209(a)(5), Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4264; Pub. L. 111–175, title I, § 103(a)(1), (b)–(f), May 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 1227–1230; Pub. L. 113–200, title II, § 204, Dec. 4, 2014, 128 Stat. 2067.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextSection 397 of the Communications Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (j)(5), is classified to section 397 of Title 47, Telecommunications. The date of the enactment of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010, referred to in subsec. (j)(5), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 111–175, which shall be deemed to refer to Feb. 27, 2010, see section 307(a) of Pub. L. 111–175, set out as an Effective Date of 2010 Amendment note under section 111 of this title.
+
+Amendments2014—Subsec. (j)(2)(B) to (D). Pub. L. 113–200, § 204(1), realigned margins. Subsec. (j)(2)(E). Pub. L. 113–200, § 204(2), added subpar. (E). 2010—Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(a)(1), substituted “of local television programming by satellite” for “by satellite carriers within local markets” in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(b), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) related to secondary transmissions of television broadcast stations by satellite carriers. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(c)(1), substituted “station—” for “station a list identifying (by name in alphabetical order and street address, including county and zip code) all subscribers to which the satellite carrier makes secondary transmissions of that primary transmission under subsection (a).” and added subpars. (A) and (B). Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(c)(2), substituted “network—” for “network a list identifying (by name in alphabetical order and street address, including county and zip code) any subscribers who have been added or dropped as subscribers since the last submission under this subsection.” and added subpars. (A) and (B). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(d), inserted “for Certain Secondary Transmissions” after “Required” in heading and substituted “paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a)” for “subsection (a)” in text. Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(e)(2)(A), substituted “section 119, subject to statutory licensing by reason of paragraph (2)(A), (3), or (4) of subsection (a), or subject to” for “section 119 or” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (f)(1)(B). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(e)(1)(A), substituted “$250” for “$5”. Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(e)(2)(A), substituted “section 119, subject to statutory licensing by reason of paragraph (2)(A), (3), or (4) of subsection (a), or subject to” for “section 119 or” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (f)(2)(A)(ii), (B)(ii). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(e)(1)(B), substituted “$2,500,000” for “$250,000”. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(e)(2)(B), substituted “section 119, paragraph (2)(A), (3), or (4) of subsection (a), or” for “section 119 or”. Subsec. (j)(1). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(f)(1), substituted “that contracts” for “which contracts”. Subsec. (j)(3). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(f)(4), added par. (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4). Subsec. (j)(4). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(f)(3), redesignated par. (3) as (4) and inserted “non-network station;” after “Network station;” in heading and “ ‘non-network station’,” after “ ‘network station’,” in text. Former par. (4) redesignated (6). Subsec. (j)(5). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(f)(5), added par. (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (7). Subsec. (j)(6). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(f)(6), amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘subscriber’ means a person who receives a secondary transmission service from a satellite carrier and pays a fee for the service, directly or indirectly, to the satellite carrier or to a distributor.” Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(f)(2), redesignated par. (4) as (6). Subsec. (j)(7). Pub. L. 111–175, § 103(f)(2), redesignated par. (5) as (7). 2008—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–403, § 209(a)(5)(A), struck out “and 509” after “506”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–403, § 209(a)(5)(B), substituted “section 510” for “sections 509 and 510”. Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 110–403, § 209(a)(5)(C), struck out “and 509” after “506” in introductory provisions. 2004—Subsec. (j)(2)(D). Pub. L. 108–447 added subpar. (D). 2002—Pub. L. 107–273 substituted “rights: Secondary” for “rights; secondary” in section catchline.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–175 effective Feb. 27, 2010, see section 307(a) of Pub. L. 111–175, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.
+
+Effective DateSection effective July 1, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title I, § 1012] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as an Effective Date of 1999 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-10/section-1001.md

@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1001"
+description: "Definitions"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "10"
+chapter_name: "DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES AND MEDIA"
+section: "1001"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1001"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1001"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "49f9f48e6e23e9d681664297f7cd5dea009891c43b1644cd4097838eca1d32bb"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "26f991f54ac5e13f01ad222b62b0c45bdef2e6afc37e54ec4efef3d576ed81af"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1001 - Definitions
+
+## Text
+
+As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
+
+(1) A “digital audio copied recording” is a reproduction in a digital recording format of a digital musical recording, whether that reproduction is made directly from another digital musical recording or indirectly from a transmission.
+
+(2) A “digital audio interface device” is any machine or device that is designed specifically to communicate digital audio information and related interface data to a digital audio recording device through a nonprofessional interface.
+
+(3) A “digital audio recording device” is any machine or device of a type commonly distributed to individuals for use by individuals, whether or not included with or as part of some other machine or device, the digital recording function of which is designed or marketed for the primary purpose of, and that is capable of, making a digital audio copied recording for private use, except for—
+
+(A) professional model products, and
+
+(B) dictation machines, answering machines, and other audio recording equipment that is designed and marketed primarily for the creation of sound recordings resulting from the fixation of nonmusical sounds.
+
+(4) (A) A “digital audio recording medium” is any material object in a form commonly distributed for use by individuals, that is primarily marketed or most commonly used by consumers for the purpose of making digital audio copied recordings by use of a digital audio recording device.
+
+(B) Such term does not include any material object—
+
+(i) that embodies a sound recording at the time it is first distributed by the importer or manufacturer; or
+
+(ii) that is primarily marketed and most commonly used by consumers either for the purpose of making copies of motion pictures or other audiovisual works or for the purpose of making copies of nonmusical literary works, including computer programs or data bases.
+
+(5) (A) A “digital musical recording” is a material object—
+
+(i) in which are fixed, in a digital recording format, only sounds, and material, statements, or instructions incidental to those fixed sounds, if any, and
+
+(ii) from which the sounds and material can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device.
+
+(B) A “digital musical recording” does not include a material object—
+
+(i) in which the fixed sounds consist entirely of spoken word recordings, or
+
+(ii) in which one or more computer programs are fixed, except that a digital musical recording may contain statements or instructions constituting the fixed sounds and incidental material, and statements or instructions to be used directly or indirectly in order to bring about the perception, reproduction, or communication of the fixed sounds and incidental material.
+
+(C) For purposes of this paragraph—
+
+(i) a “spoken word recording” is a sound recording in which are fixed only a series of spoken words, except that the spoken words may be accompanied by incidental musical or other sounds, and
+
+(ii) the term “incidental” means related to and relatively minor by comparison.
+
+(6) “Distribute” means to sell, lease, or assign a product to consumers in the United States, or to sell, lease, or assign a product in the United States for ultimate transfer to consumers in the United States.
+
+(7) An “interested copyright party” is—
+
+(A) the owner of the exclusive right under section 106(1) of this title to reproduce a sound recording of a musical work that has been embodied in a digital musical recording or analog musical recording lawfully made under this title that has been distributed;
+
+(B) the legal or beneficial owner of, or the person that controls, the right to reproduce in a digital musical recording or analog musical recording a musical work that has been embodied in a digital musical recording or analog musical recording lawfully made under this title that has been distributed;
+
+(C) a featured recording artist who performs on a sound recording that has been distributed; or
+
+(D) any association or other organization—
+
+(i) representing persons specified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), or
+
+(ii) engaged in licensing rights in musical works to music users on behalf of writers and publishers.
+
+(8) To “manufacture” means to produce or assemble a product in the United States. A “manufacturer” is a person who manufactures.
+
+(9) A “music publisher” is a person that is authorized to license the reproduction of a particular musical work in a sound recording.
+
+(10) A “professional model product” is an audio recording device that is designed, manufactured, marketed, and intended for use by recording professionals in the ordinary course of a lawful business, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary of Commerce shall establish by regulation.
+
+(11) The term “serial copying” means the duplication in a digital format of a copyrighted musical work or sound recording from a digital reproduction of a digital musical recording. The term “digital reproduction of a digital musical recording” does not include a digital musical recording as distributed, by authority of the copyright owner, for ultimate sale to consumers.
+
+(12) The “transfer price” of a digital audio recording device or a digital audio recording medium—
+
+(A) is, subject to subparagraph (B)—
+
+(i) in the case of an imported product, the actual entered value at United States Customs (exclusive of any freight, insurance, and applicable duty), and
+
+(ii) in the case of a domestic product, the manufacturer’s transfer price (FOB the manufacturer, and exclusive of any direct sales taxes or excise taxes incurred in connection with the sale); and
+
+(B) shall, in a case in which the transferor and transferee are related entities or within a single entity, not be less than a reasonable arms-length price under the principles of the regulations adopted pursuant to section 482 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any successor provision to such section.
+
+(13) A “writer” is the composer or lyricist of a particular musical work.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 102–563, § 2, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4237.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextSection 482 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in par. (12)(B), is classified to section 482 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective DatePub. L. 102–563, § 4, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4248, provided that: “This Act [see Short Title of 1992 Amendment note set out under section 101 of this title] and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 1992].”

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-10/section-1002.md

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1002"
+description: "Incorporation of copying controls"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "10"
+chapter_name: "DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES AND MEDIA"
+section: "1002"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1002"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1002"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "73f839f9bbd7a875a7a429fb6582d9ccc12a64e0d154a30d67dbb0c453720f88"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "a48766b3b1478214974bea307da5ad844153511efe90d0f180a2232faad2b936"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1002 - Incorporation of copying controls
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Prohibition on Importation, Manufacture, and Distribution.— No person shall import, manufacture, or distribute any digital audio recording device or digital audio interface device that does not conform to—
+
+(1) the Serial Copy Management System;
+
+(2) a system that has the same functional characteristics as the Serial Copy Management System and requires that copyright and generation status information be accurately sent, received, and acted upon between devices using the system’s method of serial copying regulation and devices using the Serial Copy Management System; or
+
+(3) any other system certified by the Secretary of Commerce as prohibiting unauthorized serial copying.
+
+(b) Development of Verification Procedure.— The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a procedure to verify, upon the petition of an interested party, that a system meets the standards set forth in subsection (a)(2).
+
+(c) Prohibition on Circumvention of the System.— No person shall import, manufacture, or distribute any device, or offer or perform any service, the primary purpose or effect of which is to avoid, bypass, remove, deactivate, or otherwise circumvent any program or circuit which implements, in whole or in part, a system described in subsection (a).
+
+(d) Encoding of Information on Digital Musical Recordings.— (1) Prohibition on encoding inaccurate information.— No person shall encode a digital musical recording of a sound recording with inaccurate information relating to the category code, copyright status, or generation status of the source material for the recording.
+
+(2) Encoding of copyright status not required.— Nothing in this chapter requires any person engaged in the importation or manufacture of digital musical recordings to encode any such digital musical recording with respect to its copyright status.
+
+(e) Information Accompanying Transmissions in Digital Format.— Any person who transmits or otherwise communicates to the public any sound recording in digital format is not required under this chapter to transmit or otherwise communicate the information relating to the copyright status of the sound recording. Any such person who does transmit or otherwise communicate such copyright status information shall transmit or communicate such information accurately.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 102–563, § 2, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4240.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-10/section-1003.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1003"
+description: "Obligation to make royalty payments"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "10"
+chapter_name: "DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES AND MEDIA"
+section: "1003"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1003"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1003"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "037ded3a5f53df6bd0ba182d9574b56b1d584d2562f97ee2ba0e63b0f11ea7be"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "581dd3d5f61d81d1ba97b42dda7daa379120184507a95368d65d612e4bdfa97d"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1003 - Obligation to make royalty payments
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Prohibition on Importation and Manufacture.— No person shall import into and distribute, or manufacture and distribute, any digital audio recording device or digital audio recording medium unless such person records the notice specified by this section and subsequently deposits the statements of account and applicable royalty payments for such device or medium specified in section 1004.
+
+(b) Filing of Notice.— The importer or manufacturer of any digital audio recording device or digital audio recording medium, within a product category or utilizing a technology with respect to which such manufacturer or importer has not previously filed a notice under this subsection, shall file with the Register of Copyrights a notice with respect to such device or medium, in such form and content as the Register shall prescribe by regulation.
+
+(c) Filing of Quarterly and Annual Statements of Account.— (1) Generally.— Any importer or manufacturer that distributes any digital audio recording device or digital audio recording medium that it manufactured or imported shall file with the Register of Copyrights, in such form and content as the Register shall prescribe by regulation, such quarterly and annual statements of account with respect to such distribution as the Register shall prescribe by regulation.
+
+(2) Certification, verification, and confidentiality.— Each such statement shall be certified as accurate by an authorized officer or principal of the importer or manufacturer. The Register shall issue regulations to provide for the verification and audit of such statements and to protect the confidentiality of the information contained in such statements. Such regulations shall provide for the disclosure, in confidence, of such statements to interested copyright parties.
+
+(3) Royalty payments.— Each such statement shall be accompanied by the royalty payments specified in section 1004.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 102–563, § 2, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4240.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-10/section-1004.md

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1004"
+description: "Royalty payments"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "10"
+chapter_name: "DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES AND MEDIA"
+section: "1004"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1004"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1004"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "c4083e22fb99f40b5f5631e1938ee2da098878020fe7f2fa7bc302ba8b123596"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "2b6bdb5f7b59b83fa0c8a6f83baefb8ba58b7f7328b02c295ed4d6590e369f14"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1004 - Royalty payments
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Digital Audio Recording Devices.— (1) Amount of payment.— The royalty payment due under section 1003 for each digital audio recording device imported into and distributed in the United States, or manufactured and distributed in the United States, shall be 2 percent of the transfer price. Only the first person to manufacture and distribute or import and distribute such device shall be required to pay the royalty with respect to such device.
+
+(2) Calculation for devices distributed with other devices.— With respect to a digital audio recording device first distributed in combination with one or more devices, either as a physically integrated unit or as separate components, the royalty payment shall be calculated as follows:
+
+(A) If the digital audio recording device and such other devices are part of a physically integrated unit, the royalty payment shall be based on the transfer price of the unit, but shall be reduced by any royalty payment made on any digital audio recording device included within the unit that was not first distributed in combination with the unit.
+
+(B) If the digital audio recording device is not part of a physically integrated unit and substantially similar devices have been distributed separately at any time during the preceding 4 calendar quarters, the royalty payment shall be based on the average transfer price of such devices during those 4 quarters.
+
+(C) If the digital audio recording device is not part of a physically integrated unit and substantially similar devices have not been distributed separately at any time during the preceding 4 calendar quarters, the royalty payment shall be based on a constructed price reflecting the proportional value of such device to the combination as a whole.
+
+(3) Limits on royalties.— Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or (2), the amount of the royalty payment for each digital audio recording device shall not be less than $1 nor more than the royalty maximum. The royalty maximum shall be $8 per device, except that in the case of a physically integrated unit containing more than 1 digital audio recording device, the royalty maximum for such unit shall be $12. During the 6th year after the effective date of this chapter, and not more than once each year thereafter, any interested copyright party may petition the Copyright Royalty Judges to increase the royalty maximum and, if more than 20 percent of the royalty payments are at the relevant royalty maximum, the Copyright Royalty Judges shall prospectively increase such royalty maximum with the goal of having no more than 10 percent of such payments at the new royalty maximum; however the amount of any such increase as a percentage of the royalty maximum shall in no event exceed the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index during the period under review.
+
+(b) Digital Audio Recording Media.— The royalty payment due under section 1003 for each digital audio recording medium imported into and distributed in the United States, or manufactured and distributed in the United States, shall be 3 percent of the transfer price. Only the first person to manufacture and distribute or import and distribute such medium shall be required to pay the royalty with respect to such medium.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 102–563, § 2, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4241; amended Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(1), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2312; Pub. L. 108–419, § 5(i)(1), Nov. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2368.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe effective date of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is Oct. 28, 1992. See Effective Date note set out under section 1001 of this title.
+
+Amendments2004—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–419 substituted “Copyright Royalty Judges” for “Librarian of Congress” in two places. 1993—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 103–198 substituted “Librarian of Congress” for “Copyright Royalty Tribunal” after “may petition the” and for “Tribunal” before “shall prospectively”.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2004 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–419 effective 6 months after Nov. 30, 2004, subject to transition provisions, see section 6 of Pub. L. 108–419, set out as an Effective Date; Transition Provisions note under section 801 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-10/section-1005.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1005"
+description: "Deposit of royalty payments and deduction of expenses"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "10"
+chapter_name: "DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES AND MEDIA"
+section: "1005"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1005"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1005"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "6e92d1bf27ce235f06c16ff0f6a97e82659942720d41280abc0ec2f56016140b"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "13fee37eb2548df8b190b658686b0bba0b27bfec85e81c2e9c8061f2b094a835"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1005 - Deposit of royalty payments and deduction of expenses
+
+## Text
+
+The Register of Copyrights shall receive all royalty payments deposited under this chapter and, after deducting the reasonable costs incurred by the Copyright Office under this chapter, shall deposit the balance in the Treasury of the United States as offsetting receipts, in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury directs. All funds held by the Secretary of the Treasury shall be invested in interest-bearing United States securities for later distribution with interest under section 1007. The Register may, in the Register’s discretion, 4 years after the close of any calendar year, close out the royalty payments account for that calendar year, and may treat any funds remaining in such account and any subsequent deposits that would otherwise be attributable to that calendar year as attributable to the succeeding calendar year.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 102–563, § 2, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4242; amended Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(2), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2312.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1993—Pub. L. 103–198 struck out at end “The Register shall submit to the Copyright Royalty Tribunal, on a monthly basis, a financial statement reporting the amount of royalties under this chapter that are available for distribution.”

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-10/section-1006.md

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1006"
+description: "Entitlement to royalty payments"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "10"
+chapter_name: "DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES AND MEDIA"
+section: "1006"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1006"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1006"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "7e2df7c29892752b3dce1a896745989f2475b6c4b6ccbefabe7678fe1dba2773"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "31a70ea5c986c64b24f837b10acc219d99dd44ab0cc276c78aefc77096a9f9eb"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1006 - Entitlement to royalty payments
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Interested Copyright Parties.— The royalty payments deposited pursuant to section 1005 shall, in accordance with the procedures specified in section 1007, be distributed to any interested copyright party—
+
+(1) whose musical work or sound recording has been—
+
+(A) embodied in a digital musical recording or an analog musical recording lawfully made under this title that has been distributed, and
+
+(B) distributed in the form of digital musical recordings or analog musical recordings or disseminated to the public in transmissions, during the period to which such payments pertain; and
+
+(2) who has filed a claim under section 1007.
+
+(b) Allocation of Royalty Payments to Groups.— The royalty payments shall be divided into 2 funds as follows:
+
+(1) The sound recordings fund.— 66⅔ percent of the royalty payments shall be allocated to the Sound Recordings Fund. 2⅝ percent of the royalty payments allocated to the Sound Recordings Fund shall be placed in an escrow account managed by an independent administrator jointly appointed by the interested copyright parties described in section 1001(7)(A) and the American Federation of Musicians (or any successor entity) to be distributed to nonfeatured musicians (whether or not members of the American Federation of Musicians or any successor entity) who have performed on sound recordings distributed in the United States. 1⅜ percent of the royalty payments allocated to the Sound Recordings Fund shall be placed in an escrow account managed by an independent administrator jointly appointed by the interested copyright parties described in section 1001(7)(A) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (or any successor entity) to be distributed to nonfeatured vocalists (whether or not members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists or any successor entity) who have performed on sound recordings distributed in the United States. 40 percent of the remaining royalty payments in the Sound Recordings Fund shall be distributed to the interested copyright parties described in section 1001(7)(C), and 60 percent of such remaining royalty payments shall be distributed to the interested copyright parties described in section 1001(7)(A).
+
+(2) The musical works fund.— (A) 33⅓ percent of the royalty payments shall be allocated to the Musical Works Fund for distribution to interested copyright parties described in section 1001(7)(B).
+
+(B) (i) Music publishers shall be entitled to 50 percent of the royalty payments allocated to the Musical Works Fund.
+
+(ii) Writers shall be entitled to the other 50 percent of the royalty payments allocated to the Musical Works Fund.
+
+(c) Allocation of Royalty Payments Within Groups.— If all interested copyright parties within a group specified in subsection (b) do not agree on a voluntary proposal for the distribution of the royalty payments within each group, the Copyright Royalty Judges shall, pursuant to the procedures specified under section 1007(c), allocate royalty payments under this section based on the extent to which, during the relevant period—
+
+(1) for the Sound Recordings Fund, each sound recording was distributed in the form of digital musical recordings or analog musical recordings; and
+
+(2) for the Musical Works Fund, each musical work was distributed in the form of digital musical recordings or analog musical recordings or disseminated to the public in transmissions.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 102–563, § 2, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4242; amended Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(3), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2312; Pub. L. 105–80, § 12(a)(24), Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1535; Pub. L. 108–419, § 5(i)(2), Nov. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2368.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2004—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–419 substituted “Copyright Royalty Judges” for “Librarian of Congress shall convene a copyright arbitration royalty panel which” in introductory provisions. 1997—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105–80 substituted “Federation of Television” for “Federation Television” before “and Radio Artists or any successor entity)”. 1993—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–198 substituted “Librarian of Congress shall convene a copyright arbitration royalty panel which” for “Copyright Royalty Tribunal” in introductory provisions.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2004 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–419 effective 6 months after Nov. 30, 2004, subject to transition provisions, see section 6 of Pub. L. 108–419, set out as an Effective Date; Transition Provisions note under section 801 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-10/section-1007.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1007"
+description: "Procedures for distributing royalty payments"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "10"
+chapter_name: "DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES AND MEDIA"
+section: "1007"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1007"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1007"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "0ab9759eb338e0bbb7119334993621dc5c788b574c074ad53120c62b2d199432"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "922035b0ce734fd3b3d7c4c8afadb1e8d2e0a70e6f20ab72e1f3e1badc848702"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1007 - Procedures for distributing royalty payments
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Filing of Claims and Negotiations.— (1) Filing of claims.— During the first 2 months of each calendar year, every interested copyright party seeking to receive royalty payments to which such party is entitled under section 1006 shall file with the Copyright Royalty Judges a claim for payments collected during the preceding year in such form and manner as the Copyright Royalty Judges shall prescribe by regulation.
+
+(2) Negotiations.— Notwithstanding any provision of the antitrust laws, for purposes of this section interested copyright parties within each group specified in section 1006(b) may agree among themselves to the proportionate division of royalty payments, may lump their claims together and file them jointly or as a single claim, or may designate a common agent, including any organization described in section 1001(7)(D), to negotiate or receive payment on their behalf; except that no agreement under this subsection may modify the allocation of royalties specified in section 1006(b).
+
+(b) Distribution of Payments in the Absence of a Dispute.— After the period established for the filing of claims under subsection (a), in each year, the Copyright Royalty Judges shall determine whether there exists a controversy concerning the distribution of royalty payments under section 1006(c). If the Copyright Royalty Judges determine that no such controversy exists, the Copyright Royalty Judges shall, within 30 days after such determination, authorize the distribution of the royalty payments as set forth in the agreements regarding the distribution of royalty payments entered into pursuant to subsection (a). The Librarian of Congress shall, before such royalty payments are distributed, deduct the reasonable administrative costs incurred under this section.
+
+(c) Resolution of Disputes.— If the Copyright Royalty Judges find the existence of a controversy, the Copyright Royalty Judges shall, pursuant to chapter 8 of this title, conduct a proceeding to determine the distribution of royalty payments. During the pendency of such a proceeding, the Copyright Royalty Judges shall withhold from distribution an amount sufficient to satisfy all claims with respect to which a controversy exists, but shall, to the extent feasible, authorize the distribution of any amounts that are not in controversy. The Librarian of Congress shall, before such royalty payments are distributed, deduct the reasonable administrative costs incurred under this section.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 102–563, § 2, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4244; amended Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(4), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2312; Pub. L. 105–80, §§ 9, 12(a)(25), Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1534, 1535; Pub. L. 108–419, § 5(i)(3), Nov. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2368; Pub. L. 109–303, § 4(f), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1483.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–303, § 4(f)(1), substituted “Copyright Royalty Judges” for “Librarian of Congress” in second sentence and struck out “by the Librarian” after “administrative costs incurred” in last sentence. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–303, § 4(f)(2), struck out “by the Librarian” after “administrative costs incurred” in last sentence. 2004—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–419, § 5(i)(3)(A), reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “During the first 2 months of each calendar year after calendar year 1992, every interested copyright party seeking to receive royalty payments to which such party is entitled under section 1006 shall file with the Librarian of Congress a claim for payments collected during the preceding year in such form and manner as the Librarian of Congress shall prescribe by regulation.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–419, § 5(i)(3)(B), reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “After the period established for the filing of claims under subsection (a), in each year after 1992, the Librarian of Congress shall determine whether there exists a controversy concerning the distribution of royalty payments under section 1006(c). If the Librarian of Congress determines that no such controversy exists, the Librarian of Congress shall, within 30 days after such determination, authorize the distribution of the royalty payments as set forth in the agreements regarding the distribution of royalty payments entered into pursuant to subsection (a), after deducting its reasonable administrative costs under this section.” Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–419, § 5(i)(3)(B), reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “If the Librarian of Congress finds the existence of a controversy, the Librarian shall, pursuant to chapter 8 of this title, convene a copyright arbitration royalty panel to determine the distribution of royalty payments. During the pendency of such a proceeding, the Librarian of Congress shall withhold from distribution an amount sufficient to satisfy all claims with respect to which a controversy exists, but shall, to the extent feasible, authorize the distribution of any amounts that are not in controversy. The Librarian of Congress shall, before authorizing the distribution of such royalty payments, deduct the reasonable administrative costs incurred by the Librarian under this section.” 1997—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–80, § 12(a)(25)(A), substituted “calendar year 1992” for “the calendar year in which this chapter takes effect”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–80, §§ 9, 12(a)(25)(B), substituted “After the period established” for “Within 30 days after the period established” and “each year after 1992” for “each year after the year in which this section takes effect”. 1993—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(4)(A), substituted “Librarian of Congress” for “Copyright Royalty Tribunal” before “a claim for” and for “Tribunal” before “shall prescribe”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(4)(B), substituted “Librarian of Congress” for “Copyright Royalty Tribunal” before “shall determine whether” and for “Tribunal” wherever appearing. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(4)(C), substituted first sentence for “If the Tribunal finds the existence of a controversy, it shall, pursuant to chapter 8 of this title, conduct a proceeding to determine the distribution of royalty payments.”, substituted “Librarian of Congress” for “Tribunal” wherever appearing in second and third sentences, and “the reasonable administrative costs incurred by the Librarian” for “its reasonable administrative costs” in last sentence.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2006 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 109–303 effective as if included in the Copyright Royalty and Distribution Reform Act of 2004, Pub. L. 108–419, see section 6 of Pub. L. 109–303, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.
+
+Effective Date of 2004 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–419 effective 6 months after Nov. 30, 2004, subject to transition provisions, see section 6 of Pub. L. 108–419, set out as an Effective Date; Transition Provisions note under section 801 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-10/section-1008.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1008"
+description: "Prohibition on certain infringement actions"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "10"
+chapter_name: "DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES AND MEDIA"
+section: "1008"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1008"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1008"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "86911a6d009abb309c852d2a2f1e2cd2ce6d801b878ff53e0d4565b221dea201"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "e6226a7f46556ef00814c7c4cb27178c6fe1d11b8d5c938981bb856027ef0528"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1008 - Prohibition on certain infringement actions
+
+## Text
+
+No action may be brought under this title alleging infringement of copyright based on the manufacture, importation, or distribution of a digital audio recording device, a digital audio recording medium, an analog recording device, or an analog recording medium, or based on the noncommercial use by a consumer of such a device or medium for making digital musical recordings or analog musical recordings.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 102–563, § 2, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4244.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-10/section-1009.md

