Copyright Act (17 U.S.C.) Index
The U.S. Copyright Act is found in Title 17 of the U.S. Code and contains the federal statutes governing copyright law in the United States. This index contains links to each of the sections of the Copyright Act found in Title 17. The version of the Copyright Act found in BitLaw was updated in November 2005.
You may wish to go directly to one of the following sections of this index:
Chapter 1 - Subject Matter And Scope Of Copyright
Chapter 2--Copyright Ownership And Transfer
Chapter 3 - Duration Of Copyright
Chapter 4--Copyright Notice, Deposit, And Registration
Chapter 5 - Copyright Infringement And Remedies
Chapter 6 - Manufacturing Requirements And Importation
Chapter 7 - Copyright Office
Chapter 8 - Copyright Royalty Tribunal
Chapter 9 - Protection of Semiconductor Chip Products
Chapter 10 - Digital Audio
Chapter 11 - Sound Recordings and Music Videos
Chapter 12 - Copyright Protection and Management Systems
Chapter 13 - Protection of Original Designs
CHAPTER 1 - SUBJECT MATTER AND SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT
102. Subject matter of copyright: In general.
103. Subject matter of copyright: Compilations and derivative works.
104. Subject matter of copyright: National origin.
104A. Copyright in restored works.
105. Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works.
106. Exclusive rights in copyrighted works.
106A. Rights of certain authors to attribution and integrity
107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use.
108. Limitations on exclusive rights: Reproduction by libraries and archives.
109. Limitations on exclusive rights: Effect of transfer of particular copy or phonorecord.
110. Limitations on exclusive rights: Exemption of certain performances and displays.
111. Limitations on exclusive rights: Secondary transmissions.
112. Limitations on exclusive rights: Ephemeral recordings.
113. Scope of exclusive rights in pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works.
114. Scope of exclusive rights in sound recordings.
116. Negotiated licenses for public performances by means of coin-operated phonorecord players.
117. Limitation on exclusive rights: computer programs.
118. Scope of exclusive rights: Use of certain works in connection with noncommercial broadcasting.
120. Scope of exclusive rights in architectural works.
121. Limitations on exclusive rights: Reproduction for blind or other people with disabilities
CHAPTER 2--COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER
202. Ownership of copyright as distinct from ownership of material object.
203. Termination of transfers and licenses granted by the author.
CHAPTER 3 - DURATION OF COPYRIGHT
301. Preemption with respect to other laws.
302. Duration of copyright: Works created on or after January 1, 1978.
303. Duration of copyright: Works created but not published or copyrighted before January 1, 1978.
CHAPTER 4--COPYRIGHT NOTICE, DEPOSIT, AND REGISTRATION
401. Notice of copyright: Visually perceptible copies.
402. Notice of copyright: Phonorecords of sound recordings.
403. Notice of copyright: Publications incorporating United States Government works.
404. Notice of copyright: Contributions to collective works.
405. Notice of copyright: Omission of notice on certain copies and phonorecords.
406. Notice of copyright: Error in name or date on certain copies and phonorecords.
407. Deposit of copies or phonorecords for Library of Congress.
408. Copyright registration in general.
409. Application for copyright registration.
410. Registration of claim and issuance of certificate.
411. Registration and infringement actions.
412. Registration as prerequisite to certain remedies for infringement.
CHAPTER 5 - COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES
501. Infringement of copyright.
502. Remedies for infringement: Injunctions.
503. Remedies for infringement: Impounding and disposition of infringing articles.
504. Remedies for infringement: Damages and profits.
505. Remedies for infringement: Costs and attorney's fees.
508. Notification of filing and determination of actions.
510. Remedies for alteration of programming by cable systems.
512. Limitations on liability relating to material online
513. Determination of reasonable license fees for individual proprietors
CHAPTER 6 - MANUFACTURING REQUIREMENTS AND IMPORTATION
601. Manufacture, importation, and public distribution of certain copies.
602. Infringing importation of copies or phonorecords.
603. Importation prohibitions: Enforcement and disposition of excluded articles.
701. The Copyright Office: General responsibilities and organization.
702. Copyright Office regulations.
703. Effective date of actions in Copyright Office.
704. Retention and disposition of articles deposited in Copyright Office.
705. Copyright Office records: Preparation, maintenance, public inspection, and searching.
706. Copies of Copyright Office records.
707. Copyright Office forms and publications.
709. Delay in delivery caused by disruption of postal or other services.
710. Repealed (Reproduction for use of the blind and physically handicapped: Voluntary licensing forms and procedures).
CHAPTER 8 - COPYRIGHT ROYALTY TRIBUNAL
801. Copyright Royalty Judges; appointment and functions.
802. Copyright Royalty Judgeships; staff.
803. Proceedings of Copyright Royalty Judges.
CHAPTER 9 - PROTECTION OF SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP PRODUCTS
901. Definitions
902. Subject matter of protection
903. Ownership, transfer, licensing, and recordation
905. Exclusive rights in mask works
906. Limitation on exclusive rights: reverse engineering; first sale
907. Limitation on exclusive rights: innocent infringement
908. Registration of claims of protection
SUBCHAPTER A--DEFINITIONS
SUBCHAPTER B--COPYING CONTROLS
1002. Incorporation of copying controls
SUBCHAPTER C--ROYALTY PAYMENTS
1003. Obligation to make royalty payments
1005. Deposit of royalty payments and deduction of expenses
1006. Entitlement to royalty payments
1007. Procedures for distributing royalty payments
1008. Prohibition on certain infringement actions
SUBCHAPTER D--PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN INRGINREMENT ACTIONS, REMEDIES, AND ARBITRATION
CHAPTER 11 - SOUND RECORDINGS AND MUSIC VIDEOS
1101. Unauthorized fixation and trafficking in sound recordings and music videos
CHAPTER 12 - COPYRIGHT PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
1201. Circumvention of copyright protection systems
1202. Integrity of copyright management information
CHAPTER 13 - PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS
1301. Designs protected
1302. Designs not subject to protection
1303. Revisions, adaptations, and rearrangements
1304. Commencement of protection
1307. Effect of omission of notice
1310. Application for registration
1311. Benefit of earlier filing date in foreign country
1312. Oaths and acknowledgments
1313. Examination of application and issue or refusal of registration
1314. Certification of registration
1315. Publication of announcements and indexes
1319. Correction of errors in certificates
1323. Recovery for infringement
1324. Power of court over registration
1325. Liability for action on registration fraudulently obtained
1326. Penalty for false marking
1327. Penalty for false representation
1328. Enforcement by Treasury and Postal Service
1329. Relation to design patent law
1330. Common law and other rights unaffected