Copyright status of work by the U.S. government

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For Wikipedia's rules about copying from sources published by the U.S. government, see Wikipedia:Plagiarism#Copying material from free sources and Wikipedia:Public domain status of official government works.

A work of the United States government, as defined by United States copyright law, is "a work prepared by an officer or employee" of the federal government "as part of that person's official duties.".[1] In general, under section 105 of the Copyright Act,[2] such works are not entitled to domestic copyright protection under U.S. law.

The act only applies to U.S. domestic copyright as that is the extent of U.S. federal law. The U.S. government asserts that it can still hold the copyright to those works in other countries.[3][4]

In addition, many publications of the U.S. government contain protectable works authored by others (e.g., patent applications, Securities and Exchange Commission filings, public comments on regulations), and this rule does not necessarily apply to the creative content of those works.

History[edit]

Exceptions[edit]

Works produced by contractors[edit]

Unlike works of the U.S. government, works produced by contractors under government contracts (or submitted in anticipation of such contracts) are protected and restricted under U.S. copyright law. The holdership of the copyright depends on the terms of the contract and the type of work undertaken. Contract terms and conditions vary between agencies; contracts to NASA and the military may differ significantly from civilian agency contracts.[5]

Civilian agencies and NASA are guided by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). There are a number of FAR provisions that can affect the ownership of the copyright. FAR Subpart 27.4—Rights in Data and Copyright provides copyright guidance for the civilian agencies and NASA. Additionally, some agencies may have their own FAR Supplements that they follow.

Under the FAR general data rights clause (FAR 52.227-14), the government has unlimited rights in all data first produced in performance of or delivered under a contract, unless the contractor asserts a claim to copyright or the contract provides otherwise. Unless provided otherwise by an Agency FAR Supplement, a contractor may assert claim to copyright in scientific and technical articles based on or containing data first produced in the performance of a contract and published in academic, technical or professional journals, symposia proceedings, or the like. The express written permission of the Contracting Officer is required before the contractor may assert or enforce the copyright in all other works first produced in the performance of a contract. However, if a contract includes Alternate IV of the clause, the Contracting Officer's approval is not required to assert claim to copyright. Whenever the contractor asserts claim to copyright in works other than computer software, the government, and others acting on its behalf, are granted a license to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute, perform and display the copyrighted work. For computer software produced under FAR contract, the scope of the government's license does include the right to distribute to the public,[6] but for "commercial off the shelf software", the government typically obtains no better license than would any other customer.

Transfers[edit]

The federal government can hold copyrights that are transferred to it.[2] Copyright law's definition of work of the United States government does not include work that the government owns but did not create.[7] For example, in 1837, the federal government purchased former U.S. President James Madison's manuscripts from his widow, Dolley Madison, for $30,000.[8] If this is construed as covering copyright as well as the physical papers, it would be an example of such a transfer.[9]

Exemptions[edit]

Works by certain independent agencies, corporations and federal subsidiaries may be exempt from U.S. government copyright status. For instance, material produced by the United States Postal Service are typically subject to normal copyright.[10] Most USPS materials, artwork, and design and all postage stamps as of January 1, 1978, or after are subject to copyright laws. Works of the former United States Post Office Department are in the public domain (due to its former position as a cabinet department).

15 U.S.C. § 290e authorizes U.S. Secretary of Commerce to secure copyright for works produced by the Department of Commerce under the Standard Reference Data Act.[11][12]

State, territorial and local governments[edit]

For details regarding every state, locality and organized territory, see Copyright status of work by U.S. subnational governments.

Many states place much of their work into the public domain; they waive some or all of their rights under copyright law. They need to do so actively because the lack of copyright protection for works of the United States government does not apply to works of U.S. subnational governments.Most notably, the constitutions and laws of California and Florida have placed their government's works in the public domain, and they are the biggest exceptions. "Unorganized territories" (such as American Samoa and the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)[13] are treated as the U.S. government and fall under § 105; their works lack copyright protection.[14]

Edicts of government[edit]

Main article: edict of government

The United States Copyright Office considers edicts of government, such as judicial opinions, administrative rulings, legislative enactments, public ordinances, and similar official legal documents, not copyrightable for reasons of public policy. This applies to such works whether they are federal, state, or local as well as to those of foreign governments.[15]

Other restrictions[edit]

Certain works, particularly logos and emblems of government agencies, while not copyrightable, are still protected by other laws similar in effect to trademark laws. Such laws are intended to protect indicators of source or quality. For example, some uses of the Central Intelligence Agency logo, name, and initialism are regulated under the CIA Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. § 403m).

See also[edit]

In other countries[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 17 U.S.C. § 101
  2. ^ a b 17 U.S.C. § 105
  3. ^ "Does the Government have copyright protection in U.S. Government works in other countries?". 
  4. ^ House Report No. 94-1476, p.59 ("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.").
  5. ^ CENDI Copyright Working Group (August 2004). "Frequently Asked Questions About Copyright". Commerce, Energy, NASA, Defense Information Managers Group. Oak Ridge, TN: CENDI Secretariat, Information International Associates, Inc. Retrieved July 22, 2005. 
  6. ^ See definitions of data and unlimited rights and 27.404-1 at https://acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%2027_4.html
  7. ^ 17 U.S.C. § 101
  8. ^ An Act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of Government for the year eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, 24th Cong., Sess. II, Ch. 33, 5. Stat. 163, 171, March 3, 1837
  9. ^ The following year, Congress authorized publication of the papers, suggesting that the transaction did include copyright. An Act authorizing the printing of the Madison papers, 25th Cong., Sess. II, Ch. 264, 5. Stat. 309-310, July 9, 1838
  10. ^ Compendium II: Copyright Office Practices, § 206.02(b)
  11. ^ 15 U.S.C. § 290e
  12. ^ Compendium II: Copyright Office Practices, § 206.02(a)
  13. ^ Compendium II: Copyright Office Practices, § 1102.08(b)
  14. ^ Compendium II: Copyright Office Practices, § 206.02(e)
  15. ^ Compendium II: Copyright Office Practices, § 206.01

External links[edit]

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