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1009"
+description: "Civil remedies"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "10"
+chapter_name: "DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES AND MEDIA"
+section: "1009"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1009"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1009"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "a10c96c4729b4886fea43b4a4b6e050d4cd208c62c2072dc04c62c386c1e0094"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "030bb82b753545efed774b455ff7353622e4b212697f6bb06265e68abe4b871e"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1009 - Civil remedies
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Civil Actions.— Any interested copyright party injured by a violation of section 1002 or 1003 may bring a civil action in an appropriate United States district court against any person for such violation.
+
+(b) Other Civil Actions.— Any person injured by a violation of this chapter may bring a civil action in an appropriate United States district court for actual damages incurred as a result of such violation.
+
+(c) Powers of the Court.— In an action brought under subsection (a), the court—
+
+(1) may grant temporary and permanent injunctions on such terms as it deems reasonable to prevent or restrain such violation;
+
+(2) in the case of a violation of section 1002, or in the case of an injury resulting from a failure to make royalty payments required by section 1003, shall award damages under subsection (d);
+
+(3) in its discretion may allow the recovery of costs by or against any party other than the United States or an officer thereof; and
+
+(4) in its discretion may award a reasonable attorney’s fee to the prevailing party.
+
+(d) Award of Damages.— (1) Damages for section 1002 or 1003 violations.— (A) Actual damages.— (i) In an action brought under subsection (a), if the court finds that a violation of section 1002 or 1003 has occurred, the court shall award to the complaining party its actual damages if the complaining party elects such damages at any time before final judgment is entered.
+
+(ii) In the case of section 1003, actual damages shall constitute the royalty payments that should have been paid under section 1004 and deposited under section 1005. In such a case, the court, in its discretion, may award an additional amount of not to exceed 50 percent of the actual damages.
+
+(B) Statutory damages for section 1002 violations.— (i) Device.— A complaining party may recover an award of statutory damages for each violation of section 1002(a) or (c) in the sum of not more than $2,500 per device involved in such violation or per device on which a service prohibited by section 1002(c) has been performed, as the court considers just.
+
+(ii) Digital musical recording.— A complaining party may recover an award of statutory damages for each violation of section 1002(d) in the sum of not more than $25 per digital musical recording involved in such violation, as the court considers just.
+
+(iii) Transmission.— A complaining party may recover an award of damages for each transmission or communication that violates section 1002(e) in the sum of not more than $10,000, as the court considers just.
+
+(2) Repeated violations.— In any case in which the court finds that a person has violated section 1002 or 1003 within 3 years after a final judgment against that person for another such violation was entered, the court may increase the award of damages to not more than double the amounts that would otherwise be awarded under paragraph (1), as the court considers just.
+
+(3) Innocent violations of section 1002.— The court in its discretion may reduce the total award of damages against a person violating section 1002 to a sum of not less than $250 in any case in which the court finds that the violator was not aware and had no reason to believe that its acts constituted a violation of section 1002.
+
+(e) Payment of Damages.— Any award of damages under subsection (d) shall be deposited with the Register pursuant to section 1005 for distribution to interested copyright parties as though such funds were royalty payments made pursuant to section 1003.
+
+(f) Impounding of Articles.— At any time while an action under subsection (a) is pending, the court may order the impounding, on such terms as it deems reasonable, of any digital audio recording device, digital musical recording, or device specified in section 1002(c) that is in the custody or control of the alleged violator and that the court has reasonable cause to believe does not comply with, or was involved in a violation of, section 1002.
+
+(g) Remedial Modification and Destruction of Articles.— In an action brought under subsection (a), the court may, as part of a final judgment or decree finding a violation of section 1002, order the remedial modification or the destruction of any digital audio recording device, digital musical recording, or device specified in section 1002(c) that—
+
+(1) does not comply with, or was involved in a violation of, section 1002, and
+
+(2) is in the custody or control of the violator or has been impounded under subsection (f).
+
+(Added Pub. L. 102–563, § 2, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4245.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-10/section-1010.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1010"
+description: "Determination of certain disputes"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "10"
+chapter_name: "DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES AND MEDIA"
+section: "1010"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1010"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1010"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "70e90c777b24a7afb39fc1d359c9b7711be7d2c2dc964d961f25a146a4bcff0d"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "507e316f7b93992f9e6eab0958d707b833a1343285789f069e68be7740fc4a0e"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1010 - Determination of certain disputes
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Scope of Determination.— Before the date of first distribution in the United States of a digital audio recording device or a digital audio interface device, any party manufacturing, importing, or distributing such device, and any interested copyright party may mutually agree to petition the Copyright Royalty Judges to determine whether such device is subject to section 1002, or the basis on which royalty payments for such device are to be made under section 1003.
+
+(b) Initiation of Proceedings.— The parties under subsection (a) shall file the petition with the Copyright Royalty Judges requesting the commencement of a proceeding. Within 2 weeks after receiving such a petition, the Chief Copyright Royalty Judge shall cause notice to be published in the Federal Register of the initiation of the proceeding.
+
+(c) Stay of Judicial Proceedings.— Any civil action brought under section 1009 against a party to a proceeding under this section shall, on application of one of the parties to the proceeding, be stayed until completion of the proceeding.
+
+(d) Proceeding.— The Copyright Royalty Judges shall conduct a proceeding with respect to the matter concerned, in accordance with such procedures as the Copyright Royalty Judges may adopt. The Copyright Royalty Judges shall act on the basis of a fully documented written record. Any party to the proceeding may submit relevant information and proposals to the Copyright Royalty Judges. The parties to the proceeding shall each bear their respective costs of participation.
+
+(e) Judicial Review.— Any determination of the Copyright Royalty Judges under subsection (d) may be appealed, by a party to the proceeding, in accordance with section 803(d) of this title. The pendency of an appeal under this subsection shall not stay the determination of the Copyright Royalty Judges. If the court modifies the determination of the Copyright Royalty Judges, the court shall have jurisdiction to enter its own decision in accordance with its final judgment. The court may further vacate the determination of the Copyright Royalty Judges and remand the case for proceedings as provided in this section.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 102–563, § 2, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4246; amended Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(5), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2312; Pub. L. 108–419, § 5(i)(4)(A), Nov. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2368.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2004—Pub. L. 108–419 amended section catchline and text generally, substituting provisions relating to determination of certain disputes for provisions relating to arbitration of certain disputes. 1993—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(5)(A), substituted “Librarian of Congress” for “Copyright Royalty Tribunal” before “requesting the commencement” and for “Tribunal” wherever appearing. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(5)(B), substituted “Librarian of Congress” for “Copyright Royalty Tribunal” in heading and text. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(5)(C), substituted “Librarian of Congress” for “Copyright Royalty Tribunal” in heading and before “shall adopt or reject” in text, substituted “Librarian of Congress” for “Tribunal” wherever appearing, and substituted “the Librarian’s” for “its”. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103–198, § 6(b)(5)(D), substituted “Librarian of Congress” for “Copyright Royalty Tribunal” after “Any decision of the”, “decision of the Librarian of Congress” for “Tribunal’s decision” in second sentence, and “Librarian of Congress” for “Tribunal” wherever appearing in third through fifth sentences.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 2004 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–419 effective 6 months after Nov. 30, 2004, subject to transition provisions, see section 6 of Pub. L. 108–419, set out as an Effective Date; Transition Provisions note under section 801 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-11/section-1101.md

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1101"
+description: "Unauthorized fixation and trafficking in sound recordings and music videos"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "11"
+chapter_name: "SOUND RECORDINGS AND MUSIC VIDEOS"
+section: "1101"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1101"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1101"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "a363133ba096cc9d6937fd68defa9b65720450cb30598c88cba4c67cdc1b0411"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "ad96cc72c280d067ec37d7c4998b46834c02ab673effc58dc299dc584b3aac38"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1101 - Unauthorized fixation and trafficking in sound recordings and music videos
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Unauthorized Acts.— Anyone who, without the consent of the performer or performers involved—
+
+(1) fixes the sounds or sounds and images of a live musical performance in a copy or phonorecord, or reproduces copies or phonorecords of such a performance from an unauthorized fixation,
+
+(2) transmits or otherwise communicates to the public the sounds or sounds and images of a live musical performance, or
+
+(3) distributes or offers to distribute, sells or offers to sell, rents or offers to rent, or traffics in any copy or phonorecord fixed as described in paragraph (1), regardless of whether the fixations occurred in the United States,
+
+shall be subject to the remedies provided in sections 502 through 505, to the same extent as an infringer of copyright.
+
+(b) Definition.— In this section, the term “traffic” has the same meaning as in section 2320(e) 11 See References in Text note below. of title 18.
+
+(c) Applicability.— This section shall apply to any act or acts that occur on or after the date of the enactment of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.
+
+(d) State Law Not Preempted.— Nothing in this section may be construed to annul or limit any rights or remedies under the common law or statutes of any State.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 103–465, title V, § 512(a), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4974; amended Pub. L. 109–181, § 2(c)(3), Mar. 16, 2006, 120 Stat. 288.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextSection 2320 of title 18, referred to in subsec. (b), was amended generally by Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VIII, § 818(h), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1497, and, as so amended, provisions similar to those formerly appearing in subsec. (e) are now contained in subsec. (f). The date of the enactment of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, referred to in subsec. (c), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 103–465, which was approved Dec. 8, 1994.
+
+Amendments2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–181 added subsec. (b) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (b). Text read as follows: “As used in this section, the term ‘traffic in’ means transport, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, to another, as consideration for anything of value, or make or obtain control of with intent to transport, transfer, or dispose of.”

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-12/section-1201.md

@@ -0,0 +1,261 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1201"
+description: "Circumvention of copyright protection systems"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "12"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS"
+section: "1201"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1201"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1201"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "110d01f1998b9bcd94ebeef5cef67c322401bb5838fbf9ef59fedc834a79ea05"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "57cc39de1f3cfeedcce9aab2845b6f72bb5c331c4d8ae18b8506fb7abcf4bd28"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1201 - Circumvention of copyright protection systems
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Violations Regarding Circumvention of Technological Measures.— (1) (A) No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title. The prohibition contained in the preceding sentence shall take effect at the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this chapter.
+
+(B) The prohibition contained in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to persons who are users of a copyrighted work which is in a particular class of works, if such persons are, or are likely to be in the succeeding 3-year period, adversely affected by virtue of such prohibition in their ability to make noninfringing uses of that particular class of works under this title, as determined under subparagraph (C).
+
+(C) During the 2-year period described in subparagraph (A), and during each succeeding 3-year period, the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, who shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and report and comment on his or her views in making such recommendation, shall make the determination in a rulemaking proceeding for purposes of subparagraph (B) of whether persons who are users of a copyrighted work are, or are likely to be in the succeeding 3-year period, adversely affected by the prohibition under subparagraph (A) in their ability to make noninfringing uses under this title of a particular class of copyrighted works. In conducting such rulemaking, the Librarian shall examine—
+
+(i) the availability for use of copyrighted works;
+
+(ii) the availability for use of works for nonprofit archival, preservation, and educational purposes;
+
+(iii) the impact that the prohibition on the circumvention of technological measures applied to copyrighted works has on criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research;
+
+(iv) the effect of circumvention of technological measures on the market for or value of copyrighted works; and
+
+(v) such other factors as the Librarian considers appropriate.
+
+(D) The Librarian shall publish any class of copyrighted works for which the Librarian has determined, pursuant to the rulemaking conducted under subparagraph (C), that noninfringing uses by persons who are users of a copyrighted work are, or are likely to be, adversely affected, and the prohibition contained in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to such users with respect to such class of works for the ensuing 3-year period.
+
+(E) Neither the exception under subparagraph (B) from the applicability of the prohibition contained in subparagraph (A), nor any determination made in a rulemaking conducted under subparagraph (C), may be used as a defense in any action to enforce any provision of this title other than this paragraph.
+
+(2) No person shall manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide, or otherwise traffic in any technology, product, service, device, component, or part thereof, that—
+
+(A) is primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title;
+
+(B) has only limited commercially significant purpose or use other than to circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title; or
+
+(C) is marketed by that person or another acting in concert with that person with that person’s knowledge for use in circumventing a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title.
+
+(3) As used in this subsection—
+
+(A) to “circumvent a technological measure” means to descramble a scrambled work, to decrypt an encrypted work, or otherwise to avoid, bypass, remove, deactivate, or impair a technological measure, without the authority of the copyright owner; and
+
+(B) a technological measure “effectively controls access to a work” if the measure, in the ordinary course of its operation, requires the application of information, or a process or a treatment, with the authority of the copyright owner, to gain access to the work.
+
+(b) Additional Violations.— (1) No person shall manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide, or otherwise traffic in any technology, product, service, device, component, or part thereof, that—
+
+(A) is primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing protection afforded by a technological measure that effectively protects a right of a copyright owner under this title in a work or a portion thereof;
+
+(B) has only limited commercially significant purpose or use other than to circumvent protection afforded by a technological measure that effectively protects a right of a copyright owner under this title in a work or a portion thereof; or
+
+(C) is marketed by that person or another acting in concert with that person with that person’s knowledge for use in circumventing protection afforded by a technological measure that effectively protects a right of a copyright owner under this title in a work or a portion thereof.
+
+(2) As used in this subsection—
+
+(A) to “circumvent protection afforded by a technological measure” means avoiding, bypassing, removing, deactivating, or otherwise impairing a technological measure; and
+
+(B) a technological measure “effectively protects a right of a copyright owner under this title” if the measure, in the ordinary course of its operation, prevents, restricts, or otherwise limits the exercise of a right of a copyright owner under this title.
+
+(c) Other Rights, Etc., Not Affected.— (1) Nothing in this section shall affect rights, remedies, limitations, or defenses to copyright infringement, including fair use, under this title.
+
+(2) Nothing in this section shall enlarge or diminish vicarious or contributory liability for copyright infringement in connection with any technology, product, service, device, component, or part thereof.
+
+(3) Nothing in this section shall require that the design of, or design and selection of parts and components for, a consumer electronics, telecommunications, or computing product provide for a response to any particular technological measure, so long as such part or component, or the product in which such part or component is integrated, does not otherwise fall within the prohibitions of subsection (a)(2) or (b)(1).
+
+(4) Nothing in this section shall enlarge or diminish any rights of free speech or the press for activities using consumer electronics, telecommunications, or computing products.
+
+(d) Exemption for Nonprofit Libraries, Archives, and Educational Institutions.— (1) A nonprofit library, archives, or educational institution which gains access to a commercially exploited copyrighted work solely in order to make a good faith determination of whether to acquire a copy of that work for the sole purpose of engaging in conduct permitted under this title shall not be in violation of subsection (a)(1)(A). A copy of a work to which access has been gained under this paragraph—
+
+(A) may not be retained longer than necessary to make such good faith determination; and
+
+(B) may not be used for any other purpose.
+
+(2) The exemption made available under paragraph (1) shall only apply with respect to a work when an identical copy of that work is not reasonably available in another form.
+
+(3) A nonprofit library, archives, or educational institution that willfully for the purpose of commercial advantage or financial gain violates paragraph (1)—
+
+(A) shall, for the first offense, be subject to the civil remedies under section 1203; and
+
+(B) shall, for repeated or subsequent offenses, in addition to the civil remedies under section 1203, forfeit the exemption provided under paragraph (1).
+
+(4) This subsection may not be used as a defense to a claim under subsection (a)(2) or (b), nor may this subsection permit a nonprofit library, archives, or educational institution to manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide, or otherwise traffic in any technology, product, service, component, or part thereof, which circumvents a technological measure.
+
+(5) In order for a library or archives to qualify for the exemption under this subsection, the collections of that library or archives shall be—
+
+(A) open to the public; or
+
+(B) available not only to researchers affiliated with the library or archives or with the institution of which it is a part, but also to other persons doing research in a specialized field.
+
+(e) Law Enforcement, Intelligence, and Other Government Activities.— This section does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, information security, or intelligence activity of an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State, or a person acting pursuant to a contract with the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State. For purposes of this subsection, the term “information security” means activities carried out in order to identify and address the vulnerabilities of a government computer, computer system, or computer network.
+
+(f) Reverse Engineering.— (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(1)(A), a person who has lawfully obtained the right to use a copy of a computer program may circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a particular portion of that program for the sole purpose of identifying and analyzing those elements of the program that are necessary to achieve interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, and that have not previously been readily available to the person engaging in the circumvention, to the extent any such acts of identification and analysis do not constitute infringement under this title.
+
+(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a)(2) and (b), a person may develop and employ technological means to circumvent a technological measure, or to circumvent protection afforded by a technological measure, in order to enable the identification and analysis under paragraph (1), or for the purpose of enabling interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, if such means are necessary to achieve such interoperability, to the extent that doing so does not constitute infringement under this title.
+
+(3) The information acquired through the acts permitted under paragraph (1), and the means permitted under paragraph (2), may be made available to others if the person referred to in paragraph (1) or (2), as the case may be, provides such information or means solely for the purpose of enabling interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, and to the extent that doing so does not constitute infringement under this title or violate applicable law other than this section.
+
+(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term “interoperability” means the ability of computer programs to exchange information, and of such programs mutually to use the information which has been exchanged.
+
+(g) Encryption Research.— (1) Definitions.— For purposes of this subsection—
+
+(A) the term “encryption research” means activities necessary to identify and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of encryption technologies applied to copyrighted works, if these activities are conducted to advance the state of knowledge in the field of encryption technology or to assist in the development of encryption products; and
+
+(B) the term “encryption technology” means the scrambling and descrambling of information using mathematical formulas or algorithms.
+
+(2) Permissible acts of encryption research.— Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(1)(A), it is not a violation of that subsection for a person to circumvent a technological measure as applied to a copy, phonorecord, performance, or display of a published work in the course of an act of good faith encryption research if—
+
+(A) the person lawfully obtained the encrypted copy, phonorecord, performance, or display of the published work;
+
+(B) such act is necessary to conduct such encryption research;
+
+(C) the person made a good faith effort to obtain authorization before the circumvention; and
+
+(D) such act does not constitute infringement under this title or a violation of applicable law other than this section, including section 1030 of title 18 and those provisions of title 18 amended by the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986.
+
+(3) Factors in determining exemption.— In determining whether a person qualifies for the exemption under paragraph (2), the factors to be considered shall include—
+
+(A) whether the information derived from the encryption research was disseminated, and if so, whether it was disseminated in a manner reasonably calculated to advance the state of knowledge or development of encryption technology, versus whether it was disseminated in a manner that facilitates infringement under this title or a violation of applicable law other than this section, including a violation of privacy or breach of security;
+
+(B) whether the person is engaged in a legitimate course of study, is employed, or is appropriately trained or experienced, in the field of encryption technology; and
+
+(C) whether the person provides the copyright owner of the work to which the technological measure is applied with notice of the findings and documentation of the research, and the time when such notice is provided.
+
+(4) Use of technological means for research activities.— Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(2), it is not a violation of that subsection for a person to—
+
+(A) develop and employ technological means to circumvent a technological measure for the sole purpose of that person performing the acts of good faith encryption research described in paragraph (2); and
+
+(B) provide the technological means to another person with whom he or she is working collaboratively for the purpose of conducting the acts of good faith encryption research described in paragraph (2) or for the purpose of having that other person verify his or her acts of good faith encryption research described in paragraph (2).
+
+(5) Report to congress.— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this chapter, the Register of Copyrights and the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce shall jointly report to the Congress on the effect this subsection has had on—
+
+(A) encryption research and the development of encryption technology;
+
+(B) the adequacy and effectiveness of technological measures designed to protect copyrighted works; and
+
+(C) protection of copyright owners against the unauthorized access to their encrypted copyrighted works.
+
+The report shall include legislative recommendations, if any.
+
+(h) Exceptions Regarding Minors.— In applying subsection (a) to a component or part, the court may consider the necessity for its intended and actual incorporation in a technology, product, service, or device, which—
+
+(1) does not itself violate the provisions of this title; and
+
+(2) has the sole purpose to prevent the access of minors to material on the Internet.
+
+(i) Protection of Personally Identifying Information.— (1) Circumvention permitted.— Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(1)(A), it is not a violation of that subsection for a person to circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title, if—
+
+(A) the technological measure, or the work it protects, contains the capability of collecting or disseminating personally identifying information reflecting the online activities of a natural person who seeks to gain access to the work protected;
+
+(B) in the normal course of its operation, the technological measure, or the work it protects, collects or disseminates personally identifying information about the person who seeks to gain access to the work protected, without providing conspicuous notice of such collection or dissemination to such person, and without providing such person with the capability to prevent or restrict such collection or dissemination;
+
+(C) the act of circumvention has the sole effect of identifying and disabling the capability described in subparagraph (A), and has no other effect on the ability of any person to gain access to any work; and
+
+(D) the act of circumvention is carried out solely for the purpose of preventing the collection or dissemination of personally identifying information about a natural person who seeks to gain access to the work protected, and is not in violation of any other law.
+
+(2) Inapplicability to certain technological measures.— This subsection does not apply to a technological measure, or a work it protects, that does not collect or disseminate personally identifying information and that is disclosed to a user as not having or using such capability.
+
+(j) Security Testing.— (1) Definition.— For purposes of this subsection, the term “security testing” means accessing a computer, computer system, or computer network, solely for the purpose of good faith testing, investigating, or correcting, a security flaw or vulnerability, with the authorization of the owner or operator of such computer, computer system, or computer network.
+
+(2) Permissible acts of security testing.— Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(1)(A), it is not a violation of that subsection for a person to engage in an act of security testing, if such act does not constitute infringement under this title or a violation of applicable law other than this section, including section 1030 of title 18 and those provisions of title 18 amended by the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986.
+
+(3) Factors in determining exemption.— In determining whether a person qualifies for the exemption under paragraph (2), the factors to be considered shall include—
+
+(A) whether the information derived from the security testing was used solely to promote the security of the owner or operator of such computer, computer system or computer network, or shared directly with the developer of such computer, computer system, or computer network; and
+
+(B) whether the information derived from the security testing was used or maintained in a manner that does not facilitate infringement under this title or a violation of applicable law other than this section, including a violation of privacy or breach of security.
+
+(4) Use of technological means for security testing.— Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(2), it is not a violation of that subsection for a person to develop, produce, distribute or employ technological means for the sole purpose of performing the acts of security testing described in subsection (2),11 So in original. Probably should be subsection “(a)(2),”. provided such technological means does not otherwise violate section 22 So in original. Probably should be “subsection”. (a)(2).
+
+(k) Certain Analog Devices and Certain Technological Measures.— (1) Certain analog devices.— (A) Effective 18 months after the date of the enactment of this chapter, no person shall manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide or otherwise traffic in any—
+
+(i) VHS format analog video cassette recorder unless such recorder conforms to the automatic gain control copy control technology;
+
+(ii) 8mm format analog video cassette camcorder unless such camcorder conforms to the automatic gain control technology;
+
+(iii) Beta format analog video cassette recorder, unless such recorder conforms to the automatic gain control copy control technology, except that this requirement shall not apply until there are 1,000 Beta format analog video cassette recorders sold in the United States in any one calendar year after the date of the enactment of this chapter;
+
+(iv) 8mm format analog video cassette recorder that is not an analog video cassette camcorder, unless such recorder conforms to the automatic gain control copy control technology, except that this requirement shall not apply until there are 20,000 such recorders sold in the United States in any one calendar year after the date of the enactment of this chapter; or
+
+(v) analog video cassette recorder that records using an NTSC format video input and that is not otherwise covered under clauses (i) through (iv), unless such device conforms to the automatic gain control copy control technology.
+
+(B) Effective on the date of the enactment of this chapter, no person shall manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide or otherwise traffic in—
+
+(i) any VHS format analog video cassette recorder or any 8mm format analog video cassette recorder if the design of the model of such recorder has been modified after such date of enactment so that a model of recorder that previously conformed to the automatic gain control copy control technology no longer conforms to such technology; or
+
+(ii) any VHS format analog video cassette recorder, or any 8mm format analog video cassette recorder that is not an 8mm analog video cassette camcorder, if the design of the model of such recorder has been modified after such date of enactment so that a model of recorder that previously conformed to the four-line colorstripe copy control technology no longer conforms to such technology.
+
+Manufacturers that have not previously manufactured or sold a VHS format analog video cassette recorder, or an 8mm format analog cassette recorder, shall be required to conform to the four-line colorstripe copy control technology in the initial model of any such recorder manufactured after the date of the enactment of this chapter, and thereafter to continue conforming to the four-line colorstripe copy control technology. For purposes of this subparagraph, an analog video cassette recorder “conforms to” the four-line colorstripe copy control technology if it records a signal that, when played back by the playback function of that recorder in the normal viewing mode, exhibits, on a reference display device, a display containing distracting visible lines through portions of the viewable picture.
+
+(2) Certain encoding restrictions.— No person shall apply the automatic gain control copy control technology or colorstripe copy control technology to prevent or limit consumer copying except such copying—
+
+(A) of a single transmission, or specified group of transmissions, of live events or of audiovisual works for which a member of the public has exercised choice in selecting the transmissions, including the content of the transmissions or the time of receipt of such transmissions, or both, and as to which such member is charged a separate fee for each such transmission or specified group of transmissions;
+
+(B) from a copy of a transmission of a live event or an audiovisual work if such transmission is provided by a channel or service where payment is made by a member of the public for such channel or service in the form of a subscription fee that entitles the member of the public to receive all of the programming contained in such channel or service;
+
+(C) from a physical medium containing one or more prerecorded audiovisual works; or
+
+(D) from a copy of a transmission described in subparagraph (A) or from a copy made from a physical medium described in subparagraph (C).
+
+In the event that a transmission meets both the conditions set forth in subparagraph (A) and those set forth in subparagraph (B), the transmission shall be treated as a transmission described in subparagraph (A).
+
+(3) Inapplicability.— This subsection shall not—
+
+(A) require any analog video cassette camcorder to conform to the automatic gain control copy control technology with respect to any video signal received through a camera lens;
+
+(B) apply to the manufacture, importation, offer for sale, provision of, or other trafficking in, any professional analog video cassette recorder; or
+
+(C) apply to the offer for sale or provision of, or other trafficking in, any previously owned analog video cassette recorder, if such recorder was legally manufactured and sold when new and not subsequently modified in violation of paragraph (1)(B).
+
+(4) Definitions.— For purposes of this subsection:
+
+(A) An “analog video cassette recorder” means a device that records, or a device that includes a function that records, on electromagnetic tape in an analog format the electronic impulses produced by the video and audio portions of a television program, motion picture, or other form of audiovisual work.
+
+(B) An “analog video cassette camcorder” means an analog video cassette recorder that contains a recording function that operates through a camera lens and through a video input that may be connected with a television or other video playback device.
+
+(C) An analog video cassette recorder “conforms” to the automatic gain control copy control technology if it—
+
+(i) detects one or more of the elements of such technology and does not record the motion picture or transmission protected by such technology; or
+
+(ii) records a signal that, when played back, exhibits a meaningfully distorted or degraded display.
+
+(D) The term “professional analog video cassette recorder” means an analog video cassette recorder that is designed, manufactured, marketed, and intended for use by a person who regularly employs such a device for a lawful business or industrial use, including making, performing, displaying, distributing, or transmitting copies of motion pictures on a commercial scale.
+
+(E) The terms “VHS format”, “8mm format”, “Beta format”, “automatic gain control copy control technology”, “colorstripe copy control technology”, “four-line version of the colorstripe copy control technology”, and “NTSC” have the meanings that are commonly understood in the consumer electronics and motion picture industries as of the date of the enactment of this chapter.
+
+(5) Violations.— Any violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be treated as a violation of subsection (b)(1) of this section. Any violation of paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be deemed an “act of circumvention” for the purposes of section 1203(c)(3)(A) of this chapter.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title I, § 103(a), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2863; amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title V, § 5006], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–594.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe date of the enactment of this chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1)(A), (g)(5), and (k)(1), (4)(E), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 105–304, which was approved Oct. 28, 1998. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986, referred to in subsecs. (g)(2)(D) and (j)(2), is Pub. L. 99–474, Oct. 16, 1986, 100 Stat. 1213, which amended section 1030 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 1001 of Title 18. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1986 Amendment note set out under section 1001 of Title 18 and Tables.
+
+Amendments1999—Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 106–113 struck out “on the record” after “determination in a rulemaking proceeding” in first sentence.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless CompetitionPub. L. 113–144, Aug. 1, 2014, 128 Stat. 1751, provided that: “SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.“This Act may be cited as the ‘Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act’. “SEC. 2. REPEAL OF EXISTING RULE AND ADDITIONAL RULEMAKING BY LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS.“(a) Repeal and Replace.—As of the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 1, 2014], paragraph (3) of section 201.40(b) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended and revised by the Librarian of Congress on October 28, 2012, pursuant to the Librarian’s authority under section 1201(a) of title 17, United States Code, shall have no force and effect, and such paragraph shall read, and shall be in effect, as such paragraph was in effect on July 27, 2010. “(b) Rulemaking.—The Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, who shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and report and comment on his or her views in making such recommendation, shall determine, consistent with the requirements set forth under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code, whether to extend the exemption for the class of works described in section 201.40(b)(3) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as amended by subsection (a), to include any other category of wireless devices in addition to wireless telephone handsets. The determination shall be made in the first rulemaking under section 1201(a)(1)(C) of title 17, United States Code, that begins on or after the date of enactment of this Act. “(c) Unlocking at Direction of Owner.—Circumvention of a technological measure that restricts wireless telephone handsets or other wireless devices from connecting to a wireless telecommunications network—“(1)(A) as authorized by paragraph (3) of section 201.40(b) of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, as made effective by subsection (a); and “(B) as may be extended to other wireless devices pursuant to a determination in the rulemaking conducted under subsection (b); or “(2) as authorized by an exemption adopted by the Librarian of Congress pursuant to a determination made on or after the date of enactment of this Act under section 1201(a)(1)(C) of title 17, United States Code, may be initiated by the owner of any such handset or other device, by another person at the direction of the owner, or by a provider of a commercial mobile radio service or a commercial mobile data service at the direction of such owner or other person, solely in order to enable such owner or a family member of such owner to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when such connection is authorized by the operator of such network. “(d) Rule of Construction.—“(1) In general.—Except as expressly provided herein, nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter the scope of any party’s rights under existing law. “(2) Librarian of congress.—Nothing in this Act alters, or shall be construed to alter, the authority of the Librarian of Congress under section 1201(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code. “(e) Definitions.—In this Act:“(1) Commercial mobile data service; commercial mobile radio service.—The terms ‘commercial mobile data service’ and ‘commercial mobile radio service’ have the respective meanings given those terms in section 20.3 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. “(2) Wireless telecommunications network.—The term ‘wireless telecommunications network’ means a network used to provide a commercial mobile radio service or a commercial mobile data service. “(3) Wireless telephone handsets; wireless devices.—The terms ‘wireless telephone handset’ and ‘wireless device’ mean a handset or other device that operates on a wireless telecommunications network.”

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-12/section-1202.md

@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1202"
+description: "Integrity of copyright management information"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "12"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS"
+section: "1202"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1202"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1202"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "0a903b6a69c340213f0d631c874ee1981efc5e4e1f869f5f8e5f44435110cfb3"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "4b136c831daa76af5143562ccef0bcd7b126c6967082d48a4ff24ff402ae2758"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1202 - Integrity of copyright management information
+
+## Text
+
+(a) False Copyright Management Information.— No person shall knowingly and with the intent to induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal infringement—
+
+(1) provide copyright management information that is false, or
+
+(2) distribute or import for distribution copyright management information that is false.
+
+(b) Removal or Alteration of Copyright Management Information.— No person shall, without the authority of the copyright owner or the law—
+
+(1) intentionally remove or alter any copyright management information,
+
+(2) distribute or import for distribution copyright management information knowing that the copyright management information has been removed or altered without authority of the copyright owner or the law, or
+
+(3) distribute, import for distribution, or publicly perform works, copies of works, or phonorecords, knowing that copyright management information has been removed or altered without authority of the copyright owner or the law,
+
+knowing, or, with respect to civil remedies under section 1203, having reasonable grounds to know, that it will induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal an infringement of any right under this title.
+
+(c) Definition.— As used in this section, the term “copyright management information” means any of the following information conveyed in connection with copies or phonorecords of a work or performances or displays of a work, including in digital form, except that such term does not include any personally identifying information about a user of a work or of a copy, phonorecord, performance, or display of a work:
+
+(1) The title and other information identifying the work, including the information set forth on a notice of copyright.
+
+(2) The name of, and other identifying information about, the author of a work.
+
+(3) The name of, and other identifying information about, the copyright owner of the work, including the information set forth in a notice of copyright.
+
+(4) With the exception of public performances of works by radio and television broadcast stations, the name of, and other identifying information about, a performer whose performance is fixed in a work other than an audiovisual work.
+
+(5) With the exception of public performances of works by radio and television broadcast stations, in the case of an audiovisual work, the name of, and other identifying information about, a writer, performer, or director who is credited in the audiovisual work.
+
+(6) Terms and conditions for use of the work.
+
+(7) Identifying numbers or symbols referring to such information or links to such information.
+
+(8) Such other information as the Register of Copyrights may prescribe by regulation, except that the Register of Copyrights may not require the provision of any information concerning the user of a copyrighted work.
+
+(d) Law Enforcement, Intelligence, and Other Government Activities.— This section does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, information security, or intelligence activity of an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State, or a person acting pursuant to a contract with the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State. For purposes of this subsection, the term “information security” means activities carried out in order to identify and address the vulnerabilities of a government computer, computer system, or computer network.
+
+(e) Limitations on Liability.— (1) Analog transmissions.— In the case of an analog transmission, a person who is making transmissions in its capacity as a broadcast station, or as a cable system, or someone who provides programming to such station or system, shall not be liable for a violation of subsection (b) if—
+
+(A) avoiding the activity that constitutes such violation is not technically feasible or would create an undue financial hardship on such person; and
+
+(B) such person did not intend, by engaging in such activity, to induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal infringement of a right under this title.
+
+(2) Digital transmissions.— (A) If a digital transmission standard for the placement of copyright management information for a category of works is set in a voluntary, consensus standard-setting process involving a representative cross-section of broadcast stations or cable systems and copyright owners of a category of works that are intended for public performance by such stations or systems, a person identified in paragraph (1) shall not be liable for a violation of subsection (b) with respect to the particular copyright management information addressed by such standard if—
+
+(i) the placement of such information by someone other than such person is not in accordance with such standard; and
+
+(ii) the activity that constitutes such violation is not intended to induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal infringement of a right under this title.
+
+(B) Until a digital transmission standard has been set pursuant to subparagraph (A) with respect to the placement of copyright management information for a category of works, a person identified in paragraph (1) shall not be liable for a violation of subsection (b) with respect to such copyright management information, if the activity that constitutes such violation is not intended to induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal infringement of a right under this title, and if—
+
+(i) the transmission of such information by such person would result in a perceptible visual or aural degradation of the digital signal; or
+
+(ii) the transmission of such information by such person would conflict with—
+
+(I) an applicable government regulation relating to transmission of information in a digital signal;
+
+(II) an applicable industry-wide standard relating to the transmission of information in a digital signal that was adopted by a voluntary consensus standards body prior to the effective date of this chapter; or
+
+(III) an applicable industry-wide standard relating to the transmission of information in a digital signal that was adopted in a voluntary, consensus standards-setting process open to participation by a representative cross-section of broadcast stations or cable systems and copyright owners of a category of works that are intended for public performance by such stations or systems.
+
+(3) Definitions.— As used in this subsection—
+
+(A) the term “broadcast station” has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153); and
+
+(B) the term “cable system” has the meaning given that term in section 602 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522).
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title I, § 103(a), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2872; amended Pub. L. 106–44, § 1(e), Aug. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 222.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe effective date of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (e)(2)(B)(ii)(II), is Oct. 28, 1998. See section 105 of Pub. L. 105–304, set out as an Effective Date of 1998 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.
+
+Amendments1999—Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 106–44 substituted “category of works” for “category or works” in introductory provisions.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-12/section-1203.md

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1203"
+description: "Civil remedies"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "12"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS"
+section: "1203"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1203"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1203"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "a1bfe0ba12a94ad408a0c4e199d57f86335e773d4b7863b777c443f84947f8dc"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "bdc3a5003f8d58d315294eae8f8ad198642c7732fa64d6ac75502010718d6d2a"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1203 - Civil remedies
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Civil Actions.— Any person injured by a violation of section 1201 or 1202 may bring a civil action in an appropriate United States district court for such violation.
+
+(b) Powers of the Court.— In an action brought under subsection (a), the court—
+
+(1) may grant temporary and permanent injunctions on such terms as it deems reasonable to prevent or restrain a violation, but in no event shall impose a prior restraint on free speech or the press protected under the 1st amendment to the Constitution;
+
+(2) at any time while an action is pending, may order the impounding, on such terms as it deems reasonable, of any device or product that is in the custody or control of the alleged violator and that the court has reasonable cause to believe was involved in a violation;
+
+(3) may award damages under subsection (c);
+
+(4) in its discretion may allow the recovery of costs by or against any party other than the United States or an officer thereof;
+
+(5) in its discretion may award reasonable attorney’s fees to the prevailing party; and
+
+(6) may, as part of a final judgment or decree finding a violation, order the remedial modification or the destruction of any device or product involved in the violation that is in the custody or control of the violator or has been impounded under paragraph (2).
+
+(c) Award of Damages.— (1) In general.— Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person committing a violation of section 1201 or 1202 is liable for either—
+
+(A) the actual damages and any additional profits of the violator, as provided in paragraph (2), or
+
+(B) statutory damages, as provided in paragraph (3).
+
+(2) Actual damages.— The court shall award to the complaining party the actual damages suffered by the party as a result of the violation, and any profits of the violator that are attributable to the violation and are not taken into account in computing the actual damages, if the complaining party elects such damages at any time before final judgment is entered.
+
+(3) Statutory damages.— (A) At any time before final judgment is entered, a complaining party may elect to recover an award of statutory damages for each violation of section 1201 in the sum of not less than $200 or more than $2,500 per act of circumvention, device, product, component, offer, or performance of service, as the court considers just.
+
+(B) At any time before final judgment is entered, a complaining party may elect to recover an award of statutory damages for each violation of section 1202 in the sum of not less than $2,500 or more than $25,000.
+
+(4) Repeated violations.— In any case in which the injured party sustains the burden of proving, and the court finds, that a person has violated section 1201 or 1202 within 3 years after a final judgment was entered against the person for another such violation, the court may increase the award of damages up to triple the amount that would otherwise be awarded, as the court considers just.
+
+(5) Innocent violations.— (A) In general.— The court in its discretion may reduce or remit the total award of damages in any case in which the violator sustains the burden of proving, and the court finds, that the violator was not aware and had no reason to believe that its acts constituted a violation.
+
+(B) Nonprofit library, archives, educational institutions, or public broadcasting entities.— (i) Definition.— In this subparagraph, the term “public broadcasting entity” has the meaning given such term under section 118(f).
+
+(ii) In general.— In the case of a nonprofit library, archives, educational institution, or public broadcasting entity, the court shall remit damages in any case in which the library, archives, educational institution, or public broadcasting entity sustains the burden of proving, and the court finds, that the library, archives, educational institution, or public broadcasting entity was not aware and had no reason to believe that its acts constituted a violation.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title I, § 103(a), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2874; amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title V, § 5004(a)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–593; Pub. L. 111–295, § 6(f)(3), Dec. 9, 2010, 124 Stat. 3181.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2010—Subsec. (c)(5)(B)(i). Pub. L. 111–295 substituted “118(f)” for “118(g)”. 1999—Subsec. (c)(5)(B). Pub. L. 106–113 amended heading and text of subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In the case of a nonprofit library, archives, or educational institution, the court shall remit damages in any case in which the library, archives, or educational institution sustains the burden of proving, and the court finds, that the library, archives, or educational institution was not aware and had no reason to believe that its acts constituted a violation.”

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-12/section-1204.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1204"
+description: "Criminal offenses and penalties"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "12"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS"
+section: "1204"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1204"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1204"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "922ec5da703b32bc318fc12e1b818db17140c523dce9c418d0565a2b4da8dd46"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "d723264c86ab959a87162ba1a726143341ef8b9a3c230f0d7f8ac0e217c9eda6"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1204 - Criminal offenses and penalties
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In General.— Any person who violates section 1201 or 1202 willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain—
+
+(1) shall be fined not more than $500,000 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, for the first offense; and
+
+(2) shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both, for any subsequent offense.
+
+(b) Limitation for Nonprofit Library, Archives, Educational Institution, or Public Broadcasting Entity.— Subsection (a) shall not apply to a nonprofit library, archives, educational institution, or public broadcasting entity (as defined under section 118(f)).
+
+(c) Statute of Limitations.— No criminal proceeding shall be brought under this section unless such proceeding is commenced within 5 years after the cause of action arose.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title I, § 103(a), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2876; amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title V, § 5004(b)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–593; Pub. L. 111–295, § 6(f)(3), Dec. 9, 2010, 124 Stat. 3181.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2010—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–295 substituted “118(f)” for “118(g)”. 1999—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–113 amended heading and text of subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Subsection (a) shall not apply to a nonprofit library, archives, or educational institution.”

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-12/section-1205.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1205"
+description: "Savings clause"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "12"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS"
+section: "1205"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1205"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1205"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "2b12e63316de02cbd7de8e34651bcc375393406bafc72c8a5cca1090d77886fb"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "c96cc98ae91d61a6f3c5f90c35a854251ef4bc302520c7483babfe635097db0e"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1205 - Savings clause
+
+## Text
+
+Nothing in this chapter abrogates, diminishes, or weakens the provisions of, nor provides any defense or element of mitigation in a criminal prosecution or civil action under, any Federal or State law that prevents the violation of the privacy of an individual in connection with the individual’s use of the Internet.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title I, § 103(a), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2876.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1301.md

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1301"
+description: "Designs protected"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1301"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1301"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1301"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "816512eb7a64556027bbf3925e14fa6a271bce250474215513a16a738f0aac4b"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "905c90c95200bb4137276ec3dceac0a2d8e6e92b32c58d22ceeaab8ef5fe193a"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1301 - Designs protected
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Designs Protected.— (1) In general.— The designer or other owner of an original design of a useful article which makes the article attractive or distinctive in appearance to the purchasing or using public may secure the protection provided by this chapter upon complying with and subject to this chapter.
+
+(2) Vessel features.— The design of a vessel hull, deck, or combination of a hull and deck, including a plug or mold, is subject to protection under this chapter, notwithstanding section 1302(4).
+
+(3) Exceptions.— Department of Defense rights in a registered design under this chapter, including the right to build to such registered design, shall be determined solely by operation of subchapter I of chapter 275 of title 10 or by the instrument under which the design was developed for the United States Government.
+
+(b) Definitions.— For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
+
+(1) A design is “original” if it is the result of the designer’s creative endeavor that provides a distinguishable variation over prior work pertaining to similar articles which is more than merely trivial and has not been copied from another source.
+
+(2) A “useful article” is a vessel hull or deck, including a plug or mold, which in normal use has an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not merely to portray the appearance of the article or to convey information. An article which normally is part of a useful article shall be deemed to be a useful article.
+
+(3) A “vessel” is a craft—
+
+(A) that is designed and capable of independently steering a course on or through water through its own means of propulsion; and
+
+(B) that is designed and capable of carrying and transporting one or more passengers.
+
+(4) A “hull” is the exterior frame or body of a vessel, exclusive of the deck, superstructure, masts, sails, yards, rigging, hardware, fixtures, and other attachments.
+
+(5) A “plug” means a device or model used to make a mold for the purpose of exact duplication, regardless of whether the device or model has an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not only to portray the appearance of the product or to convey information.
+
+(6) A “mold” means a matrix or form in which a substance for material is used, regardless of whether the matrix or form has an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not only to portray the appearance of the product or to convey information.
+
+(7) A “deck” is the horizontal surface of a vessel that covers the hull, including exterior cabin and cockpit surfaces, and exclusive of masts, sails, yards, rigging, hardware, fixtures, and other attachments.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2905; amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title V, § 5005(a)(3)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–593; Pub. L. 110–434, § 1(b)–(d), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4972; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1702(l)(2), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2160.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2021—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 117–81 substituted “subchapter I of chapter 275” for “section 2320”. 2008—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 110–434, § 1(b), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The design of a vessel hull, including a plug or mold, is subject to protection under this chapter, notwithstanding section 1302(4).” Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 110–434, § 1(c), added par. (3). Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 110–434, § 1(d)(1), substituted “vessel hull or deck, including a plug or mold,” for “vessel hull, including a plug or mold,”. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 110–434, § 1(d)(2), added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: “A ‘hull’ is the frame or body of a vessel, including the deck of a vessel, exclusive of masts, sails, yards, and rigging.” Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 110–434, § 1(d)(3), added par. (7). 1999—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 106–113 amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “A ‘vessel’ is a craft, especially one larger than a rowboat, designed to navigate on water, but does not include any such craft that exceeds 200 feet in length.”
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective DatePub. L. 105–304, title V, § 505, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2918, as amended by Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title V, § 5005(a)(2)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–593, provided that: “The amendments made by sections 502 and 503 [enacting this chapter and amending sections 1338, 1400, and 1498 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 1998].”
+
+Joint Study of Effect of This ChapterPub. L. 105–304, title V, § 504, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2917, as amended by Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4741(b)(1), title V, § 5005(a)(1)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–586, 1501A–593, provided that: “(a) In General.—Not later than November 1, 2003, the Register of Copyrights and the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office shall submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives a joint report evaluating the effect of the amendments made by this title [enacting this chapter and amending sections 1338, 1400, and 1498 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure]. “(b) Elements for Consideration.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Register of Copyrights and the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office shall consider—“(1) the extent to which the amendments made by this title has been effective in suppressing infringement of the design of vessel hulls; “(2) the extent to which the registration provided for in chapter 13 of title 17, United States Code, as added by this title, has been utilized; “(3) the extent to which the creation of new designs of vessel hulls have been encouraged by the amendments made by this title; “(4) the effect, if any, of the amendments made by this title on the price of vessels with hulls protected under such amendments; and “(5) such other considerations as the Register and the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office may deem relevant to accomplish the purposes of the evaluation conducted under subsection (a).”

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1302.md

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1302"
+description: "Designs not subject to protection"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1302"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1302"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1302"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "af55bbde8620bac80746fdfd27fad3ad3582424d557e3efcbdef8558204552f3"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "9dac750b15848fc16403299fd0eaa374617225ff95bf80c472952e1677347254"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1302 - Designs not subject to protection
+
+## Text
+
+Protection under this chapter shall not be available for a design that is—
+
+(1) not original;
+
+(2) staple or commonplace, such as a standard geometric figure, a familiar symbol, an emblem, or a motif, or another shape, pattern, or configuration which has become standard, common, prevalent, or ordinary;
+
+(3) different from a design excluded by paragraph (2) only in insignificant details or in elements which are variants commonly used in the relevant trades;
+
+(4) dictated solely by a utilitarian function of the article that embodies it; or
+
+(5) embodied in a useful article that was made public by the designer or owner in the United States or a foreign country more than 2 years before the date of the application for registration under this chapter.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2906; amended Pub. L. 106–44, § 1(f)(1), Aug. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 222.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1999—Par. (5). Pub. L. 106–44 substituted “2 years” for “1 year”.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1303.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1303"
+description: "Revisions, adaptations, and rearrangements"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1303"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1303"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1303"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "9887bcb955c1623248d18a9a9bdd4b643db0ac8f743bab5ab48d9566e11046cd"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "86d8bb92ca6dd7bba18b13cb9d2a30e2ed94d3c97460422cb595ebeca7b63204"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1303 - Revisions, adaptations, and rearrangements
+
+## Text
+
+Protection for a design under this chapter shall be available notwithstanding the employment in the design of subject matter excluded from protection under section 1302 if the design is a substantial revision, adaptation, or rearrangement of such subject matter. Such protection shall be independent of any subsisting protection in subject matter employed in the design, and shall not be construed as securing any right to subject matter excluded from protection under this chapter or as extending any subsisting protection under this chapter.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2906.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1304.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1304"
+description: "Commencement of protection"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1304"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1304"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1304"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "a6d3b6d0b8d752fa2006b79a393be9aa0676a7c1ac8798f73a48c193a8383097"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "cef1f0f838e311e57dbfa61fd703dffc9739eb59c8dc949fa860426c2f76022a"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1304 - Commencement of protection
+
+## Text
+
+The protection provided for a design under this chapter shall commence upon the earlier of the date of publication of the registration under section 1313(a) or the date the design is first made public as defined by section 1310(b).
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2907.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1305.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1305"
+description: "Term of protection"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1305"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1305"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1305"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "79b979d6ed475f22127e9639f4a47e4fd142fa3536057dd622ede3e241202b10"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "9c3102fa410bb708afc5cdf3b35170caf0d8fbdaec26f0d91cbf65dec44c2574"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1305 - Term of protection
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In General.— Subject to subsection (b), the protection provided under this chapter for a design shall continue for a term of 10 years beginning on the date of the commencement of protection under section 1304.
+
+(b) Expiration.— All terms of protection provided in this section shall run to the end of the calendar year in which they would otherwise expire.
+
+(c) Termination of Rights.— Upon expiration or termination of protection in a particular design under this chapter, all rights under this chapter in the design shall terminate, regardless of the number of different articles in which the design may have been used during the term of its protection.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2907.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1306.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1306"
+description: "Design notice"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1306"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1306"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1306"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "2c22d1b15c6ec4f4d40d61c6ed20e3f7d0bf1b880a932c707ac519e9c49dc0b9"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "8fff3590b7816c56cd3fa11dfb048fbbbcd2f21bb6da34deeba7dd6cf8cdfb73"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1306 - Design notice
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Contents of Design Notice.— (1) Whenever any design for which protection is sought under this chapter is made public under section 1310(b), the owner of the design shall, subject to the provisions of section 1307, mark it or have it marked legibly with a design notice consisting of—
+
+(A) the words “Protected Design”, the abbreviation “Prot’d Des.”, or the letter “D” with a circle, or the symbol “*D*”;
+
+(B) the year of the date on which protection for the design commenced; and
+
+(C) the name of the owner, an abbreviation by which the name can be recognized, or a generally accepted alternative designation of the owner.
+
+Any distinctive identification of the owner may be used for purposes of subparagraph (C) if it has been recorded by the Administrator before the design marked with such identification is registered.
+
+(2) After registration, the registration number may be used instead of the elements specified in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1).
+
+(b) Location of Notice.— The design notice shall be so located and applied as to give reasonable notice of design protection while the useful article embodying the design is passing through its normal channels of commerce.
+
+(c) Subsequent Removal of Notice.— When the owner of a design has complied with the provisions of this section, protection under this chapter shall not be affected by the removal, destruction, or obliteration by others of the design notice on an article.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2907.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1307.md

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1307"
+description: "Effect of omission of notice"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1307"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1307"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1307"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "60244ba364cd3bf04812c5c863e47ba81f8d5d4bbe2c9dd045eab124522a9b74"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "93568234cab6ddf94d367fda8ae68aec8041cf385efa5e53d480c9f6656b4ede"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1307 - Effect of omission of notice
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Actions With Notice.— Except as provided in subsection (b), the omission of the notice prescribed in section 1306 shall not cause loss of the protection under this chapter or prevent recovery for infringement under this chapter against any person who, after receiving written notice of the design protection, begins an undertaking leading to infringement under this chapter.
+
+(b) Actions Without Notice.— The omission of the notice prescribed in section 1306 shall prevent any recovery under section 1323 against a person who began an undertaking leading to infringement under this chapter before receiving written notice of the design protection. No injunction shall be issued under this chapter with respect to such undertaking unless the owner of the design reimburses that person for any reasonable expenditure or contractual obligation in connection with such undertaking that was incurred before receiving written notice of the design protection, as the court in its discretion directs. The burden of providing written notice of design protection shall be on the owner of the design.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2907.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1308.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1308"
+description: "Exclusive rights"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1308"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1308"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1308"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "0835feea0f9371d06c863f7f3e1787e918c05ca7dd75e0294ac39ff14ec4ee59"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "e04a14f731615a232e4ba321747283532f48abda3d2d784e5e94c1322318bf45"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1308 - Exclusive rights
+
+## Text
+
+The owner of a design protected under this chapter has the exclusive right to—
+
+(1) make, have made, or import, for sale or for use in trade, any useful article embodying that design; and
+
+(2) sell or distribute for sale or for use in trade any useful article embodying that design.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2908.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1309.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1309"
+description: "Infringement"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1309"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1309"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1309"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "eb9e70b533acfd4dbcad583d31c4dd7cefa3a0f7372a176e15df9b50a7f47e19"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "ec2f1fda5f64366addbb3020e098f42cb8a03b9509d4c44600e31ef6b720251b"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1309 - Infringement
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Acts of Infringement.— Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be infringement of the exclusive rights in a design protected under this chapter for any person, without the consent of the owner of the design, within the United States and during the term of such protection, to—
+
+(1) make, have made, or import, for sale or for use in trade, any infringing article as defined in subsection (e); or
+
+(2) sell or distribute for sale or for use in trade any such infringing article.
+
+(b) Acts of Sellers and Distributors.— A seller or distributor of an infringing article who did not make or import the article shall be deemed to have infringed on a design protected under this chapter only if that person—
+
+(1) induced or acted in collusion with a manufacturer to make, or an importer to import such article, except that merely purchasing or giving an order to purchase such article in the ordinary course of business shall not of itself constitute such inducement or collusion; or
+
+(2) refused or failed, upon the request of the owner of the design, to make a prompt and full disclosure of that person’s source of such article, and that person orders or reorders such article after receiving notice by registered or certified mail of the protection subsisting in the design.
+
+(c) Acts Without Knowledge.— It shall not be infringement under this section to make, have made, import, sell, or distribute, any article embodying a design which was created without knowledge that a design was protected under this chapter and was copied from such protected design.
+
+(d) Acts in Ordinary Course of Business.— A person who incorporates into that person’s product of manufacture an infringing article acquired from others in the ordinary course of business, or who, without knowledge of the protected design embodied in an infringing article, makes or processes the infringing article for the account of another person in the ordinary course of business, shall not be deemed to have infringed the rights in that design under this chapter except under a condition contained in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b). Accepting an order or reorder from the source of the infringing article shall be deemed ordering or reordering within the meaning of subsection (b)(2).
+
+(e) Infringing Article Defined.— As used in this section, an “infringing article” is any article the design of which has been copied from a design protected under this chapter, without the consent of the owner of the protected design. An infringing article is not an illustration or picture of a protected design in an advertisement, book, periodical, newspaper, photograph, broadcast, motion picture, or similar medium. A design shall not be deemed to have been copied from a protected design if it is original and not substantially similar in appearance to a protected design.
+
+(f) Establishing Originality.— The party to any action or proceeding under this chapter who alleges rights under this chapter in a design shall have the burden of establishing the design’s originality whenever the opposing party introduces an earlier work which is identical to such design, or so similar as to make prima facie showing that such design was copied from such work.
+
+(g) Reproduction for Teaching or Analysis.— It is not an infringement of the exclusive rights of a design owner for a person to reproduce the design in a useful article or in any other form solely for the purpose of teaching, analyzing, or evaluating the appearance, concepts, or techniques embodied in the design, or the function of the useful article embodying the design.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2908.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1310.md

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1310"
+description: "Application for registration"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1310"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1310"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1310"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "fde787c0ebee675a7056cb73b30e95567d3ed9ae2afda20436e3b9cc26fdf471"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "e120777eb418b166efe0b8c39393d7b9718f6f66b827284693d0fbffcdc201bb"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1310 - Application for registration
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Time Limit for Application for Registration.— Protection under this chapter shall be lost if application for registration of the design is not made within 2 years after the date on which the design is first made public.
+
+(b) When Design is Made Public.— A design is made public when an existing useful article embodying the design is anywhere publicly exhibited, publicly distributed, or offered for sale or sold to the public by the owner of the design or with the owner’s consent.
+
+(c) Application by Owner of Design.— Application for registration may be made by the owner of the design.
+
+(d) Contents of Application.— The application for registration shall be made to the Administrator and shall state—
+
+(1) the name and address of the designer or designers of the design;
+
+(2) the name and address of the owner if different from the designer;
+
+(3) the specific name of the useful article embodying the design;
+
+(4) the date, if any, that the design was first made public, if such date was earlier than the date of the application;
+
+(5) affirmation that the design has been fixed in a useful article; and
+
+(6) such other information as may be required by the Administrator.
+
+The application for registration may include a description setting forth the salient features of the design, but the absence of such a description shall not prevent registration under this chapter.
+
+(e) Sworn Statement.— The application for registration shall be accompanied by a statement under oath by the applicant or the applicant’s duly authorized agent or representative, setting forth, to the best of the applicant’s knowledge and belief—
+
+(1) that the design is original and was created by the designer or designers named in the application;
+
+(2) that the design has not previously been registered on behalf of the applicant or the applicant’s predecessor in title; and
+
+(3) that the applicant is the person entitled to protection and to registration under this chapter.
+
+If the design has been made public with the design notice prescribed in section 1306, the statement shall also describe the exact form and position of the design notice.
+
+(f) Effect of Errors.— (1) Error in any statement or assertion as to the utility of the useful article named in the application under this section, the design of which is sought to be registered, shall not affect the protection secured under this chapter.
+
+(2) Errors in omitting a joint designer or in naming an alleged joint designer shall not affect the validity of the registration, or the actual ownership or the protection of the design, unless it is shown that the error occurred with deceptive intent.
+
+(g) Design Made in Scope of Employment.— In a case in which the design was made within the regular scope of the designer’s employment and individual authorship of the design is difficult or impossible to ascribe and the application so states, the name and address of the employer for whom the design was made may be stated instead of that of the individual designer.
+
+(h) Pictorial Representation of Design.— The application for registration shall be accompanied by two copies of a drawing or other pictorial representation of the useful article embodying the design, having one or more views, adequate to show the design, in a form and style suitable for reproduction, which shall be deemed a part of the application.
+
+(i) Design in More Than One Useful Article.— If the distinguishing elements of a design are in substantially the same form in different useful articles, the design shall be protected as to all such useful articles when protected as to one of them, but not more than one registration shall be required for the design.
+
+(j) Application for More Than One Design.— More than one design may be included in the same application under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Administrator. For each design included in an application the fee prescribed for a single design shall be paid.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2909.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1311.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1311"
+description: "Benefit of earlier filing date in foreign country"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1311"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1311"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1311"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "9627f71f931c387a95c7e923fb7a10c2515e45f13b099f1346bd9b35bc157735"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "5fb4b43685a8b29694375e8378d9b2c6f9ecff5aea48e00003e2cec22a59b30a"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1311 - Benefit of earlier filing date in foreign country
+
+## Text
+
+An application for registration of a design filed in the United States by any person who has, or whose legal representative or predecessor or successor in title has, previously filed an application for registration of the same design in a foreign country which extends to designs of owners who are citizens of the United States, or to applications filed under this chapter, similar protection to that provided under this chapter shall have that same effect as if filed in the United States on the date on which the application was first filed in such foreign country, if the application in the United States is filed within 6 months after the earliest date on which any such foreign application was filed.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2910.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1312.md

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1312"
+description: "Oaths and acknowledgments"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1312"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1312"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1312"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "d2999a3375633db20eaf82766f8b2a7b91a966538ada73ef5cacde013dde6d1a"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "f7a91b324c2e005f764608a7a828ce1b41958b04b2b9302f337c6587b9fc12fa"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1312 - Oaths and acknowledgments
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In General.— Oaths and acknowledgments required by this chapter—
+
+(1) may be made—
+
+(A) before any person in the United States authorized by law to administer oaths; or
+
+(B) when made in a foreign country, before any diplomatic or consular officer of the United States authorized to administer oaths, or before any official authorized to administer oaths in the foreign country concerned, whose authority shall be proved by a certificate of a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States; and
+
+(2) shall be valid if they comply with the laws of the State or country where made.
+
+(b) Written Declaration in Lieu of Oath.— (1) The Administrator may by rule prescribe that any document which is to be filed under this chapter in the Office of the Administrator and which is required by any law, rule, or other regulation to be under oath, may be subscribed to by a written declaration in such form as the Administrator may prescribe, and such declaration shall be in lieu of the oath otherwise required.
+
+(2) Whenever a written declaration under paragraph (1) is used, the document containing the declaration shall state that willful false statements are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, pursuant to section 1001 of title 18, and may jeopardize the validity of the application or document or a registration resulting therefrom.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2911.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1313.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1313"
+description: "Examination of application and issue or refusal of registration"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1313"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1313"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1313"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "0906d5fc6fa2532ddb9c243a7faa0730e11613ff48ce8352afaa66ec4672cf54"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "4d078f538e2387c25bda3a589e71258f9c00b40b884ceb3ec92c0f7966112245"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1313 - Examination of application and issue or refusal of registration
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Determination of Registrability of Design; Registration.— Upon the filing of an application for registration in proper form under section 1310, and upon payment of the fee prescribed under section 1316, the Administrator shall determine whether or not the application relates to a design which on its face appears to be subject to protection under this chapter, and, if so, the Register shall register the design. Registration under this subsection shall be announced by publication. The date of registration shall be the date of publication.
+
+(b) Refusal To Register; Reconsideration.— If, in the judgment of the Administrator, the application for registration relates to a design which on its face is not subject to protection under this chapter, the Administrator shall send to the applicant a notice of refusal to register and the grounds for the refusal. Within 3 months after the date on which the notice of refusal is sent, the applicant may, by written request, seek reconsideration of the application. After consideration of such a request, the Administrator shall either register the design or send to the applicant a notice of final refusal to register.
+
+(c) Application To Cancel Registration.— Any person who believes he or she is or will be damaged by a registration under this chapter may, upon payment of the prescribed fee, apply to the Administrator at any time to cancel the registration on the ground that the design is not subject to protection under this chapter, stating the reasons for the request. Upon receipt of an application for cancellation, the Administrator shall send to the owner of the design, as shown in the records of the Office of the Administrator, a notice of the application, and the owner shall have a period of 3 months after the date on which such notice is mailed in which to present arguments to the Administrator for support of the validity of the registration. The Administrator shall also have the authority to establish, by regulation, conditions under which the opposing parties may appear and be heard in support of their arguments. If, after the periods provided for the presentation of arguments have expired, the Administrator determines that the applicant for cancellation has established that the design is not subject to protection under this chapter, the Administrator shall order the registration stricken from the record. Cancellation under this subsection shall be announced by publication, and notice of the Administrator’s final determination with respect to any application for cancellation shall be sent to the applicant and to the owner of record. Costs of the cancellation procedure under this subsection shall be borne by the nonprevailing party or parties, and the Administrator shall have the authority to assess and collect such costs.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2911; amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title V, § 5005(a)(4)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–594.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1999—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–113 inserted at end “Costs of the cancellation procedure under this subsection shall be borne by the nonprevailing party or parties, and the Administrator shall have the authority to assess and collect such costs.”

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1314.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1314"
+description: "Certification of registration"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1314"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1314"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1314"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "2b37fcdacfc29ba7b3ce0bfaf0c4d7a39b6efaf9835c66c8c155745f54c7fb90"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "be081eed81e91ad06eb067f357415216da9b717612b6e98658b43023f02ebf21"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1314 - Certification of registration
+
+## Text
+
+Certificates of registration shall be issued in the name of the United States under the seal of the Office of the Administrator and shall be recorded in the official records of the Office. The certificate shall state the name of the useful article, the date of filing of the application, the date of registration, and the date the design was made public, if earlier than the date of filing of the application, and shall contain a reproduction of the drawing or other pictorial representation of the design. If a description of the salient features of the design appears in the application, the description shall also appear in the certificate. A certificate of registration shall be admitted in any court as prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the certificate.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2912.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1315.md

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1315"
+description: "Publication of announcements and indexes"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1315"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1315"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1315"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "f759717067b9dd80b07354e916e4861ff3b82a003c7759126698c63d54aa3513"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "c158d8a638794057c5af0843a8347e3faa93ceb086b09f9fc8e97809fbb8a6b0"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1315 - Publication of announcements and indexes
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Publications of the Administrator.— The Administrator shall publish lists and indexes of registered designs and cancellations of designs and may also publish the drawings or other pictorial representations of registered designs for sale or other distribution.
+
+(b) File of Representatives of Registered Designs.— The Administrator shall establish and maintain a file of the drawings or other pictorial representations of registered designs. The file shall be available for use by the public under such conditions as the Administrator may prescribe.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2912.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1316.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1316"
+description: "Fees"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1316"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1316"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1316"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "efa433e52cebef927cae320690f07442c704f98837b81f20dabdfabbdbdb4bb7"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "de1637b1b244933d072122a2e45e0417494e84a86cf522486eaae3c96a4cda10"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1316 - Fees
+
+## Text
+
+The Administrator shall by regulation set reasonable fees for the filing of applications to register designs under this chapter and for other services relating to the administration of this chapter, taking into consideration the cost of providing these services and the benefit of a public record.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2912.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1317.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1317"
+description: "Regulations"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1317"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1317"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1317"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "b3474d3d2bd2d57ce5a0f083a2fb2c214a92f540d3dbe355875c29f9e995a6c5"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "c0e6cbe8c70264ef9843f8ccb9365d08183cd656d05170b0ac73d7f95ad2c60b"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1317 - Regulations
+
+## Text
+
+The Administrator may establish regulations for the administration of this chapter.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2912.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1318.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1318"
+description: "Copies of records"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1318"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1318"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1318"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "a17c41c083cf2e8db23b83f2f71a9d30908a99d9d240c5e829d145b664b58a2a"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "6a5609f1afe57e5d553ac962f5ea6cb636dabd46d9d9ed49a67c9c873a8b77f7"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1318 - Copies of records
+
+## Text
+
+Upon payment of the prescribed fee, any person may obtain a certified copy of any official record of the Office of the Administrator that relates to this chapter. That copy shall be admissible in evidence with the same effect as the original.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2913.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1319.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1319"
+description: "Correction of errors in certificates"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1319"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1319"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1319"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "55d1ff21dfc339e1e787a2fbbefc345910324cecf194a02f2150d7fa9a62d84c"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "4aa7beab6ad98f97ce61d38771a28106dbc60d012f06e8c69a09e5ea1921442d"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1319 - Correction of errors in certificates
+
+## Text
+
+The Administrator may, by a certificate of correction under seal, correct any error in a registration incurred through the fault of the Office, or, upon payment of the required fee, any error of a clerical or typographical nature occurring in good faith but not through the fault of the Office. Such registration, together with the certificate, shall thereafter have the same effect as if it had been originally issued in such corrected form.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2913.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1320.md

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1320"
+description: "Ownership and transfer"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1320"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1320"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1320"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "689b486e88aa0796d4cbfe61bd8c4bdd26574ad90a86f6b5e9ff89b856011e04"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "4d85a0a6c781576062b6f6579d4153b0625ef6bf65157350dfa870cfca795fb6"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1320 - Ownership and transfer
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Property Right in Design.— The property right in a design subject to protection under this chapter shall vest in the designer, the legal representatives of a deceased designer or of one under legal incapacity, the employer for whom the designer created the design in the case of a design made within the regular scope of the designer’s employment, or a person to whom the rights of the designer or of such employer have been transferred. The person in whom the property right is vested shall be considered the owner of the design.
+
+(b) Transfer of Property Right.— The property right in a registered design, or a design for which an application for registration has been or may be filed, may be assigned, granted, conveyed, or mortgaged by an instrument in writing, signed by the owner, or may be bequeathed by will.
+
+(c) Oath or Acknowledgment of Transfer.— An oath or acknowledgment under section 1312 shall be prima facie evidence of the execution of an assignment, grant, conveyance, or mortgage under subsection (b).
+
+(d) Recordation of Transfer.— An assignment, grant, conveyance, or mortgage under subsection (b) shall be void as against any subsequent purchaser or mortgagee for a valuable consideration, unless it is recorded in the Office of the Administrator within 3 months after its date of execution or before the date of such subsequent purchase or mortgage.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2913; amended Pub. L. 106–44, § 1(f)(2), Aug. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 222.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1999—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–44 substituted “Acknowledgment” for “Acknowledgement” in heading.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1321.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1321"
+description: "Remedy for infringement"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1321"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1321"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1321"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "abfbb38245d1585d6be4989adda2bd1dcbe36fbaa7f60fc54799f76ed04991d2"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "fcdc0e7d470dd1ded5425c95d84bdbc582781ec55ae8431f7db0175175a8df76"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1321 - Remedy for infringement
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In General.— The owner of a design is entitled, after issuance of a certificate of registration of the design under this chapter, to institute an action for any infringement of the design.
+
+(b) Review of Refusal To Register.— (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the owner of a design may seek judicial review of a final refusal of the Administrator to register the design under this chapter by bringing a civil action, and may in the same action, if the court adjudges the design subject to protection under this chapter, enforce the rights in that design under this chapter.
+
+(2) The owner of a design may seek judicial review under this section if—
+
+(A) the owner has previously duly filed and prosecuted to final refusal an application in proper form for registration of the design;
+
+(B) the owner causes a copy of the complaint in the action to be delivered to the Administrator within 10 days after the commencement of the action; and
+
+(C) the defendant has committed acts in respect to the design which would constitute infringement with respect to a design protected under this chapter.
+
+(c) Administrator as Party to Action.— The Administrator may, at the Administrator’s option, become a party to the action with respect to the issue of registrability of the design claim by entering an appearance within 60 days after being served with the complaint, but the failure of the Administrator to become a party shall not deprive the court of jurisdiction to determine that issue.
+
+(d) Use of Arbitration To Resolve Dispute.— The parties to an infringement dispute under this chapter, within such time as may be specified by the Administrator by regulation, may determine the dispute, or any aspect of the dispute, by arbitration. Arbitration shall be governed by title 9. The parties shall give notice of any arbitration award to the Administrator, and such award shall, as between the parties to the arbitration, be dispositive of the issues to which it relates. The arbitration award shall be unenforceable until such notice is given. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the Administrator from determining whether a design is subject to registration in a cancellation proceeding under section 1313(c).
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2913.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1322.md

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1322"
+description: "Injunctions"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1322"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1322"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1322"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "993bdc68816451dda47ba5150976edd1a22f2a2918b70b3a11ac23f9ec34d8bf"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "1e6d6402c0f01880b35d1b6d17cc95dc08246c16dd6dca679a062945c8050c20"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1322 - Injunctions
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In General.— A court having jurisdiction over actions under this chapter may grant injunctions in accordance with the principles of equity to prevent infringement of a design under this chapter, including, in its discretion, prompt relief by temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.
+
+(b) Damages for Injunctive Relief Wrongfully Obtained.— A seller or distributor who suffers damage by reason of injunctive relief wrongfully obtained under this section has a cause of action against the applicant for such injunctive relief and may recover such relief as may be appropriate, including damages for lost profits, cost of materials, loss of good will, and punitive damages in instances where the injunctive relief was sought in bad faith, and, unless the court finds extenuating circumstances, reasonable attorney’s fees.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2914.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1323.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1323"
+description: "Recovery for infringement"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1323"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1323"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1323"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "d5db6fb1ac1b4d08fe34eaedfe9e4e1f6a92d87adf9397ea8f9a28a5ab686f98"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "44e808aa3637fb51076980b64f4af7dc01837228693997ebff2864643fd9fa4c"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1323 - Recovery for infringement
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Damages.— Upon a finding for the claimant in an action for infringement under this chapter, the court shall award the claimant damages adequate to compensate for the infringement. In addition, the court may increase the damages to such amount, not exceeding $50,000 or $1 per copy, whichever is greater, as the court determines to be just. The damages awarded shall constitute compensation and not a penalty. The court may receive expert testimony as an aid to the determination of damages.
+
+(b) Infringer’s Profits.— As an alternative to the remedies provided in subsection (a), the court may award the claimant the infringer’s profits resulting from the sale of the copies if the court finds that the infringer’s sales are reasonably related to the use of the claimant’s design. In such a case, the claimant shall be required to prove only the amount of the infringer’s sales and the infringer shall be required to prove its expenses against such sales.
+
+(c) Statute of Limitations.— No recovery under subsection (a) or (b) shall be had for any infringement committed more than 3 years before the date on which the complaint is filed.
+
+(d) Attorney’s Fees.— In an action for infringement under this chapter, the court may award reasonable attorney’s fees to the prevailing party.
+
+(e) Disposition of Infringing and Other Articles.— The court may order that all infringing articles, and any plates, molds, patterns, models, or other means specifically adapted for making the articles, be delivered up for destruction or other disposition as the court may direct.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2914.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1324.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1324"
+description: "Power of court over registration"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1324"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1324"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1324"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "da1a20d0692f26f5c61902337ebe26c2817cda18c01064f9e8452ecd9f320e85"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "eb13e802bc28090a29791d289fb43b6869ec66ec8898e8f93e153841d57947f9"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1324 - Power of court over registration
+
+## Text
+
+In any action involving the protection of a design under this chapter, the court, when appropriate, may order registration of a design under this chapter or the cancellation of such a registration. Any such order shall be certified by the court to the Administrator, who shall make an appropriate entry upon the record.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2915.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1325.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1325"
+description: "Liability for action on registration fraudulently obtained"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1325"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1325"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1325"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "122caf3e6cfb8cbcee74f7c621f88eed4f0fe04c11e90e20ad951a0db7815dcf"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "9655d9f524c1c429b068995586e8dbb114cca2f0996572571068ffc2dea5ccae"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1325 - Liability for action on registration fraudulently obtained
+
+## Text
+
+Any person who brings an action for infringement knowing that registration of the design was obtained by a false or fraudulent representation materially affecting the rights under this chapter, shall be liable in the sum of $10,000, or such part of that amount as the court may determine. That amount shall be to compensate the defendant and shall be charged against the plaintiff and paid to the defendant, in addition to such costs and attorney’s fees of the defendant as may be assessed by the court.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2915.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1326.md

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1326"
+description: "Penalty for false marking"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1326"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1326"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1326"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "3ee0914be96b25d5c711d2f9c6fff712ac86aa1440ed3ed3dc89d7f632b2f52f"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "f537f1551389ae4a94214b5392061953968f7d9c4d2a5b178dda65728ea7e473"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1326 - Penalty for false marking
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In General.— Whoever, for the purpose of deceiving the public, marks upon, applies to, or uses in advertising in connection with an article made, used, distributed, or sold, a design which is not protected under this chapter, a design notice specified in section 1306, or any other words or symbols importing that the design is protected under this chapter, knowing that the design is not so protected, shall pay a civil fine of not more than $500 for each such offense.
+
+(b) Suit by Private Persons.— Any person may sue for the penalty established by subsection (a), in which event one-half of the penalty shall be awarded to the person suing and the remainder shall be awarded to the United States.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2915.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1327.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1327"
+description: "Penalty for false representation"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1327"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1327"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1327"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "5b36d647cc357924cb00cc306a86bcb315ee813a02f96f5a0e4c116916a52b09"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "0956b2674b7791be3ebd8352fd0a1e81060e56c5e97c499ed144eaec5673da60"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1327 - Penalty for false representation
+
+## Text
+
+Whoever knowingly makes a false representation materially affecting the rights obtainable under this chapter for the purpose of obtaining registration of a design under this chapter shall pay a penalty of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000, and any rights or privileges that individual may have in the design under this chapter shall be forfeited.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2915.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1328.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1328"
+description: "Enforcement by Treasury and Postal Service"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1328"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1328"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1328"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "ab7a284ae082908ee3d3f8e593d99d9443aabd18655ee01a3a21bc83fabc9013"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "3d9afb6f076f61de3d3af484c62082684814efbc033aec4c0697e42541cbda03"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1328 - Enforcement by Treasury and Postal Service
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Regulations.— The Secretary of the Treasury and the United States Postal Service shall separately or jointly issue regulations for the enforcement of the rights set forth in section 1308 with respect to importation. Such regulations may require, as a condition for the exclusion of articles from the United States, that the person seeking exclusion take any one or more of the following actions:
+
+(1) Obtain a court order enjoining, or an order of the International Trade Commission under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 excluding, importation of the articles.
+
+(2) Furnish proof that the design involved is protected under this chapter and that the importation of the articles would infringe the rights in the design under this chapter.
+
+(3) Post a surety bond for any injury that may result if the detention or exclusion of the articles proves to be unjustified.
+
+(b) Seizure and Forfeiture.— Articles imported in violation of the rights set forth in section 1308 are subject to seizure and forfeiture in the same manner as property imported in violation of the customs laws. Any such forfeited articles shall be destroyed as directed by the Secretary of the Treasury or the court, as the case may be, except that the articles may be returned to the country of export whenever it is shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Treasury that the importer had no reasonable grounds for believing that his or her acts constituted a violation of the law.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2916.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextSection 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is classified to section 1337 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1329.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1329"
+description: "Relation to design patent law"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1329"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1329"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1329"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "c63767d9c08ffd636335a3851e43772ac3c86fbb33efaa0c539bfd62865cf634"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "b0354479373b973b5364defb45e277c7ccc84860fda0e175536ca77d52a08b94"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1329 - Relation to design patent law
+
+## Text
+
+The issuance of a design patent under title 35, United States Code, for an original design for an article of manufacture shall terminate any protection of the original design under this chapter.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2916.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1330.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1330"
+description: "Common law and other rights unaffected"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1330"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1330"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1330"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "178317ccdf10a131a2bf5db607e00466e32403b5721c981804634f88c6a5d82f"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "f42291ea334e8672c07c648a64864e79fe3a383c95d91a419d8f8f2661745c30"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1330 - Common law and other rights unaffected
+
+## Text
+
+Nothing in this chapter shall annul or limit—
+
+(1) common law or other rights or remedies, if any, available to or held by any person with respect to a design which has not been registered under this chapter; or
+
+(2) any right under the trademark laws or any right protected against unfair competition.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2916.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1331.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1331"
+description: "Administrator; Office of the Administrator"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1331"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1331"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1331"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "d9862a00ccad86c0c935463a74b7a9fdd49aeef0c3ab40e9dec9a3379cbb35ab"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "a275a25b67ad2b493f6c40693975b00abf87665e2f3272d78f8822e5100341c1"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1331 - Administrator; Office of the Administrator
+
+## Text
+
+In this chapter, the “Administrator” is the Register of Copyrights, and the “Office of the Administrator” and the “Office” refer to the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2916.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-13/section-1332.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1332"
+description: "No retroactive effect"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "13"
+chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
+section: "1332"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1332"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1332"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "735661297e04b48601b865ab2ae249b16fd5b1e13acf2f973f0b7e6ce1b613ec"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "671e928859f7f96f015897c244f18579dbc8872d477930cc15a77effd44b300f"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1332 - No retroactive effect
+
+## Text
+
+Protection under this chapter shall not be available for any design that has been made public under section 1310(b) before the effective date of this chapter.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2916.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe effective date of this chapter, referred to in text, is Oct. 28, 1998. See Effective Date note set out under section 1301 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-14/section-1401.md

@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1401"
+description: "Unauthorized use of pre-1972 sound recordings"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "14"
+chapter_name: "UNAUTHORIZED USE OF PRE-1972 SOUND RECORDINGS"
+section: "1401"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1401"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1401"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "2fd096d38b0af817da183184d8c62650267643e65315d58552e042d121498dfb"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "6de2c1ffc26eca215bdaccf5d99a5f841e970e862db14a1f6b42d992cc0185f9"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1401 - Unauthorized use of pre-1972 sound recordings
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In General.— (1) Unauthorized acts.— Anyone who, on or before the last day of the applicable transition period under paragraph (2), and without the consent of the rights owner, engages in covered activity with respect to a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, shall be subject to the remedies provided in sections 502 through 505 and 1203 to the same extent as an infringer of copyright or a person that engages in unauthorized activity under chapter 12.
+
+(2) Term of prohibition.— (A) In general.— The prohibition under paragraph (1)—
+
+(i) subject to clause (ii), shall apply to a sound recording described in that paragraph—
+
+(I) through December 31 of the year that is 95 years after the year of first publication; and
+
+(II) for a further transition period as prescribed under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph; and
+
+(ii) shall not apply to any sound recording after February 15, 2067.
+
+(B) Transition periods.— (i) Pre-1923 recordings.— In the case of a sound recording first published before January 1, 1923, the transition period described in subparagraph (A)(i)(II) shall end on December 31 of the year that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this section.
+
+(ii) 1923–1946 recordings.— In the case of a sound recording first published during the period beginning on January 1, 1923, and ending on December 31, 1946, the transition period described in subparagraph (A)(i)(II) shall end on the date that is 5 years after the last day of the period described in subparagraph (A)(i)(I).
+
+(iii) 1947–1956 recordings.— In the case of a sound recording first published during the period beginning on January 1, 1947, and ending on December 31, 1956, the transition period described in subparagraph (A)(i)(II) shall end on the date that is 15 years after the last day of the period described in subparagraph (A)(i)(I).
+
+(iv) Post-1956 recordings.— In the case of a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, that is not described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii), the transition period described in subparagraph (A)(i)(II) shall end on February 15, 2067.
+
+(3) Rule of construction.— For the purposes of this subsection, the term “anyone” includes any State, any instrumentality of a State, and any officer or employee of a State or instrumentality of a State acting in the official capacity of the officer or employee, as applicable.
+
+(b) Certain Authorized Transmissions and Reproductions.— A public performance by means of a digital audio transmission of a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, or a reproduction in an ephemeral phonorecord or copy of a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, shall, for purposes of subsection (a), be considered to be authorized and made with the consent of the rights owner if—
+
+(1) the transmission or reproduction would satisfy the requirements for statutory licensing under section 112(e)(1) or section 114(d)(2), or would be exempt under section 114(d)(1), as the case may be, if the sound recording were fixed on or after February 15, 1972; and
+
+(2) the transmitting entity pays the statutory royalty for the transmission or reproduction pursuant to the rates and terms adopted under sections 112(e) and 114(f), and complies with other obligations, in the same manner as required by regulations adopted by the Copyright Royalty Judges under sections 112(e) and 114(f) for sound recordings that are fixed on or after February 15, 1972, except in the case of a transmission that would be exempt under section 114(d)(1).
+
+(c) Certain Noncommercial Uses of Sound Recordings That Are Not Being Commercially Exploited.— (1) In general.— Noncommercial use of a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, that is not being commercially exploited by or under the authority of the rights owner shall not violate subsection (a) if—
+
+(A) the person engaging in the noncommercial use, in order to determine whether the sound recording is being commercially exploited by or under the authority of the rights owner, makes a good faith, reasonable search for, but does not find, the sound recording—
+
+(i) in the records of schedules filed in the Copyright Office as described in subsection (f)(5)(A); and
+
+(ii) on services offering a comprehensive set of sound recordings for sale or streaming;
+
+(B) the person engaging in the noncommercial use files a notice identifying the sound recording and the nature of the use in the Copyright Office in accordance with the regulations issued under paragraph (3)(B); and
+
+(C) during the 90-day period beginning on the date on which the notice described in subparagraph (B) is indexed into the public records of the Copyright Office, the rights owner of the sound recording does not, in its discretion, opt out of the noncommercial use by filing notice thereof in the Copyright Office in accordance with the regulations issued under paragraph (5).
+
+(2) Rules of construction.— For purposes of this subsection—
+
+(A) merely recovering costs of production and distribution of a sound recording resulting from a use otherwise permitted under this subsection does not itself necessarily constitute a commercial use of the sound recording;
+
+(B) the fact that a person engaging in the use of a sound recording also engages in commercial activities does not itself necessarily render the use commercial; and
+
+(C) the fact that a person files notice of a noncommercial use of a sound recording in accordance with the regulations issued under paragraph (3)(B) does not itself affect any limitation on the exclusive rights of a copyright owner described in section 107, 108, 109, 110, or 112(f) as applied to a claim under subsection (a) of this section pursuant to subsection (f)(1)(A) of this section.
+
+(3) Notice of covered activity.— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Register of Copyrights shall issue regulations that—
+
+(A) provide specific, reasonable steps that, if taken by a filer, are sufficient to constitute a good faith, reasonable search under paragraph (1)(A) to determine whether a recording is being commercially exploited, including the services that satisfy the good faith, reasonable search requirement under paragraph (1)(A) for purposes of the safe harbor described in paragraph (4)(A); and
+
+(B) establish the form, content, and procedures for the filing of notices under paragraph (1)(B).
+
+(4) Safe harbor.— (A) In general.— A person engaging in a noncommercial use of a sound recording otherwise permitted under this subsection who establishes that the person made a good faith, reasonable search under paragraph (1)(A) without finding commercial exploitation of the sound recording by or under the authority of the rights owner shall not be found to be in violation of subsection (a).
+
+(B) Steps sufficient but not necessary.— Taking the specific, reasonable steps identified by the Register of Copyrights in the regulations issued under paragraph (3)(A) shall be sufficient, but not necessary, for a filer to satisfy the requirement to conduct a good faith, reasonable search under paragraph (1)(A) for purposes of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
+
+(5) Opting out of covered activity.— (A) In general.— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Register of Copyrights shall issue regulations establishing the form, content, and procedures for the rights owner of a sound recording that is the subject of a notice under paragraph (1)(B) to, in its discretion, file notice opting out of the covered activity described in the notice under paragraph (1)(B) during the 90-day period beginning on the date on which the notice under paragraph (1)(B) is indexed into the public records of the Copyright Office.
+
+(B) Rule of construction.— The fact that a rights holder opts out of a noncommercial use of a sound recording by filing notice thereof in the Copyright Office in accordance with the regulations issued under subparagraph (A) does not itself enlarge or diminish any limitation on the exclusive rights of a copyright owner described in section 107, 108, 109, 110, or 112(f) as applied to a claim under subsection (a) of this section pursuant to subsection (f)(1)(A) of this section.
+
+(6) Civil penalties for certain acts.— (A) Filing of notices of noncommercial use.— Any person who willfully engages in a pattern or practice of filing a notice of noncommercial use of a sound recording as described in paragraph (1)(B) fraudulently describing the use proposed, or knowing that the use proposed is not permitted under this subsection, shall be assessed a civil penalty in an amount that is not less than $250, and not more than $1000, for each such notice, in addition to any other remedies that may be available under this title based on the actual use made.
+
+(B) Filing of opt-out notices.— (i) In general.— Any person who files an opt-out notice as described in paragraph (1)(C), knowing that the person is not the rights owner or authorized to act on behalf of the rights owner of the sound recording to which the notice pertains, shall be assessed a civil penalty in an amount not less than $250, and not more than $1,000, for each such notice.
+
+(ii) Pattern or practice.— Any person who engages in a pattern or practice of making filings as described in clause (i) shall be assessed a civil penalty in an amount not less than $10,000 for each such filing.
+
+(C) Definition.— For purposes of this paragraph, the term “knowing”—
+
+(i) does not require specific intent to defraud; and
+
+(ii) with respect to information about ownership of the sound recording in question, means that the person—
+
+(I) has actual knowledge of the information;
+
+(II) acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information; or
+
+(III) acts in grossly negligent disregard of the truth or falsity of the information.
+
+(d) Payment of Royalties for Transmissions of Performances by Direct Licensing of Statutory Services.— (1) In general.— A public performance by means of a digital audio transmission of a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, shall, for purposes of subsection (a), be considered to be authorized and made with the consent of the rights owner if the transmission is made pursuant to a license agreement voluntarily negotiated at any time between the rights owner and the entity performing the sound recording.
+
+(2) Payment of royalties to nonprofit collective under certain license agreements.— (A) Licenses entered into on or after date of enactment.— To the extent that a license agreement described in paragraph (1) entered into on or after the date of enactment of this section extends to a public performance by means of a digital audio transmission of a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, that meets the conditions of subsection (b)—
+
+(i) the licensee shall, with respect to such transmission, pay to the collective designated to distribute receipts from the licensing of transmissions in accordance with section 114(f), 50 percent of the performance royalties for that transmission due under the license; and
+
+(ii) the royalties paid under clause (i) shall be fully credited as payments due under the license.
+
+(B) Certain agreements entered into before enactment.— To the extent that a license agreement described in paragraph (1), entered into during the period beginning on January 1 of the year in which this section is enacted and ending on the day before the date of enactment of this section, or a settlement agreement with a preexisting satellite digital audio radio service (as defined in section 114(j)) entered into during the period beginning on January 1, 2015, and ending on the day before the date of enactment of this section, extends to a public performance by means of a digital audio transmission of a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, that meets the conditions of subsection (b)—
+
+(i) the rights owner shall, with respect to such transmission, pay to the collective designated to distribute receipts from the licensing of transmissions in accordance with section 114(f) an amount that is equal to the difference between—
+
+(I) 50 percent of the difference between—
+
+(aa) the rights owner’s total gross performance royalty fee receipts or settlement monies received for all such transmissions covered under the license or settlement agreement, as applicable; and
+
+(bb) the rights owner’s total payments for outside legal expenses, including any payments of third-party claims, that are directly attributable to the license or settlement agreement, as applicable; and
+
+(II) the amount of any royalty receipts or settlement monies under the agreement that are distributed by the rights owner to featured and nonfeatured artists before the date of enactment of this section; and
+
+(ii) the royalties paid under clause (i) shall be fully credited as payments due under the license or settlement agreement, as applicable.
+
+(3) Distribution of royalties and settlement monies by collective.— The collective described in paragraph (2) shall, in accordance with subparagraphs (B) through (D) of section 114(g)(2), and paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 114(g), distribute the royalties or settlement monies received under paragraph (2) under a license or settlement described in paragraph (2), which shall be the only payments to which featured and nonfeatured artists are entitled by virtue of the transmissions described in paragraph (2), except for settlement monies described in paragraph (2) that are distributed by the rights owner to featured and nonfeatured artists before the date of enactment of this section.
+
+(4) Payment of royalties under license agreements entered before enactment or not otherwise described in paragraph (2).— (A) In general.— To the extent that a license agreement described in paragraph (1) entered into before the date of enactment of this section, or any other license agreement not as described in paragraph (2), extends to a public performance by means of a digital audio transmission of a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, that meets the conditions of subsection (b), the payments made by the licensee pursuant to the license shall be made in accordance with the agreement.
+
+(B) Additional payments not required.— To the extent that a licensee has made, or will make in the future, payments pursuant to a license as described in subparagraph (A), the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not require any additional payments from, or additional financial obligations on the part of, the licensee.
+
+(C) Rule of construction.— Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit the collective designated to distribute receipts from the licensing of transmissions in accordance with section 114(f) from administering royalty payments under any license not described in paragraph (2).
+
+(e) Preemption With Respect to Certain Past Acts.— (1) In general.— This section preempts any claim of common law copyright or equivalent right under the laws of any State arising from a digital audio transmission or reproduction that is made before the date of enactment of this section of a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, if—
+
+(A) the digital audio transmission would have satisfied the requirements for statutory licensing under section 114(d)(2) or been exempt under section 114(d)(1), or the reproduction would have satisfied the requirements of section 112(e)(1), as the case may be, if the sound recording were fixed on or after February 15, 1972; and
+
+(B) either—
+
+(i) except in the case of a transmission that would have been exempt under section 114(d)(1), not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this section, the transmitting entity pays statutory royalties and provides notice of the use of the relevant sound recordings in the same manner as required by regulations adopted by the Copyright Royalty Judges for sound recordings that are fixed on or after February 15, 1972, for all the digital audio transmissions and reproductions satisfying the requirements for statutory licensing under sections 112(e)(1) and 114(d)(2) during the 3 years before that date of enactment; or
+
+(ii) an agreement voluntarily negotiated between the rights owner and the entity performing the sound recording (including a litigation settlement agreement entered into before the date of enactment of this section) authorizes or waives liability for any such transmission or reproduction and the transmitting entity has paid for and reported such digital audio transmission under that agreement.
+
+(2) Rule of construction for common law copyright.— For purposes of paragraph (1), a claim of common law copyright or equivalent right under the laws of any State includes a claim that characterizes conduct subject to that paragraph as an unlawful distribution, act of record piracy, or similar violation.
+
+(3) Rule of construction for public performance rights.— Nothing in this section may be construed to recognize or negate the existence of public performance rights in sound recordings under the laws of any State.
+
+(f) Limitations on Remedies.— (1) Fair use; uses by libraries, archives, and educational institutions.— (A) In general.— The limitations on the exclusive rights of a copyright owner described in sections 107, 108, 109, 110, and 112(f) shall apply to a claim under subsection (a) with respect to a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972.
+
+(B) Rule of construction for section 108(h).— With respect to the application of section 108(h) to a claim under subsection (a) with respect to a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, the phrase “during the last 20 years of any term of copyright of a published work” in such section 108(h) shall be construed to mean at any time after the date of enactment of this section.
+
+(2) Actions.— The limitations on actions described in section 507 shall apply to a claim under subsection (a) with respect to a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972.
+
+(3) Material online.— Section 512 shall apply to a claim under subsection (a) with respect to a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972.
+
+(4) Principles of equity.— Principles of equity apply to remedies for a violation of this section to the same extent as such principles apply to remedies for infringement of copyright.
+
+(5) Filing requirement for statutory damages and attorneys’ fees.— (A) Filing of information on sound recordings.— (i) Filing requirement.— Except in the case of a transmitting entity that has filed contact information for that transmitting entity under subparagraph (B), in any action under this section, an award of statutory damages or of attorneys’ fees under section 504 or 505 may be made with respect to an unauthorized use of a sound recording under subsection (a) only if—
+
+(I) the rights owner has filed with the Copyright Office a schedule that specifies the title, artist, and rights owner of the sound recording and contains such other information, as practicable, as the Register of Copyrights prescribes by regulation; and
+
+(II) the use occurs after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date on which the information described in subclause (I) is indexed into the public records of the Copyright Office.
+
+(ii) Regulations.— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Register of Copyrights shall issue regulations that—
+
+(I) establish the form, content, and procedures for the filing of schedules under clause (i);
+
+(II) provide that a person may request that the person receive timely notification of a filing described in subclause (I); and
+
+(III) set forth the manner in which a person may make a request under subclause (II).
+
+(B) Filing of contact information for transmitting entities.— (i) Filing requirement.— Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Register of Copyrights shall issue regulations establishing the form, content, and procedures for the filing of contact information by any entity that, as of the date of enactment of this section, performs a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, by means of a digital audio transmission.
+
+(ii) Time limit on filings.— The Register of Copyrights may accept filings under clause (i) only until the 180th day after the date of enactment of this section.
+
+(iii) Limitation on statutory damages and attorneys’ fees.— (I) Limitation.— An award of statutory damages or of attorneys’ fees under section 504 or 505 may not be made against an entity that has filed contact information for that entity under clause (i) with respect to an unauthorized use by that entity of a sound recording under subsection (a) if the use occurs before the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date on which the entity receives a notice that—
+
+(aa) is sent by or on behalf of the rights owner of the sound recording;
+
+(bb) states that the entity is not legally authorized to use that sound recording under subsection (a); and
+
+(cc) identifies the sound recording in a schedule conforming to the requirements prescribed by the regulations issued under subparagraph (A)(ii).
+
+(II) Undeliverable notices.— In any case in which a notice under subclause (I) is sent to an entity by mail or courier service and the notice is returned to the sender because the entity either is no longer located at the address provided in the contact information filed under clause (i) or has refused to accept delivery, or the notice is sent by electronic mail and is undeliverable, the 90-day period under subclause (I) shall begin on the date of the attempted delivery.
+
+(C) Section 412.— Section 412 shall not limit an award of statutory damages under section 504(c) or attorneys’ fees under section 505 with respect to a covered activity in violation of subsection (a).
+
+(6) Applicability of other provisions.— (A) In general.— Subject to subparagraph (B), no provision of this title shall apply to or limit the remedies available under this section except as otherwise provided in this section.
+
+(B) Applicability of definitions.— Any term used in this section that is defined in section 101 shall have the meaning given that term in section 101.
+
+(g) Application of Section 230 Safe Harbor.— For purposes of section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230), subsection (a) shall be considered to be a “law pertaining to intellectual property” under subsection (e)(2) of such section 230.
+
+(h) Application to Rights Owners.— (1) Transfers.— With respect to a rights owner described in subsection (l)(2)(B)—
+
+(A) subsections (d) and (e) of section 201 and section 204 shall apply to a transfer described in subsection (l)(2)(B) to the same extent as with respect to a transfer of copyright ownership; and
+
+(B) notwithstanding section 411, that rights owner may institute an action with respect to a violation of this section to the same extent as the owner of an exclusive right under a copyright may institute an action under section 501(b).
+
+(2) Application of other provisions.— The following provisions shall apply to a rights owner under this section to the same extent as any copyright owner:
+
+(A) Section 112(e)(2).
+
+(B) Section 112(e)(7).
+
+(C) Section 114(e).
+
+(D) Section 114(h).
+
+(i) Ephemeral Recordings.— An authorized reproduction made under this section shall be subject to section 112(g) to the same extent as a reproduction of a sound recording fixed on or after February 15, 1972.
+
+(j) Rule of Construction.— A rights owner of, or featured recording artist who performs on, a sound recording under this chapter shall be deemed to be an interested copyright party, as defined in section 1001, to the same extent as a copyright owner or featured recording artist under chapter 10.
+
+(k) Treatment of States and State Instrumentalities, Officers, and Employees.— Any State, and any instrumentality, officer, or employee described in subsection (a)(3), shall be subject to the provisions of this section in the same manner and to the same extent as any nongovernmental entity.
+
+(l) Definitions.— In this section:
+
+(1) Covered activity.— The term “covered activity” means any activity that the copyright owner of a sound recording would have the exclusive right to do or authorize under section 106 or 602, or that would violate section 1201 or 1202, if the sound recording were fixed on or after February 15, 1972.
+
+(2) Rights owner.— The term “rights owner” means—
+
+(A) the person that has the exclusive right to reproduce a sound recording under the laws of any State, as of the day before the date of enactment of this section; or
+
+(B) any person to which a right to enforce a violation of this section may be transferred, in whole or in part, after the date of enactment of this section, under—
+
+(i) subsections (d) and (e) of section 201; and
+
+(ii) section 204.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 115–264, title II, § 202(a)(2), Oct. 11, 2018, 132 Stat. 3728.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2)(B)(i), (c)(3), (5)(A), (d)(2)–(4)(A), (e)(1), (f)(1)(B), (5)(A)(ii), (B)(i), (ii), and (l)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 115–264, which was approved Oct. 11, 2018. The year in which this section is enacted, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(B), is the year in which Pub. L. 115–264 was enacted. Such Act was approved Oct. 11, 2018.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-15/section-1501.md

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1501"
+description: "Definitions"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "15"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT SMALL CLAIMS"
+section: "1501"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1501"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1501"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "fb6b387174640a2696a7265b8992af0131f0ad93855eea499151bb655123bf9d"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "ccb17ebba80755bfa7d8de1d65ad5d38be0f5a2cfa3f5984f0226704480eb962"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1501 - Definitions
+
+## Text
+
+In this chapter—
+
+(1) the term “claimant” means the real party in interest that commences a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board under section 1506(e), pursuant to a permissible claim of infringement brought under section 1504(c)(1), noninfringement brought under section 1504(c)(2), or misrepresentation brought under section 1504(c)(3);
+
+(2) the term “counterclaimant” means a respondent in a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board that—
+
+(A) asserts a permissible counterclaim under section 1504(c)(4) against the claimant in the proceeding; and
+
+(B) is the real party in interest with respect to the counterclaim described in subparagraph (A);
+
+(3) the term “party”—
+
+(A) means a party; and
+
+(B) includes the attorney of a party, as applicable; and
+
+(4) the term “respondent” means any person against whom a proceeding is brought before the Copyright Claims Board under section 1506(e), pursuant to a permissible claim of infringement brought under section 1504(c)(1), noninfringement brought under section 1504(c)(2), or misrepresentation brought under section 1504(c)(3).
+
+(Added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2177.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+SeverabilityPub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(f), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2200, provided that: “If any provision of this section [see Short Title of 2020 Amendment note set out under section 101 of this title], an amendment made by this section, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this section and the amendments made by this section, and the application of the provision or the amendment to any other person or circumstance, shall not be affected.”

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-15/section-1502.md

@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1502"
+description: "Copyright Claims Board"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "15"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT SMALL CLAIMS"
+section: "1502"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1502"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1502"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "37b695732db4c72c4f75f43ad71fb355c9f5f6eea686d7f02464b2791dd68fe9"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "740262ad0fac34d8a09e0415ff2145f47d4a46a07423d940b13ba5325bbbea2d"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1502 - Copyright Claims Board
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In General.— There is established in the Copyright Office the Copyright Claims Board, which shall serve as an alternative forum in which parties may voluntarily seek to resolve certain copyright claims regarding any category of copyrighted work, as provided in this chapter.
+
+(b) Officers and Staff.— (1) Copyright claims officers.— The Register of Copyrights shall recommend 3 full-time Copyright Claims Officers to serve on the Copyright Claims Board in accordance with paragraph (3)(A). The Officers shall be appointed by the Librarian of Congress to such positions after consultation with the Register of Copyrights.
+
+(2) Copyright claims attorneys.— The Register of Copyrights shall hire not fewer than 2 full-time Copyright Claims Attorneys to assist in the administration of the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(3) Qualifications.— (A) Copyright claims officers.— (i) In general.— Each Copyright Claims Officer shall be an attorney who has not fewer than 7 years of legal experience.
+
+(ii) Experience.— Two of the Copyright Claims Officers shall—
+
+(I) have substantial experience in the evaluation, litigation, or adjudication of copyright infringement claims; and
+
+(II) between those 2 Officers, have represented or presided over a diversity of copyright interests, including those of both owners and users of copyrighted works.
+
+(iii) Alternative dispute resolution.— The Copyright Claims Officer not described in clause (ii) shall have substantial familiarity with copyright law and experience in the field of alternative dispute resolution, including the resolution of litigation matters through that method of resolution.
+
+(B) Copyright claims attorneys.— Each Copyright Claims Attorney shall be an attorney who has not fewer than 3 years of substantial experience in copyright law.
+
+(4) Compensation.— (A) Copyright claims officers.— (i) Definition.— In this subparagraph, the term “senior level employee of the Federal Government” means an employee, other than an employee in the Senior Executive Service, the position of whom is classified above GS–15 of the General Schedule.
+
+(ii) Pay range.— Each Copyright Claims Officer shall be compensated at a rate of pay that is not less than the minimum, and not more than the maximum, rate of pay payable for senior level employees of the Federal Government, including locality pay, as applicable.
+
+(B) Copyright claims attorneys.— Each Copyright Claims Attorney shall be compensated at a rate of pay that is not more than the maximum rate of pay payable for level 10 of GS–15 of the General Schedule, including locality pay, as applicable.
+
+(5) Terms.— (A) In general.— Subject to subparagraph (B), a Copyright Claims Officer shall serve for a renewable term of 6 years.
+
+(B) Initial terms.— The terms for the first Copyright Claims Officers appointed under this chapter shall be as follows:
+
+(i) The first such Copyright Claims Officer appointed shall be appointed for a term of 4 years.
+
+(ii) The second Copyright Claims Officer appointed shall be appointed for a term of 5 years.
+
+(iii) The third Copyright Claims Officer appointed shall be appointed for a term of 6 years.
+
+(6) Vacancies and incapacity.— (A) Vacancy.— (i) In general.— If a vacancy occurs in the position of a Copyright Claims Officer, the Librarian of Congress shall, upon the recommendation of, and in consultation with, the Register of Copyrights, act expeditiously to appoint a Copyright Claims Officer for that position.
+
+(ii) Vacancy before expiration.— An individual appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the predecessor of the individual was appointed shall be appointed to serve a 6-year term.
+
+(B) Incapacity.— If a Copyright Claims Officer is temporarily unable to perform the duties of the Officer, the Librarian of Congress shall, upon recommendation of, and in consultation with, the Register of Copyrights, act expeditiously to appoint an interim Copyright Claims Officer to perform such duties during the period of such incapacity.
+
+(7) Sanction or removal.— Subject to section 1503(b), the Librarian of Congress may sanction or remove a Copyright Claims Officer.
+
+(8) Administrative support.— The Register of Copyrights shall provide the Copyright Claims Officers and Copyright Claims Attorneys with necessary administrative support, including technological facilities, to carry out the duties of the Officers and Attorneys under this chapter.
+
+(9) Location of copyright claims board.— The offices and facilities of the Copyright Claims Officers and Copyright Claims Attorneys shall be located at the Copyright Office.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2177.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (b)(4), is set out under section 5332 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+ImplementationPub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(d), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2199, provided that: “(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2020], the Copyright Claims Board established under section 1502 of title 17, United States Code, as added by subsection (b) of this section, shall begin operations. “(2) Extension.—The Register of Copyrights may, for good cause, extend the deadline under paragraph (1) by not more than 180 days if the Register of Copyrights provides notice of the extension to the public and to Congress.”

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-15/section-1503.md

@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1503"
+description: "Authority and duties of the Copyright Claims Board"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "15"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT SMALL CLAIMS"
+section: "1503"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1503"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1503"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "660520fab94c1e174d3845f6982cc297b7ed595a2654a88bdcf1666adb47237a"
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+text_hash: "dd8bdb24d9c4f293c1795d64c7c4dfa42bf8cfbe16d36768ec24156e4a0d6dd6"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1503 - Authority and duties of the Copyright Claims Board
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Functions.— (1) Copyright claims officers.— Subject to the provisions of this chapter and applicable regulations, the functions of the Copyright Claims Officers shall be as follows:
+
+(A) To render determinations on the civil copyright claims, counterclaims, and defenses that may be brought before the Officers under this chapter.
+
+(B) To ensure that claims, counterclaims, and defenses are properly asserted and otherwise appropriate for resolution by the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(C) To manage the proceedings before the Officers and render rulings pertaining to the consideration of claims, counterclaims, and defenses, including with respect to scheduling, discovery, evidentiary, and other matters.
+
+(D) To request, from participants and nonparticipants in a proceeding, the production of information and documents relevant to the resolution of a claim, counterclaim, or defense.
+
+(E) To conduct hearings and conferences.
+
+(F) To facilitate the settlement by the parties of claims and counterclaims.
+
+(G) To—
+
+(i) award monetary relief; and
+
+(ii) include in the determinations of the Officers a requirement that certain activities under section 1504(e)(2) cease or be mitigated, if the party to undertake the applicable measure has so agreed.
+
+(H) To provide information to the public concerning the procedures and requirements of the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(I) To maintain records of the proceedings before the Officers, certify official records of such proceedings as needed, and, as provided in section 1506(t), make the records in such proceedings available to the public.
+
+(J) To carry out such other duties as are set forth in this chapter.
+
+(K) When not engaged in performing the duties of the Officers set forth in this chapter, to perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Register of Copyrights.
+
+(2) Copyright claims attorneys.— Subject to the provisions of this chapter and applicable regulations, the functions of the Copyright Claims Attorneys shall be as follows:
+
+(A) To provide assistance to the Copyright Claims Officers in the administration of the duties of those Officers under this chapter.
+
+(B) To provide assistance to members of the public with respect to the procedures and requirements of the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(C) To provide information to potential claimants contemplating bringing a permissible action before the Copyright Claims Board about obtaining a subpoena under section 512(h) for the sole purpose of identifying a potential respondent in such an action.
+
+(D) When not engaged in performing the duties of the Attorneys set forth in this chapter, to perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Register of Copyrights.
+
+(b) Independence in Determinations.— (1) In general.— The Copyright Claims Board shall render the determinations of the Board in individual proceedings independently on the basis of the records in the proceedings before it and in accordance with the provisions of this title, judicial precedent, and applicable regulations of the Register of Copyrights.
+
+(2) Consultation.— The Copyright Claims Officers and Copyright Claims Attorneys—
+
+(A) may consult with the Register of Copyrights on general issues of law; and
+
+(B) subject to section 1506(x), may not consult with the Register of Copyrights with respect to—
+
+(i) the facts of any particular matter pending before the Officers and the Attorneys; or
+
+(ii) the application of law to the facts described in clause (i).
+
+(3) Performance appraisals.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any regulation or policy of the Library of Congress or Register of Copyrights, any performance appraisal of a Copyright Claims Officer or Copyright Claims Attorney may not consider the substantive result of any individual determination reached by the Copyright Claims Board as a basis for appraisal except to the extent that the result may relate to any actual or alleged violation of an ethical standard of conduct.
+
+(c) Direction by Register.— Subject to subsection (b), the Copyright Claims Officers and Copyright Claims Attorneys shall, in the administration of their duties, be under the general direction of the Register of Copyrights.
+
+(d) Inconsistent Duties Barred.— A Copyright Claims Officer or Copyright Claims Attorney may not undertake any duty that conflicts with the duties of the Officer or Attorney in connection with the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(e) Recusal.— A Copyright Claims Officer or Copyright Claims Attorney shall recuse himself or herself from participation in any proceeding with respect to which the Copyright Claims Officer or Copyright Claims Attorney, as the case may be, has reason to believe that he or she has a conflict of interest.
+
+(f) Ex Parte Communications.— Except as may otherwise be permitted by applicable law, any party to a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board shall refrain from ex parte communications with the Copyright Claims Officers and the Register of Copyrights concerning the substance of any active or pending proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(g) Judicial Review.— Actions of the Copyright Claims Officers and Register of Copyrights under this chapter in connection with the rendering of any determination are subject to judicial review as provided under section 1508(c) and not under chapter 7 of title 5.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2179.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-15/section-1504.md

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1504"
+description: "Nature of proceedings"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "15"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT SMALL CLAIMS"
+section: "1504"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1504"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1504"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "4976f0c3744265001da9f4172c39806bca7877037b47a5d374b4c446ff6d5cc7"
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+text_hash: "623d05320189d2f2f6e944e36dd1f835b92eb476fac192af701c2ef6e2470f98"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1504 - Nature of proceedings
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Voluntary Participation.— Participation in a Copyright Claims Board proceeding shall be on a voluntary basis in accordance with this chapter, and the right of any party to instead pursue a claim, counterclaim, or defense in a district court of the United States, any other court, or any other forum, and to seek a jury trial, shall be preserved. The rights, remedies, and limitations under this section may not be waived except in accordance with this chapter.
+
+(b) Statute of Limitations.— (1) In general.— A proceeding may not be maintained before the Copyright Claims Board unless the proceeding is commenced, in accordance with section 1506(e), before the Copyright Claims Board not later than 3 years after the claim accrued.
+
+(2) Tolling.— Subject to section 1507(a), a proceeding commenced before the Copyright Claims Board shall toll the time permitted under section 507(b) for the commencement of an action on the same claim in a district court of the United States during the period in which the proceeding is pending.
+
+(c) Permissible Claims, Counterclaims, and Defenses.— The Copyright Claims Board may render determinations with respect to the following claims, counterclaims, and defenses, subject to such further limitations and requirements, including with respect to particular classes of works, as may be set forth in regulations established by the Register of Copyrights:
+
+(1) A claim for infringement of an exclusive right in a copyrighted work provided under section 106 by the legal or beneficial owner of the exclusive right at the time of the infringement for which the claimant seeks damages, if any, within the limitations set forth in subsection (e)(1).
+
+(2) A claim for a declaration of noninfringement of an exclusive right in a copyrighted work provided under section 106, consistent with section 2201 of title 28.
+
+(3) A claim under section 512(f) for misrepresentation in connection with a notification of claimed infringement or a counter notification seeking to replace removed or disabled material, except that any remedies relating to such a claim in a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board shall be limited to those available under this chapter.
+
+(4) A counterclaim that is asserted solely against the claimant in a proceeding—
+
+(A) pursuant to which the counterclaimant seeks damages, if any, within the limitations set forth in subsection (e)(1); and
+
+(B) that—
+
+(i) arises under section 106 or section 512(f) and out of the same transaction or occurrence that is the subject of a claim of infringement brought under paragraph (1), a claim of noninfringement brought under paragraph (2), or a claim of misrepresentation brought under paragraph (3); or
+
+(ii) arises under an agreement pertaining to the same transaction or occurrence that is the subject of a claim of infringement brought under paragraph (1), if the agreement could affect the relief awarded to the claimant.
+
+(5) A legal or equitable defense under this title or otherwise available under law, in response to a claim or counterclaim asserted under this subsection.
+
+(6) A single claim or multiple claims permitted under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) by 1 or more claimants against 1 or more respondents, but only if all claims asserted in any 1 proceeding arise out of the same allegedly infringing activity or continuous course of infringing activities and do not, in the aggregate, result in the recovery of such claim or claims for damages that exceed the limitations under subsection (e)(1).
+
+(d) Excluded Claims.— The following claims and counterclaims are not subject to determination by the Copyright Claims Board:
+
+(1) A claim or counterclaim that is not a permissible claim or counterclaim under subsection (c).
+
+(2) A claim or counterclaim that has been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction or that is pending before a court of competent jurisdiction, unless that court has granted a stay to permit that claim or counterclaim to proceed before the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(3) A claim or counterclaim by or against a Federal or State governmental entity.
+
+(4) A claim or counterclaim asserted against a person or entity residing outside of the United States, except in a case in which the person or entity initiated the proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board and is subject to counterclaims under this chapter.
+
+(e) Permissible Remedies.— (1) Monetary recovery.— (A) Actual damages, profits, and statutory damages for infringement.— With respect to a claim or counterclaim for infringement of copyright, and subject to the limitation on total monetary recovery under subparagraph (D), the Copyright Claims Board may award either of the following:
+
+(i) Actual damages and profits determined in accordance with section 504(b), with that award taking into consideration, in appropriate cases, whether the infringing party has agreed to cease or mitigate the infringing activity under paragraph (2).
+
+(ii) Statutory damages, which shall be determined in accordance with section 504(c), subject to the following conditions:
+
+(I) With respect to works timely registered under section 412, so that the works are eligible for an award of statutory damages in accordance with that section, the statutory damages may not exceed $15,000 for each work infringed.
+
+(II) With respect to works not timely registered under section 412, but eligible for an award of statutory damages under this section, statutory damages may not exceed $7,500 per work infringed, or a total of $15,000 in any 1 proceeding.
+
+(III) The Copyright Claims Board may not make any finding that, or consider whether, the infringement was committed willfully in making an award of statutory damages.
+
+(IV) The Copyright Claims Board may consider, as an additional factor in awarding statutory damages, whether the infringer has agreed to cease or mitigate the infringing activity under paragraph (2).
+
+(B) Election of damages.— With respect to a claim or counterclaim of infringement, at any time before final determination is rendered, and notwithstanding the schedule established by the Copyright Claims Board under section 1506(k), the claimant or counterclaimant shall elect—
+
+(i) to recover actual damages and profits or statutory damages under subparagraph (A); or
+
+(ii) not to recover damages.
+
+(C) Damages for other claims.— Damages for claims and counterclaims other than infringement claims, such as those brought under section 512(f), shall be subject to the limitation under subparagraph (D).
+
+(D) Limitation on total monetary recovery.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a party that pursues any 1 or more claims or counterclaims in any single proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board may not seek or recover in that proceeding a total monetary recovery that exceeds the sum of $30,000, exclusive of any attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded under section 1506(y)(2).
+
+(2) Agreement to cease certain activity.— In a determination of the Copyright Claims Board, the Board shall include a requirement to cease conduct if, in the proceeding relating to the determination—
+
+(A) a party agrees—
+
+(i) to cease activity that is found to be infringing, including removing or disabling access to, or destroying, infringing materials; or
+
+(ii) to cease sending a takedown notice or counter notice under section 512 to the other party regarding the conduct at issue before the Board if that notice or counter notice was found to be a knowing material misrepresentation under section 512(f); and
+
+(B) the agreement described in subparagraph (A) is reflected in the record for the proceeding.
+
+(3) Attorneys’ fees and costs.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except in the case of bad faith conduct as provided in section 1506(y)(2), the parties to proceedings before the Copyright Claims Board shall bear their own attorneys’ fees and costs.
+
+(f) Joint and Several Liability.— Parties to a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board may be found jointly and severally liable if all such parties and relevant claims or counterclaims arise from the same activity or activities.
+
+(g) Permissible Number of Cases.— The Register of Copyrights may establish regulations relating to the permitted number of proceedings each year by the same claimant under this chapter, in the interests of justice and the administration of the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2181.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-15/section-1505.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1505"
+description: "Registration requirement"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "15"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT SMALL CLAIMS"
+section: "1505"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1505"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1505"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "54e384f4e4d57ec7f91d87c2deab0496da216cf1094c17b1280fdcd2b2a2a495"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "05e6346bc9538f9dc477479e6d050712f9ba890c8a5bb9390d666813065bad4d"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1505 - Registration requirement
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Application or Certificate.— A claim or counterclaim alleging infringement of an exclusive right in a copyrighted work may not be asserted before the Copyright Claims Board unless—
+
+(1) the legal or beneficial owner of the copyright has first delivered a completed application, a deposit, and the required fee for registration of the copyright to the Copyright Office; and
+
+(2) a registration certificate has either been issued or has not been refused.
+
+(b) Certificate of Registration.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a claimant or counterclaimant in a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board shall be eligible to recover actual damages and profits or statutory damages under this chapter for infringement of a work if the requirements of subsection (a) have been met, except that—
+
+(1) the Copyright Claims Board may not render a determination in the proceeding until—
+
+(A) a registration certificate with respect to the work has been issued by the Copyright Office, submitted to the Copyright Claims Board, and made available to the other parties to the proceeding; and
+
+(B) the other parties to the proceeding have been provided an opportunity to address the registration certificate;
+
+(2) if the proceeding may not proceed further because a registration certificate for the work is pending, the proceeding shall be held in abeyance pending submission of the certificate to the Copyright Claims Board, except that, if the proceeding is held in abeyance for more than 1 year, the Copyright Claims Board may, upon providing written notice to the parties to the proceeding, and 30 days to the parties to respond to the notice, dismiss the proceeding without prejudice; and
+
+(3) if the Copyright Claims Board receives notice that registration with respect to the work has been refused, the proceeding shall be dismissed without prejudice.
+
+(c) Presumption.— In a case in which a registration certificate shows that registration with respect to a work was issued not later than 5 years after the date of the first publication of the work, the presumption under section 410(c) shall apply in a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board, in addition to relevant principles of law under this title.
+
+(d) Regulations.— In order to ensure that actions before the Copyright Claims Board proceed in a timely manner, the Register of Copyrights shall establish regulations allowing the Copyright Office to make a decision, on an expedited basis, to issue or deny copyright registration for an unregistered work that is at issue before the Board.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2184.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-15/section-1506.md

@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1506"
+description: "Conduct of proceedings"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "15"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT SMALL CLAIMS"
+section: "1506"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1506"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1506"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "17a976b58c5145e5830561ca317da90d6c20f89e6194c894325dee652ce12986"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "846d19bc4b3fa0f18f38879b76b93bb345d3424e663de5dda29e81ad74adf35c"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1506 - Conduct of proceedings
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In General.— (1) Applicable law.— Proceedings of the Copyright Claims Board shall be conducted in accordance with this chapter and regulations established by the Register of Copyrights under this chapter, in addition to relevant principles of law under this title.
+
+(2) Conflicting precedent.— If it appears that there may be conflicting judicial precedent on an issue of substantive copyright law that cannot be reconciled, the Copyright Claims Board shall follow the law of the Federal jurisdiction in which the action could have been brought if filed in a district court of the United States, or, if the action could have been brought in more than 1 such jurisdiction, the jurisdiction that the Copyright Claims Board determines has the most significant ties to the parties and conduct at issue.
+
+(b) Record.— The Copyright Claims Board shall maintain records documenting the proceedings before the Board.
+
+(c) Centralized Process.— Proceedings before the Copyright Claims Board shall—
+
+(1) be conducted at the offices of the Copyright Claims Board without the requirement of in-person appearances by parties or others; and
+
+(2) take place by means of written submissions, hearings, and conferences carried out through internet-based applications and other telecommunications facilities, except that, in cases in which physical or other nontestimonial evidence material to a proceeding cannot be furnished to the Copyright Claims Board through available telecommunications facilities, the Copyright Claims Board may make alternative arrangements for the submission of such evidence that do not prejudice any other party to the proceeding.
+
+(d) Representation.— A party to a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board may be, but is not required to be, represented by—
+
+(1) an attorney; or
+
+(2) a law student who is qualified under applicable law governing representation by law students of parties in legal proceedings and who provides such representation on a pro bono basis.
+
+(e) Commencement of Proceeding.— In order to commence a proceeding under this chapter, a claimant shall, subject to such additional requirements as may be prescribed in regulations established by the Register of Copyrights, file a claim with the Copyright Claims Board, that—
+
+(1) includes a statement of material facts in support of the claim;
+
+(2) is certified under subsection (y)(1); and
+
+(3) is accompanied by a filing fee in such amount as may be prescribed in regulations established by the Register of Copyrights.
+
+(f) Review of Claims and Counterclaims.— (1) Claims.— Upon the filing of a claim under subsection (e), the claim shall be reviewed by a Copyright Claims Attorney to ensure that the claim complies with this chapter and applicable regulations, subject to the following:
+
+(A) If the claim is found to comply, the claimant shall be notified regarding that compliance and instructed to proceed with service of the claim under subsection (g).
+
+(B) If the claim is found not to comply, the claimant shall be notified that the claim is deficient and be permitted to file an amended claim not later than 30 days after the date on which the claimant receives the notice, without the requirement of an additional filing fee. If the claimant files a compliant claim within that 30-day period, the claimant shall be so notified and be instructed to proceed with service of the claim. If the claim is refiled within that 30-day period and still fails to comply, the claimant shall again be notified that the claim is deficient and shall be provided a second opportunity to amend the claim not later than 30 days after the date of that second notice, without the requirement of an additional filing fee. If the claim is refiled again within that second 30-day period and is compliant, the claimant shall be so notified and shall be instructed to proceed with service of the claim, but if the claim still fails to comply, upon confirmation of such noncompliance by a Copyright Claims Officer, the proceeding shall be dismissed without prejudice. The Copyright Claims Board shall also dismiss without prejudice any proceeding in which a compliant claim is not filed within the applicable 30-day period.
+
+(C) (i) Subject to clause (ii), for purposes of this paragraph, a claim against an online service provider for infringement by reason of the storage of or referral or linking to infringing material that may be subject to the limitations on liability set forth in subsection (b), (c), or (d) of section 512 shall be considered noncompliant unless the claimant affirms in the statement required under subsection (e)(1) of this section that the claimant has previously notified the service provider of the claimed infringement in accordance with subsection (b)(2)(E), (c)(3), or (d)(3) of section 512, as applicable, and the service provider failed to remove or disable access to the material expeditiously upon the provision of such notice.
+
+(ii) If a claim is found to be noncompliant under clause (i), the Copyright Claims Board shall provide the claimant with information concerning the service of such a notice under the applicable provision of section 512.
+
+(2) Counterclaims.— Upon the filing and service of a counterclaim, the counterclaim shall be reviewed by a Copyright Claims Attorney to ensure that the counterclaim complies with the provisions of this chapter and applicable regulations. If the counterclaim is found not to comply, the counterclaimant and the other parties to the proceeding shall be notified that the counterclaim is deficient, and the counterclaimant shall be permitted to file and serve an amended counterclaim not later than 30 days after the date of such notice. If the counterclaimant files and serves a compliant counterclaim within that 30-day period, the counterclaimant and such other parties shall be so notified. If the counterclaim is refiled and served within that 30-day period but still fails to comply, the counterclaimant and such other parties shall again be notified that the counterclaim is deficient, and the counterclaimant shall be provided a second opportunity to amend the counterclaim not later than 30 days after the date of the second notice. If the counterclaim is refiled and served again within that second 30-day period and is compliant, the counterclaimant and such other parties shall be so notified, but if the counterclaim still fails to comply, upon confirmation of such noncompliance by a Copyright Claims Officer, the counterclaim, but not the proceeding, shall be dismissed without prejudice.
+
+(3) Dismissal for unsuitability.— The Copyright Claims Board shall dismiss a claim or counterclaim without prejudice if, upon reviewing the claim or counterclaim, or at any other time in the proceeding, the Copyright Claims Board concludes that the claim or counterclaim is unsuitable for determination by the Copyright Claims Board, including on account of any of the following:
+
+(A) The failure to join a necessary party.
+
+(B) The lack of an essential witness, evidence, or expert testimony.
+
+(C) The determination of a relevant issue of law or fact that could exceed either the number of proceedings the Copyright Claims Board could reasonably administer or the subject matter competence of the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(g) Service of Notice and Claims.— In order to proceed with a claim against a respondent, a claimant shall, not later than 90 days after receiving notification under subsection (f) to proceed with service, file with the Copyright Claims Board proof of service on the respondent. In order to effectuate service on a respondent, the claimant shall cause notice of the proceeding and a copy of the claim to be served on the respondent, either by personal service or pursuant to a waiver of personal service, as prescribed in regulations established by the Register of Copyrights. Such regulations shall include the following requirements:
+
+(1) The notice of the proceeding shall adhere to a prescribed form and shall set forth the nature of the Copyright Claims Board and proceeding, the right of the respondent to opt out, and the consequences of opting out and not opting out, including a prominent statement that, by not opting out within 60 days after receiving the notice, the respondent—
+
+(A) loses the opportunity to have the dispute decided by a court created under article III of the Constitution of the United States; and
+
+(B) waives the right to a jury trial regarding the dispute.
+
+(2) The copy of the claim served on the respondent shall be the same as the claim that was filed with the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(3) Personal service of a notice and claim may be effected by an individual who is not a party to the proceeding and is older than 18 years of age.
+
+(4) An individual, other than a minor or incompetent individual, may be served by—
+
+(A) complying with State law for serving a summons in an action brought in courts of general jurisdiction in the State where service is made;
+
+(B) delivering a copy of the notice and claim to the individual personally;
+
+(C) leaving a copy of the notice and claim at the individual’s dwelling or usual place of abode with someone of suitable age and discretion who resides there; or
+
+(D) delivering a copy of the notice and claim to an agent designated by the respondent to receive service of process or, if not so designated, an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process.
+
+(5) (A) A corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association that is subject to suit in courts of general jurisdiction under a common name shall be served by delivering a copy of the notice and claim to its service agent. If such service agent has not been designated, service shall be accomplished—
+
+(i) by complying with State law for serving a summons in an action brought in courts of general jurisdiction in the State where service is made; or
+
+(ii) by delivering a copy of the notice and claim to an officer, a managing or general agent, or any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process in an action brought in courts of general jurisdiction in the State where service is made and, if the agent is one authorized by statute and the statute so requires, by also mailing a copy of the notice and claim to the respondent.
+
+(B) A corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association that is subject to suit in courts of general jurisdiction under a common name may elect to designate a service agent to receive notice of a claim against it before the Copyright Claims Board by complying with requirements that the Register of Copyrights shall establish by regulation. The Register of Copyrights shall maintain a current directory of service agents that is available to the public for inspection, including through the internet, and may require such corporations, partnerships, and unincorporated associations designating such service agents to pay a fee to cover the costs of maintaining the directory.
+
+(6) In order to request a waiver of personal service, the claimant may notify a respondent, by first class mail or by other reasonable means, that a proceeding has been commenced, such notice to be made in accordance with regulations established by the Register of Copyrights, subject to the following:
+
+(A) Any such request shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the respondent, and shall be accompanied by a prescribed notice of the proceeding, a copy of the claim as filed with the Copyright Claims Board, a prescribed form for waiver of personal service, and a prepaid or other means of returning the form without cost.
+
+(B) The request shall state the date on which the request is sent, and shall provide the respondent a period of 30 days, beginning on the date on which the request is sent, to return the waiver form signed by the respondent. The signed waiver form shall, for purposes of this subsection, constitute acceptance and proof of service as of the date on which the waiver is signed.
+
+(7) (A) A respondent’s waiver of personal service shall not constitute a waiver of the respondent’s right to opt out of the proceeding.
+
+(B) A respondent who timely waives personal service under paragraph (6) and does not opt out of the proceeding shall be permitted a period of 30 days, in addition to the period otherwise permitted under the applicable procedures of the Copyright Claims Board, to submit a substantive response to the claim, including any defenses and counterclaims.
+
+(8) A minor or an incompetent individual may only be served by complying with State law for serving a summons or like process on such an individual in an action brought in the courts of general jurisdiction of the State where service is made.
+
+(9) Service of a claim and waiver of personal service may only be effected within the United States.
+
+(h) Notification by Copyright Claims Board.— The Register of Copyrights shall establish regulations providing for a written notification to be sent by, or on behalf of, the Copyright Claims Board to notify the respondent of a pending proceeding against the respondent, as set forth in those regulations, which shall—
+
+(1) include information concerning the respondent’s right to opt out of the proceeding, the consequences of opting out and not opting out, and a prominent statement that, by not opting out within 60 days after the date of service under subsection (g), the respondent loses the opportunity to have the dispute decided by a court created under article III of the Constitution of the United States and waives the right to a jury trial regarding the dispute; and
+
+(2) be in addition to, and separate and apart from, the notice requirements under subsection (g).
+
+(i) Opt-Out Procedure.— Upon being properly served with a notice and claim, a respondent who chooses to opt out of the proceeding shall have a period of 60 days, beginning on the date of service, in which to provide written notice of such choice to the Copyright Claims Board, in accordance with regulations established by the Register of Copyrights. If proof of service has been filed by the claimant and the respondent does not submit an opt-out notice to the Copyright Claims Board within that 60-day period, the proceeding shall be deemed an active proceeding and the respondent shall be bound by the determination in the proceeding to the extent provided under section 1507(a). If the respondent opts out of the proceeding during that 60-day period, the proceeding shall be dismissed without prejudice, except that, in exceptional circumstances and upon written notice to the claimant, the Copyright Claims Board may extend that 60-day period in the interests of justice.
+
+(j) Service of Other Documents.— Documents submitted or relied upon in a proceeding, other than the notice and claim, shall be served in accordance with regulations established by the Register of Copyrights.
+
+(k) Scheduling.— Upon confirmation that a proceeding has become an active proceeding, the Copyright Claims Board shall issue a schedule for the future conduct of the proceeding. The schedule shall not specify a time that a claimant or counterclaimant is required make an election of damages that is inconsistent with section 1504(e). A schedule issued by the Copyright Claims Board may be amended by the Copyright Claims Board in the interests of justice.
+
+(l) Conferences.— One or more Copyright Claims Officers may hold a conference to address case management or discovery issues in a proceeding, which shall be noted upon the record of the proceeding and may be recorded or transcribed.
+
+(m) Party Submissions.— A proceeding of the Copyright Claims Board may not include any formal motion practice, except that, subject to applicable regulations and procedures of the Copyright Claims Board—
+
+(1) the parties to the proceeding may make requests to the Copyright Claims Board to address case management and discovery matters, and submit responses thereto; and
+
+(2) the Copyright Claims Board may request or permit parties to make submissions addressing relevant questions of fact or law, or other matters, including matters raised sua sponte by the Copyright Claims Officers, and offer responses thereto.
+
+(n) Discovery.— Discovery in a proceeding shall be limited to the production of relevant information and documents, written interrogatories, and written requests for admission, as provided in regulations established by the Register of Copyrights, except that—
+
+(1) upon the request of a party, and for good cause shown, the Copyright Claims Board may approve additional relevant discovery, on a limited basis, in particular matters, and may request specific information and documents from participants in the proceeding and voluntary submissions from nonparticipants, consistent with the interests of justice;
+
+(2) upon the request of a party, and for good cause shown, the Copyright Claims Board may issue a protective order to limit the disclosure of documents or testimony that contain confidential information; and
+
+(3) after providing notice and an opportunity to respond, and upon good cause shown, the Copyright Claims Board may apply an adverse inference with respect to disputed facts against a party who has failed to timely provide discovery materials in response to a proper request for materials that could be relevant to such facts.
+
+(o) Evidence.— The Copyright Claims Board may consider the following types of evidence in a proceeding, and such evidence may be admitted without application of formal rules of evidence:
+
+(1) Documentary and other nontestimonial evidence that is relevant to the claims, counterclaims, or defenses in the proceeding.
+
+(2) Testimonial evidence, submitted under penalty of perjury in written form or in accordance with subsection (p), limited to statements of the parties and nonexpert witnesses, that is relevant to the claims, counterclaims, and defenses in a proceeding, except that, in exceptional cases, expert witness testimony or other types of testimony may be permitted by the Copyright Claims Board for good cause shown.
+
+(p) Hearings.— The Copyright Claims Board may conduct a hearing to receive oral presentations on issues of fact or law from parties and witnesses to a proceeding, including oral testimony, subject to the following:
+
+(1) Any such hearing shall be attended by not fewer than 2 of the Copyright Claims Officers.
+
+(2) The hearing shall be noted upon the record of the proceeding and, subject to paragraph (3), may be recorded or transcribed as deemed necessary by the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(3) A recording or transcript of the hearing shall be made available to any Copyright Claims Officer who is not in attendance.
+
+(q) Voluntary Dismissal.— (1) By claimant.— Upon the written request of a claimant that is received before a respondent files a response to the claim in a proceeding, the Copyright Claims Board shall dismiss the proceeding, or a claim or respondent, as requested, without prejudice.
+
+(2) By counterclaimant.— Upon written request of a counterclaimant that is received before a claimant files a response to the counterclaim, the Copyright Claims Board shall dismiss the counterclaim, such dismissal to be without prejudice.
+
+(3) Class actions.— Any party in an active proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board who receives notice of a pending or putative class action, arising out of the same transaction or occurrence, in which that party is a class member may request in writing dismissal of the proceeding before the Board. Upon notice to all claimants and counterclaimants, the Copyright Claims Board shall dismiss the proceeding without prejudice.
+
+(r) Settlement.— (1) In general.— At any time in an active proceeding, some or all of the parties may—
+
+(A) jointly request a conference with a Copyright Claims Officer for the purpose of facilitating settlement discussions; or
+
+(B) submit to the Copyright Claims Board an agreement providing for settlement and dismissal of some or all of the claims and counterclaims in the proceeding.
+
+(2) Additional request.— A submission under paragraph (1)(B) may include a request that the Copyright Claims Board adopt some or all of the terms of the parties’ settlement in a final determination in the proceeding.
+
+(s) Factual Findings.— Subject to subsection (n)(3), the Copyright Claims Board shall make factual findings based upon a preponderance of the evidence.
+
+(t) Determinations.— (1) Nature and contents.— A determination rendered by the Copyright Claims Board in a proceeding shall—
+
+(A) be reached by a majority of the Copyright Claims Board;
+
+(B) be in writing, and include an explanation of the factual and legal basis of the determination;
+
+(C) set forth any terms by which a respondent or counterclaim respondent has agreed to cease infringing activity under section 1504(e)(2);
+
+(D) to the extent requested under subsection (r)(2), set forth the terms of any settlement agreed to under subsection (r)(1); and
+
+(E) include a clear statement of all damages and other relief awarded, including under subparagraphs (C) and (D).
+
+(2) Dissent.— A Copyright Claims Officer who dissents from a decision contained in a determination under paragraph (1) may append a statement setting forth the grounds for that dissent.
+
+(3) Publication.— Each final determination of the Copyright Claims Board shall be made available on a publicly accessible website. The Register shall establish regulations with respect to the publication of other records and information relating to such determinations, including the redaction of records to protect confidential information that is the subject of a protective order under subsection (n)(2).
+
+(4) Freedom of information act.— All information relating to proceedings of the Copyright Claims Board under this chapter is exempt from disclosure to the public under section 552(b)(3) of title 5, except for determinations, records, and information published under paragraph (3).
+
+(u) Respondent’s Default.— If a proceeding has been deemed an active proceeding but the respondent has failed to appear or has ceased participating in the proceeding, as demonstrated by the respondent’s failure, without justifiable cause, to meet 1 or more deadlines or requirements set forth in the schedule adopted by the Copyright Claims Board under subsection (k), the Copyright Claims Board may enter a default determination, including the dismissal of any counterclaim asserted by the respondent, as follows and in accordance with such other requirements as the Register of Copyrights may establish by regulation:
+
+(1) The Copyright Claims Board shall require the claimant to submit relevant evidence and other information in support of the claimant’s claim and any asserted damages and, upon review of such evidence and any other requested submissions from the claimant, shall determine whether the materials so submitted are sufficient to support a finding in favor of the claimant under applicable law and, if so, the appropriate relief and damages, if any, to be awarded.
+
+(2) If the Copyright Claims Board makes an affirmative determination under paragraph (1), the Copyright Claims Board shall prepare a proposed default determination, and shall provide written notice to the respondent at all addresses, including email addresses, reflected in the records of the proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board, of the pendency of a default determination by the Copyright Claims Board and of the legal significance of such determination. Such notice shall be accompanied by the proposed default determination and shall provide that the respondent has a period of 30 days, beginning on the date of the notice, to submit any evidence or other information in opposition to the proposed default determination.
+
+(3) If the respondent responds to the notice provided under paragraph (2) within the 30-day period provided in such paragraph, the Copyright Claims Board shall consider the respondent’s submissions and, after allowing the other parties to address such submissions, maintain, or amend its proposed determination as appropriate, and the resulting determination shall not be a default determination.
+
+(4) If the respondent fails to respond to the notice provided under paragraph (2), the Copyright Claims Board shall proceed to issue the default determination as a final determination. Thereafter, the respondent may only challenge such determination to the extent permitted under section 1508(c), except that, before any additional proceedings are initiated under section 1508, the Copyright Claims Board may, in the interests of justice, vacate the default determination.
+
+(v) Claimant’s Failure To Proceed.— (1) Failure to complete service.— If a claimant fails to complete service on a respondent within the 90-day period required under subsection (g), the Copyright Claims Board shall dismiss that respondent from the proceeding without prejudice. If a claimant fails to complete service on all respondents within that 90-day period, the Copyright Claims Board shall dismiss the proceeding without prejudice.
+
+(2) Failure to prosecute.— If a claimant fails to proceed in an active proceeding, as demonstrated by the claimant’s failure, without justifiable cause, to meet 1 or more deadlines or requirements set forth in the schedule adopted by the Copyright Claims Board under subsection (k), the Copyright Claims Board may, upon providing written notice to the claimant and a period of 30 days, beginning on the date of the notice, to respond to the notice, and after considering any such response, issue a determination dismissing the claimant’s claims, which shall include an award of attorneys’ fees and costs, if appropriate, under subsection (y)(2). Thereafter, the claimant may only challenge such determination to the extent permitted under section 1508(c), except that, before any additional proceedings are initiated under section 1508, the Copyright Claims Board may, in the interests of justice, vacate the determination of dismissal.
+
+(w) Request for Reconsideration.— A party may, not later than 30 days after the date on which the Copyright Claims Board issues a final determination in a proceeding under this chapter, submit a written request for reconsideration of, or an amendment to, such determination if the party identifies a clear error of law or fact material to the outcome, or a technical mistake. After providing the other parties an opportunity to address such request, the Copyright Claims Board shall either deny the request or issue an amended final determination.
+
+(x) Review by Register.— If the Copyright Claims Board denies a party a request for reconsideration of a final determination under subsection (w), that party may, not later than 30 days after the date of such denial, request review of the final determination by the Register of Copyrights in accordance with regulations established by the Register. Such request shall be accompanied by a reasonable filing fee, as provided in such regulations. The review by the Register shall be limited to consideration of whether the Copyright Claims Board abused its discretion in denying reconsideration of the determination. After providing the other parties an opportunity to address the request, the Register shall either deny the request for review, or remand the proceeding to the Copyright Claims Board for reconsideration of issues specified in the remand and for issuance of an amended final determination. Such amended final determination shall not be subject to further consideration or review, other than under section 1508(c).
+
+(y) Conduct of Parties and Attorneys.— (1) Certification.— The Register of Copyrights shall establish regulations requiring certification of the accuracy and truthfulness of statements made by participants in proceedings before the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(2) Bad faith conduct.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in any proceeding in which a determination is rendered and it is established that a party pursued a claim, counterclaim, or defense for a harassing or other improper purpose, or without a reasonable basis in law or fact, then, unless inconsistent with the interests of justice, the Copyright Claims Board shall in such determination award reasonable costs and attorneys’ fees to any adversely affected party of in an amount of not more than $5,000, except that—
+
+(A) if an adversely affected party appeared pro se in the proceeding, the award to that party shall be for costs only, in an amount of not more than $2,500; and
+
+(B) in extraordinary circumstances, such as where a party has demonstrated a pattern or practice of bad faith conduct as described in this paragraph, the Copyright Claims Board may, in the interests of justice, award costs and attorneys’ fees in excess of the limitations under this paragraph.
+
+(3) Additional penalty.— If the Board finds that on more than 1 occasion within a 12-month period a party pursued a claim, counterclaim, or defense before the Copyright Claims Board for a harassing or other improper purpose, or without a reasonable basis in law or fact, that party shall be barred from initiating a claim before the Copyright Claims Board under this chapter for a period of 12 months beginning on the date on which the Board makes such a finding. Any proceeding commenced by that party that is still pending before the Board when such a finding is made shall be dismissed without prejudice, except that if a proceeding has been deemed active under subsection (i), the proceeding shall be dismissed under this paragraph only if the respondent provides written consent thereto.
+
+(z) Regulations for Smaller Claims.— The Register of Copyrights shall establish regulations to provide for the consideration and determination, by not fewer than 1 Copyright Claims Officer, of any claim under this chapter in which total damages sought do not exceed $5,000 (exclusive of attorneys’ fees and costs). A determination issued under this subsection shall have the same effect as a determination issued by the entire Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(aa) Opt-out for Libraries and Archives.— (1) In general.— The Register of Copyrights shall establish regulations allowing for a library or archives that does not wish to participate in proceedings before the Copyright Claims Board to preemptively opt out of such proceedings.
+
+(2) Procedures.— The regulations established under paragraph (1) shall—
+
+(A) set forth procedures for preemptively opting out of proceedings before the Copyright Claims Board; and
+
+(B) require that the Copyright Office compile and maintain a publicly available list of the libraries and archives that have successfully opted out of proceedings in accordance with the procedures described in subparagraph (A).
+
+(3) No fee or renewal required.— The Register of Copyrights may not—
+
+(A) charge a library or archives a fee to preemptively opt out of proceedings under this subsection; or
+
+(B) require a library or archives to renew a decision to preemptively opt out of proceedings under this subsection.
+
+(4) Definitions.— For purposes of this subsection, the terms “library” and “archives” mean any library or archives, respectively, that qualifies for the limitations on exclusive rights under section 108.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2185.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-15/section-1507.md

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1507"
+description: "Effect of proceeding"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "15"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT SMALL CLAIMS"
+section: "1507"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1507"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1507"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "f181ac17c49ca9ab8bcd48c6c0255d83f23fa305f1ba34413daaef6345335f0b"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "f4196e6b164d4dc73845ce6d5e6a2bb8b5e7022d32f53889d296716af8a91015"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1507 - Effect of proceeding
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Determination.— Subject to the reconsideration and review processes provided under subsections (w) and (x) of section 1506 and section 1508(c), the issuance of a final determination by the Copyright Claims Board in a proceeding, including a default determination or determination based on a failure to prosecute, shall, solely with respect to the parties to such determination, preclude relitigation before any court or tribunal, or before the Copyright Claims Board, of the claims and counterclaims asserted and finally determined by the Board, and may be relied upon for such purpose in a future action or proceeding arising from the same specific activity or activities, subject to the following:
+
+(1) A determination of the Copyright Claims Board shall not preclude litigation or relitigation as between the same or different parties before any court or tribunal, or the Copyright Claims Board, of the same or similar issues of fact or law in connection with claims or counterclaims not asserted or not finally determined by the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(2) A determination of ownership of a copyrighted work for purposes of resolving a matter before the Copyright Claims Board may not be relied upon, and shall not have any preclusive effect, in any other action or proceeding before any court or tribunal, including the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(3) Except to the extent permitted under this subsection and section 1508, any determination of the Copyright Claims Board may not be cited or relied upon as legal precedent in any other action or proceeding before any court or tribunal, including the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(b) Class Actions Not Affected.— (1) In general.— A proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board shall not have any effect on a class action proceeding in a district court of the United States, and section 1509(a) shall not apply to a class action proceeding in a district court of the United States.
+
+(2) Notice of class action.— Any party to an active proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board who receives notice of a pending class action, arising out of the same transaction or occurrence as the proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board, in which the party is a class member shall either—
+
+(A) opt out of the class action, in accordance with regulations established by the Register of Copyrights; or
+
+(B) seek dismissal under section 1506(q)(3) of the proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(c) Other Materials in Proceeding.— Except as permitted under this section and section 1508, a submission or statement of a party or witness made in connection with a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board, including a proceeding that is dismissed, may not be cited or relied upon in, or serve as the basis of, any action or proceeding concerning rights or limitations on rights under this title before any court or tribunal, including the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(d) Applicability of Section 512(g).— A claim or counterclaim before the Copyright Claims Board that is brought under subsection (c)(1) or (c)(4) of section 1504, or brought under subsection (c)(6) of section 1504 and that relates to a claim under subsection (c)(1) or (c)(4) of such section, qualifies as an action seeking an order to restrain a subscriber from engaging in infringing activity under section 512(g)(2)(C) if—
+
+(1) notice of the commencement of the Copyright Claims Board proceeding is provided by the claimant to the service provider’s designated agent before the service provider replaces the material following receipt of a counter notification under section 512(g); and
+
+(2) the claim brought alleges infringement of the material identified in the notification of claimed infringement under section 512(c)(1)(C).
+
+(e) Failure To Assert Counterclaim.— The failure or inability to assert a counterclaim in a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board shall not preclude the assertion of that counterclaim in a subsequent court action or proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(f) Opt-Out or Dismissal of Party.— If a party has timely opted out of a proceeding under section 1506(i) or is dismissed from a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board issues a final determination in the proceeding, the determination shall not be binding upon and shall have no preclusive effect with respect to that party.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2195.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-15/section-1508.md

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1508"
+description: "Review and confirmation by district court"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "15"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT SMALL CLAIMS"
+section: "1508"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1508"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1508"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "5d0d277d4e650c590430b3b610528c9bfb5cbe93e5f730d6a29fffaa7ba6c874"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "6d9ba95da40f47705e48859078c11c21b381a09dbe513f13232a5603658141e5"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1508 - Review and confirmation by district court
+
+## Text
+
+(a) In General.— In any proceeding in which a party has failed to pay damages, or has failed otherwise to comply with the relief, awarded in a final determination of the Copyright Claims Board, including a default determination or a determination based on a failure to prosecute, the aggrieved party may, not later than 1 year after the date on which the final determination is issued, any reconsideration by the Copyright Claims Board or review by the Register of Copyrights is resolved, or an amended final determination is issued, whichever occurs last, apply to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or any other appropriate district court of the United States for an order confirming the relief awarded in the final determination and reducing such award to judgment. The court shall grant such order and direct entry of judgment unless the determination is or has been vacated, modified, or corrected under subsection (c). If the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or other district court of the United States, as the case may be, issues an order confirming the relief awarded by the Copyright Claims Board, the court shall impose on the party who failed to pay damages or otherwise comply with the relief, the reasonable expenses required to secure such order, including attorneys’ fees, that were incurred by the aggrieved party.
+
+(b) Filing Procedures.— (1) Application to confirm determination.— Notice of the application under subsection (a) for confirmation of a determination of the Copyright Claims Board and entry of judgment shall be provided to all parties to the proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board that resulted in the determination, in accordance with the procedures applicable to service of a motion in the district court of the United States where the application is made.
+
+(2) Contents of application.— The application under subsection (a) shall include the following:
+
+(A) A certified copy of the final or amended final determination of the Copyright Claims Board, as reflected in the records of the Copyright Claims Board, following any process of reconsideration or review by the Register of Copyrights, to be confirmed and rendered to judgment.
+
+(B) A declaration by the applicant, under penalty of perjury—
+
+(i) that the copy is a true and correct copy of such determination;
+
+(ii) stating the date the determination was issued;
+
+(iii) stating the basis for the challenge under subsection (c)(1); and
+
+(iv) stating whether the applicant is aware of any other proceedings before the court concerning the same determination of the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(c) Challenges to the Determination.— (1) Bases for challenge.— Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Copyright Claims Board issues a final or amended final determination in a proceeding, or not later than 90 days after the date on which the Register of Copyrights completes any process of reconsideration or review of the determination, whichever occurs later, a party may seek an order from a district court of the United States vacating, modifying, or correcting the determination of the Copyright Claims Board in the following cases:
+
+(A) If the determination was issued as a result of fraud, corruption, misrepresentation, or other misconduct.
+
+(B) If the Copyright Claims Board exceeded its authority or failed to render a final determination concerning the subject matter at issue.
+
+(C) In the case of a default determination or determination based on a failure to prosecute, if it is established that the default or failure was due to excusable neglect.
+
+(2) Procedure to challenge.— (A) Notice of application.— Notice of the application to challenge a determination of the Copyright Claims Board shall be provided to all parties to the proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board, in accordance with the procedures applicable to service of a motion in the court where the application is made.
+
+(B) Staying of proceedings.— For purposes of an application under this subsection, any judge who is authorized to issue an order to stay the proceedings in another action brought in the same court may issue an order, to be served with the notice of application, staying proceedings to enforce the award while the challenge is pending.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2196.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-15/section-1509.md

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1509"
+description: "Relationship to other district court actions"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "15"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT SMALL CLAIMS"
+section: "1509"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1509"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1509"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "60b52b4ad549995aa16360df6a38836ea733e839ac0ee20804d14394c7f38102"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "ce246c329247d8c0a302b71eaea63809e3672bc48f8000606699015bf900e879"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1509 - Relationship to other district court actions
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Stay of District Court Proceedings.— Subject to section 1507(b), a district court of the United States shall issue a stay of proceedings or such other relief as the court determines appropriate with respect to any claim brought before the court that is already the subject of a pending or active proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(b) Alternative Dispute Resolution Process.— A proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board under this chapter shall qualify as an alternative dispute resolution process under section 651 of title 28 for purposes of referral of eligible cases by district courts of the United States upon the consent of the parties.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2198.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-15/section-1510.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1510"
+description: "Implementation by Copyright Office"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "15"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT SMALL CLAIMS"
+section: "1510"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1510"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1510"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "13b4b9e8b56b89ad1ebb318a4e5559e36efaa3ffbb2a6d14900b562facbce67c"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "c5f0f1ce1a15388b048f39bfe16c7ebbc74798c327864ad3fe102968a5d96fa0"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1510 - Implementation by Copyright Office
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Regulations.— (1) Implementation generally.— The Register of Copyrights shall establish regulations to carry out this chapter. Such regulations shall include the fees prescribed under subsections (e) and (x) of section 1506. The authority to issue such fees shall not limit the authority of the Register of Copyrights to establish fees for services under section 708. All fees received by the Copyright Office in connection with the activities under this chapter shall be deposited by the Register of Copyrights and credited to the appropriations for necessary expenses of the Office in accordance with section 708(d). In establishing regulations under this subsection, the Register of Copyrights shall provide for the efficient administration of the Copyright Claims Board, and for the ability of the Copyright Claims Board to timely complete proceedings instituted under this chapter, including by implementing mechanisms to prevent harassing or improper use of the Copyright Claims Board by any party.
+
+(2) Limits on monetary relief.— (A) In general.— Subject to subparagraph (B), not earlier than 3 years after the date on which Copyright 11 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “the”. Claims Board issues the first determination of the Copyright Claims Board, the Register of Copyrights may, in order to further the goals of the Copyright Claims Board, conduct a rulemaking to adjust the limits on monetary recovery or attorneys’ fees and costs that may be awarded under this chapter.
+
+(B) Effective date of adjustment.— Any rule under subparagraph (A) that makes an adjustment shall take effect at the end of the 120-day period beginning on the date on which the Register of Copyrights submits the rule to Congress and only if Congress does not, during that 120-day period, enact a law that provides in substance that Congress does not approve the rule.
+
+(b) Necessary Facilities.— Subject to applicable law, the Register of Copyrights may retain outside vendors to establish internet-based, teleconferencing, and other facilities required to operate the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(c) Fees.— Any filing fees, including the fee to commence a proceeding under section 1506(e), shall be prescribed in regulations established by the Register of Copyrights. The sum total of such filing fees shall be in an amount of not less than $100, may not exceed the cost of filing an action in a district court of the United States, and shall be fixed in amounts that further the goals of the Copyright Claims Board.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2198.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-15/section-1511.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 1511"
+description: "Funding"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "15"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT SMALL CLAIMS"
+section: "1511"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1511"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1511"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "b70fab38a6934631231d859bf83e79cd805dfd63028b96c3eb0e7da91c1ed5b3"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "8796b77748941bcccc223da13589850bb900e0292ae34ca559076d47ae5b3ce1"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 1511 - Funding
+
+## Text
+
+There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to pay the costs incurred by the Copyright Office under this chapter that are not covered by fees collected for services rendered under this chapter, including the costs of establishing and maintaining the Copyright Claims Board and its facilities.
+
+(Added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 212(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2199.)

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-2/section-202.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 202"
+description: "Ownership of copyright as distinct from ownership of material object"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "2"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER"
+section: "202"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 202"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s202"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "13bf998c99d628023f52ffd8427bf3254b4d9fccddb98c630310ce7957f29f2c"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "1aaeba045e4b97a78796721329a7759a22257418600f8ea99fc453a06494d4af"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 202 - Ownership of copyright as distinct from ownership of material object
+
+## Text
+
+Ownership of a copyright, or of any of the exclusive rights under a copyright, is distinct from ownership of any material object in which the work is embodied. Transfer of ownership of any material object, including the copy or phonorecord in which the work is first fixed, does not of itself convey any rights in the copyrighted work embodied in the object; nor, in the absence of an agreement, does transfer of ownership of a copyright or of any exclusive rights under a copyright convey property rights in any material object.
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2568.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476The principle restated in section 202 is a fundamental and important one: that copyright ownership and ownership of a material object in which the copyrighted work is embodied are entirely separate things. Thus, transfer of a material object does not of itself carry any rights under the copyright, and this includes transfer of the copy or phonorecord—the original manuscript, the photographic negative, the unique painting or statue, the master tape recording, etc.—in which the work was first fixed. Conversely, transfer of a copyright does not necessarily require the conveyance of any material object. As a result of the interaction of this section and the provisions of section 204(a) and 301, the bill would change a common law doctrine exemplified by the decision in Pushman v. New York Graphic Society, Inc., 287 N.Y. 302, 39 N.E.2d 249 (1942). Under that doctrine, authors or artists are generally presumed to transfer common law literary property rights when they sell their manuscript or work of art, unless those rights are specifically reserved. This presumption would be reversed under the bill, since a specific written conveyance of rights would be required in order for a sale of any material object to carry with it a transfer of copyright.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-2/section-204.md

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 204"
+description: "Execution of transfers of copyright ownership"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "2"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER"
+section: "204"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 204"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s204"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "eb51210b7c7e1fad1136e7187cb5f54dced915d0f117199726e883e642361d8d"
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+text_hash: "1dbac80afe3b2c84179397b31c79d978a81e1ed706641449582da42c333266a9"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 204 - Execution of transfers of copyright ownership
+
+## Text
+
+(a) A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, is not valid unless an instrument of conveyance, or a note or memorandum of the transfer, is in writing and signed by the owner of the rights conveyed or such owner’s duly authorized agent.
+
+(b) A certificate of acknowledgement is not required for the validity of a transfer, but is prima facie evidence of the execution of the transfer if—
+
+(1) in the case of a transfer executed in the United States, the certificate is issued by a person authorized to administer oaths within the United States; or
+
+(2) in the case of a transfer executed in a foreign country, the certificate is issued by a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States, or by a person authorized to administer oaths whose authority is proved by a certificate of such an officer.
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2570.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476Section 204 is a somewhat broadened and liberalized counterpart of sections 28 and 29 of the present statute [sections 28 and 29 of former title 17]. Under subsection (a), a transfer of copyright ownership (other than one brought about by operation of law) is valid only if there exists an instrument of conveyance, or alternatively a “note or memorandum of the transfer,” which is in writing and signed by the copyright owner “or such owner’s duly authorized agent.” Subsection (b) makes clear that a notarial or consular acknowledgment is not essential to the validity of any transfer, whether executed in the United States or abroad. However, the subsection would liberalize the conditions under which certificates of acknowledgment of documents executed abroad are to be accorded prima facie weight, and would give the same weight to domestic acknowledgments under appropriate circumstances.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-2/section-205.md

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 205"
+description: "Recordation of transfers and other documents"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "2"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER"
+section: "205"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 205"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s205"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "53febef20239d743ec8020c419c14bd4685e7dbfccef3b7366add8fe01335821"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "cd0038b54e00f0f536ad2084954f9c0a5f73a3ddc0c07cce2b7c0339be499aa5"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 205 - Recordation of transfers and other documents
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Conditions for Recordation.— Any transfer of copyright ownership or other document pertaining to a copyright may be recorded in the Copyright Office if the document filed for recordation bears the actual signature of the person who executed it, or if it is accompanied by a sworn or official certification that it is a true copy of the original, signed document. A sworn or official certification may be submitted to the Copyright Office electronically, pursuant to regulations established by the Register of Copyrights.
+
+(b) Certificate of Recordation.— The Register of Copyrights shall, upon receipt of a document as provided by subsection (a) and of the fee provided by section 708, record the document and return it with a certificate of recordation.
+
+(c) Recordation as Constructive Notice.— Recordation of a document in the Copyright Office gives all persons constructive notice of the facts stated in the recorded document, but only if—
+
+(1) the document, or material attached to it, specifically identifies the work to which it pertains so that, after the document is indexed by the Register of Copyrights, it would be revealed by a reasonable search under the title or registration number of the work; and
+
+(2) registration has been made for the work.
+
+(d) Priority Between Conflicting Transfers.— As between two conflicting transfers, the one executed first prevails if it is recorded, in the manner required to give constructive notice under subsection (c), within one month after its execution in the United States or within two months after its execution outside the United States, or at any time before recordation in such manner of the later transfer. Otherwise the later transfer prevails if recorded first in such manner, and if taken in good faith, for valuable consideration or on the basis of a binding promise to pay royalties, and without notice of the earlier transfer.
+
+(e) Priority Between Conflicting Transfer of Ownership and Nonexclusive License.— A nonexclusive license, whether recorded or not, prevails over a conflicting transfer of copyright ownership if the license is evidenced by a written instrument signed by the owner of the rights licensed or such owner’s duly authorized agent, and if—
+
+(1) the license was taken before execution of the transfer; or
+
+(2) the license was taken in good faith before recordation of the transfer and without notice of it.
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2571; Pub. L. 100–568, § 5, Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2857; Pub. L. 111–295, § 3(b), Dec. 9, 2010, 124 Stat. 3180.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476The recording and priority provisions of section 205 are intended to clear up a number of uncertainties arising from sections 30 and 31 of the present law [sections 30 and 31 of former title 17] and to make them more effective and practical in operation. Any “document pertaining to a copyright” may be recorded under subsection (a) if it “bears that actual signature of the person who executed it,” or if it is appropriately certified as a true copy. However, subsection (c) makes clear that the recorded document will give constructive notice of its contents only if two conditions are met: (1) the document or attached material specifically identifies the work to which it pertains so that a reasonable search under the title or registration number would reveal it, and (2) registration has been made for the work. Moreover, even though the Register of Copyrights may be compelled to accept for recordation documents that on their face appear self-serving or colorable, the Register should take care that their nature is not concealed from the public in the Copyright Office’s indexing and search reports. The provisions of subsection (d), requiring recordation of transfers as a prerequisite to the institution of an infringement suit, represent a desirable change in the law. The one- and three-month grace periods provided in subsection (e) are a reasonable compromise between those who want a longer hiatus and those who argue that any grace period makes it impossible for a bona fide transferee to rely on the record at any particular time. Under subsection (f) of section 205, a nonexclusive license in writing and signed, whether recorded or not, would be valid against a later transfer, and would also prevail as against a prior unrecorded transfer if taken in good faith and without notice. Objections were raised by motion picture producers, particularly to the provision allowing unrecorded nonexclusive licenses to prevail over subsequent transfers, on the ground that a nonexclusive license can have drastic effects on the value of a copyright. On the other hand, the impracticalities and burdens that would accompany any requirement of recordation of nonexclusive licenses outweigh the limited advantages of a statutory recordation system for them.
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–295 inserted at end “A sworn or official certification may be submitted to the Copyright Office electronically, pursuant to regulations established by the Register of Copyrights.” 1988—Subsecs. (d) to (f). Pub. L. 100–568 redesignated subsecs. (e) and (f) as (d) and (e), respectively, and struck out former subsec. (d), which read as follows: “No person claiming by virtue of a transfer to be the owner of copyright or of any exclusive right under a copyright is entitled to institute an infringement action under this title until the instrument of transfer under which such person claims has been recorded in the Copyright Office, but suit may be instituted after such recordation on a cause of action that arose before recordation.”
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiares
+
+Effective Date of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–568 effective Mar. 1, 1989, with any cause of action arising under this title before such date being governed by provisions in effect when cause of action arose, see section 13 of Pub. L. 100–568, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
+
+Recordation of SharewarePub. L. 101–650, title VIII, § 805, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5136, provided that: “(a) In General.—The Register of Copyrights is authorized, upon receipt of any document designated as pertaining to computer shareware and the fee prescribed by section 708 of title 17, United States Code, to record the document and return it with a certificate of recordation. “(b) Maintenance of Records; Publication of Information.—The Register of Copyrights is authorized to maintain current, separate records relating to the recordation of documents under subsection (a), and to compile and publish at periodic intervals information relating to such recordations. Such publications shall be offered for sale to the public at prices based on the cost of reproduction and distribution. “(c) Deposit of Copies in Library of Congress.—In the case of public domain computer software, at the election of the person recording a document under subsection (a), 2 complete copies of the best edition (as defined in section 101 of title 17, United States Code) of the computer software as embodied in machine-readable form may be deposited for the benefit of the Machine-Readable Collections Reading Room of the Library of Congress. “(d) Regulations.—The Register of Copyrights is authorized to establish regulations not inconsistent with law for the administration of the functions of the Register under this section. All regulations established by the Register are subject to the approval of the Librarian of Congress.”
+
+Registration of Claims to Copyrights and Recordation of Assignments of Copyrights and Other Instruments Under Predecessor ProvisionsRecordation of assignments of copyrights or other instruments received in the Copyright Office before Jan. 1, 1978, to be made in accordance with this title as it existed on Dec. 31, 1977, see section 109 of Pub. L. 94–553, set out as a note under section 410 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-3/section-303.md

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 303"
+description: "Duration of copyright: Works created but not published or copyrighted before January 1, 1978"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "3"
+chapter_name: "DURATION OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "303"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 303"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s303"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "87cd7bbf12218be5f978bbc9c2d0bae4d8f33579371c695e15d317c13e3b1b2e"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "55c0a37b8816b6718eb5937b2167575681a50cf23410289d9239766848e16d04"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 303 - Duration of copyright: Works created but not published or copyrighted before January 1, 1978
+
+## Text
+
+(a) Copyright in a work created before January 1, 1978, but not theretofore in the public domain or copyrighted, subsists from January 1, 1978, and endures for the term provided by section 302. In no case, however, shall the term of copyright in such a work expire before December 31, 2002; and, if the work is published on or before December 31, 2002, the term of copyright shall not expire before December 31, 2047.
+
+(b) The distribution before January 1, 1978, of a phonorecord shall not for any purpose constitute a publication of any musical work, dramatic work, or literary work embodied therein.
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2573; Pub. L. 105–80, § 11, Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1534; Pub. L. 105–298, title I, § 102(c), Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2827; Pub. L. 111–295, § 5(a), Dec. 9, 2010, 124 Stat. 3181.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476Theoretically, at least, the legal impact of section 303 would be far reaching. Under it, every “original work of authorship” fixed in tangible form that is in existence would be given statutory copyright protection as long as the work is not in the public domain in this country. The vast majority of these works consist of private material that no one is interested in protecting or infringing, but section 303 would still have practical effects for a prodigious body of material already in existence. Looked at another way, however, section 303 would have a genuinely restrictive effect. Its basic purpose is to substitute statutory for common law copyright for everything now protected at common law, and to substitute reasonable time limits for the perpetual protection now available. In general, the substituted time limits are those applicable to works created after the effective date of the law [Jan. 1, 1978]; for example, an unpublished work written in 1945 whose author dies in 1980 would be protected under the statute from the effective date [Jan. 1, 1978] through 2030 (50 years after the author’s death). A special problem under this provision is what to do with works whose ordinary statutory terms will have expired or will be nearing expiration on the effective date [Jan. 1, 1978]. The committee believes that a provision taking away subsisting common law rights and substituting statutory rights for a reasonable period is fully in harmony with the constitutional requirements of due process, but it is necessary to fix a “reasonable period” for this purpose. Section 303 provides that under no circumstances would copyright protection expire before December 31, 2002, and also attempts to encourage publication by providing 25 years more protection (through 2027) if the work were published before the end of 2002.
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments2010—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–295 substituted “any musical work, dramatic work, or literary work” for “the musical work”. 1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–298 substituted “December 31, 2047” for “December 31, 2027” in second sentence. 1997—Pub. L. 105–80 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-3/section-305.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 305"
+description: "Duration of copyright: Terminal date"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "3"
+chapter_name: "DURATION OF COPYRIGHT"
+section: "305"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 305"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s305"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "5330164cda8f9590fdc6c3d9639f781a52087990612ee5811b6b79cc97ac577f"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "28d51f6170f6ff51614fed70ed7616051454439fa4eee4fedf2bc7315f6bffbb"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 305 - Duration of copyright: Terminal date
+
+## Text
+
+All terms of copyright provided by sections 302 through 304 run to the end of the calendar year in which they would otherwise expire.
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2576.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476Under section 305, which has its counterpart in the laws of most foreign countries, the term of copyright protection for a work extends through December 31 of the year in which the term would otherwise have expired. This will make the duration of copyright much easier to compute, since it will be enough to determine the year, rather than the exact date, of the event from which the term is based. Section 305 applies only to “terms of copyright provided by sections 302 through 304,” which are the sections dealing with duration of copyright. It therefore has no effect on the other time periods specified in the bill; and, since they do not involve “terms of copyright,” the periods provided in section 304(c) with respect to termination of grants are not affected by section 305. The terminal date section would change the duration of subsisting copyrights under section 304 by extending the total terms of protection under subsections (a) and (b) to the end of the 75th year from the date copyright was secured. A copyright subsisting in its first term on the effective date of the act [Jan. 1, 1978] would run through December 31 of the 28th year and would then expire unless renewed. Since all copyright terms under the bill expire on December 31, and since section 304(a) requires that renewal be made “within one year prior to the expiration of the original term of copyright,” the period for renewal registration in all cases will run from December 31 through December 31. A special situation arises with respect to subsisting copyrights whose first 28-year term expires during the first year after the act comes into effect. As already explained in connection with section 304(b), if a renewal registration for a copyright of this sort is made before the effective date [Jan. 1, 1978], the total term is extended to 75 years without the need for a further renewal registration. But, if renewal has not yet been made when the act becomes effective [Jan. 1, 1978], the period for renewal registration may in some cases be extended. If, as the bill provides, the act becomes effective on January 1, 1978, a copyright that was originally secured on September 1, 1950, could have been renewed by virtue of the present statute between September 1, 1977, and December 31, 1977; if not, it can still be renewed under section 304(a) of the new act between January 1, 1978, and December 31, 1978.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-4/section-402.md

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 402"
+description: "Notice of copyright: Phonorecords of sound recordings"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "4"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT NOTICE, DEPOSIT, AND REGISTRATION"
+section: "402"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 402"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s402"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "0a186a0c7dabe8c6dadfbdd164c54dbe338b00a466ef872135fa371151f92ba6"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "0fb16bd060bcfadff2a21a3d9336e469e8d8a097ba47be1bb5c1033ded4f07c1"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 402 - Notice of copyright: Phonorecords of sound recordings
+
+## Text
+
+(a) General Provisions.— Whenever a sound recording protected under this title is published in the United States or elsewhere by authority of the copyright owner, a notice of copyright as provided by this section may be placed on publicly distributed phonorecords of the sound recording.
+
+(b) Form of Notice.— If a notice appears on the phonorecords, it shall consist of the following three elements:
+
+(1) the symbol ℗ (the letter P in a circle); and
+
+(2) the year of first publication of the sound recording; and
+
+(3) the name of the owner of copyright in the sound recording, or an abbreviation by which the name can be recognized, or a generally known alternative designation of the owner; if the producer of the sound recording is named on the phonorecord labels or containers, and if no other name appears in conjunction with the notice, the producer’s name shall be considered a part of the notice.
+
+(c) Position of Notice.— The notice shall be placed on the surface of the phonorecord, or on the phonorecord label or container, in such manner and location as to give reasonable notice of the claim of copyright.
+
+(d) Evidentiary Weight of Notice.— If a notice of copyright in the form and position specified by this section appears on the published phonorecord or phonorecords to which a defendant in a copyright infringement suit had access, then no weight shall be given to such a defendant’s interposition of a defense based on innocent infringement in mitigation of actual or statutory damages, except as provided in the last sentence of section 504(c)(2).
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2577; Pub. L. 100–568, § 7(b), Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2857.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476A special notice requirement, applicable only to the subject matter of sound recordings, is established by section 402. Since the bill protects sound recordings as separate works, independent of protection for any literary or musical works embodied in them, there would be a likelihood of confusion if the same notice requirements applied to sound recordings and to the works they incorporate. Like the present law, therefore, section 402 thus sets forth requirements for a notice to appear on the “phonorecords” of “sound recordings” that are different from the notice requirements established by section 401 for the “copies” of all other types of copyrightable works. Since “phonorecords” are not “copies,” there is no need to place a section 401 notice on “phonorecords” to protect the literary or musical works embodied in the records. In general, the form of the notice specified by section 402(b) consists of the symbol “℗”; the year of first publication of the sound recording; and the name of the copyright owner or an admissible variant. Where the record producer’s name appears on the record label, album, sleeve, jacket, or other container, it will be considered a part of the notice if no other name appears in conjunction with it. Under subsection (c), the notice for a copyrighted sound recording may be affixed to the surface, label, or container of the phonorecord “in such manner and location as to give reasonable notice of the claim of copyright.” There are at least three reasons for prescribing use of the symbol “℗” rather than “©” in the notice to appear on phonorecords of sound recordings. Aside from the need to avoid confusion between claims to copyright in the sound recording and in the musical or literary work embodied in it, there is also a necessity for distinguishing between copyright claims in the sound recording and in the printed text or art work appearing on the record label, album cover, liner notes, et cetera. The symbol “©” has also been adopted as the international symbol for the protection of sound recordings by the “Phonograms Convention” (the Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms, done at Geneva October 29, 1971), to which the United States is a party.
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–568, § 7(b)(1), (2), substituted “General provisions” for “General requirement” in heading, and “may be placed on” for “shall be placed on all” in text. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–568, § 7(b)(3), substituted “If a notice appears on the phonorecords, it” for “The notice appearing on the phonorecords”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–568, § 7(b)(4), added subsec. (d).
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–568 effective Mar. 1, 1989, with any cause of action arising under this title before such date being governed by provisions in effect when cause of action arose, see section 13 of Pub. L. 100–568, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-4/section-403.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 403"
+description: "Notice of copyright: Publications incorporating United States Government works"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "4"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT NOTICE, DEPOSIT, AND REGISTRATION"
+section: "403"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 403"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s403"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "2ece5fe2929ba67e033fcfabadaf90c74a5fabf20aba5e390def3172db6325fa"
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+text_hash: "d477611bf314126503a91af9f749c0c5fb7e8cbc22fcfbb896fdca532a368437"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 403 - Notice of copyright: Publications incorporating United States Government works
+
+## Text
+
+Sections 401(d) and 402(d) shall not apply to a work published in copies or phonorecords consisting predominantly of one or more works of the United States Government unless the notice of copyright appearing on the published copies or phonorecords to which a defendant in the copyright infringement suit had access includes a statement identifying, either affirmatively or negatively, those portions of the copies or phonorecords embodying any work or works protected under this title.
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2577; Pub. L. 100–568, § 7(c), Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2858.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476Section 403 is aimed at a publishing practice that, while technically justified under the present law, has been the object of considerable criticism. In cases where a Government work is published or republished commercially, it has frequently been the practice to add some “new matter” in the form of an introduction, editing, illustrations, etc., and to include a general copyright notice in the name of the commercial publisher. This in no way suggests to the public that the bulk of the work is uncopyrightable and therefore free for use. To make the notice meaningful rather than misleading, section 403 requires that, when the copies or phonorecords consist “preponderantly of one or more works of the United States Government,” the copyright notice (if any) identify those parts of the work in which copyright is claimed. A failure to meet this requirement would be treated as an omission of the notice, subject to the provisions of section 405.
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+Amendments1988—Pub. L. 100–568 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “Whenever a work is published in copies or phonorecords consisting preponderantly of one or more works of the United States Government, the notice of copyright provided by sections 401 or 402 shall also include a statement identifying, either affirmatively or negatively, those portions of the copies or phonorecords embodying any work or works protected under this title.”
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–568 effective Mar. 1, 1989, with any cause of action arising under this title before such date being governed by provisions in effect when cause of action arose, see section 13 of Pub. L. 100–568, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

legal/us/code/title-17/chapter-4/section-404.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+type: "LegalText"
+title: "17 U.S.C. § 404"
+description: "Notice of copyright: Contributions to collective works"
+jurisdiction: "us"
+corpus: "united_states_code"
+kind: "code_section"
+title_number: 17
+title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
+chapter_number: "4"
+chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT NOTICE, DEPOSIT, AND REGISTRATION"
+section: "404"
+citation: "17 U.S.C. § 404"
+status: "current"
+release_point: "119-100"
+release_date: "2026-06-26"
+source: "official"
+source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc17@119-100.zip"
+source_identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s404"
+source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-17/usc17.xml"
+source_hash: "991640208250f18656f83ada9df8de8b38862d4e54081c943e4a6a8118890ada"
+raw_snapshot_hash: "53c244d73050c7c92329dce6d1ccd78b9e2fece359d919b044b600b95258446c"
+text_hash: "26b9551253cac9e5588977c9081432a2f83e9c8732f9f78f961a9786b5a6d074"
+retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
+confidence: "official"
+tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
+---
+
+# 17 U.S.C. § 404 - Notice of copyright: Contributions to collective works
+
+## Text
+
+(a) A separate contribution to a collective work may bear its own notice of copyright, as provided by sections 401 through 403. However, a single notice applicable to the collective work as a whole is sufficient to invoke the provisions of section 401(d) or 402(d), as applicable with respect to the separate contributions it contains (not including advertisements inserted on behalf of persons other than the owner of copyright in the collective work), regardless of the ownership of copyright in the contributions and whether or not they have been previously published.
+
+(b) With respect to copies and phonorecords publicly distributed by authority of the copyright owner before the effective date of the Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988, where the person named in a single notice applicable to a collective work as a whole is not the owner of copyright in a separate contribution that does not bear its own notice, the case is governed by the provisions of section 406(a).
+
+(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2577; Pub. L. 100–568, § 7(d), Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2858.)
+
+## Notes
+
+Historical and Revision Notes
+
+house report no. 94–1476In conjunction with the provisions of section 201(c), section 404 deals with a troublesome problem under the present law: the notice requirements applicable to contributions published in periodicals and other collective works. The basic approach of the section is threefold: (1) To permit but not require a separate contribution to bear its own notice; (2) To make a single notice, covering the collective work as a whole, sufficient to satisfy the notice requirement for the separate contributions it contains, even if they have been previously published or their ownership is different; and (3) To protect the interests of an innocent infringer of copyright in a contribution that does not bear its own notice, who has dealt in good faith with the person named in the notice covering the collective work as a whole. As a general rule, under this section, the rights in an individual contribution to a collective work would not be affected by the lack of a separate copyright notice, as long as the collective work as a whole bears a notice. One exception to this rule would apply to “advertisements inserted on behalf of persons other than the owner of copyright in the collective work.” Collective works, notably newspapers and magazines, are major advertising media, and it is common for the same advertisement to be published in a number of different periodicals. The general copyright notice in a particular issue would not ordinarily protect the advertisements inserted in it, and relatively little advertising matter today is published with a separate copyright notice. The exception in section 404(a), under which separate notices would be required for most advertisements published in collective works, would impose no undue burdens on copyright owners and is justified by the special circumstances. Under section 404(b) a separate contribution that does not bear its own notice, and that is published in a collective work with a general notice containing the name of someone other than the copyright owner of the contribution, is treated as if it has been published with the wrong name in the notice. The case is governed by section 406(a), which means that an innocent infringer who in good faith took a license from the person named in the general notice would be shielded from liability to some extent.
+
+Editorial Notes
+
+References in TextThe effective date of the Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988, referred to in subsec. (b), is Mar. 1, 1989, see section 13 of Pub. L. 100–568, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.
+
+Amendments1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–568, § 7(d)(1), substituted “to invoke the provisions of section 401(d) or 402(d), as applicable” for “to satisfy the requirements of sections 401 through 403”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–568, § 7(d)(2), substituted “With respect to copies and phonorecords publicly distributed by authority of the copyright owner before the effective date of the Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988, where” for “Where”.
+
+Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
+
+Effective Date of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–568 effective Mar. 1, 1989, with any cause of action arising under this title before such date being governed by provisions in effect when cause of action arose, see section 13 of Pub. L. 100–568, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.