Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States

1 January 20171
Never Published, Never Registered Works2
TypeofWork

CopyrightTerm

Whatwasinthe
publicdomainin
theU.S.asof1
January20173

Unpublished

Lifeoftheauthor+70years

Worksfromauthors

works
Unpublished

whodiedbefore1947
120yearsfromdateofcreation

anonymous

Workscreatedbefore
1897

and
pseudonymous
works,and
worksmadefor
hire(corporate
authorship)
Unpublished

120yearsfromdateofcreation5

workswhen

Workscreatedbefore
18975

thedeathdate
oftheauthoris
notknown4

Works Registered or First Published in the U.S.

Conditions7

CopyrightTerm3

Before1923

None

None.Inthepublic
domaindueto
copyrightexpiration

1923through
1977

Publishedwithoutacopyrightnotice

None.Inthepublic
domainduetofailure
tocomplywithrequired
formalities

1978to1

Publishedwithoutnotice,andwithoutsubsequentregistrationwithin5years

March1989

None.Inthepublic
domainduetofailure
tocomplywithrequired
formalities

1978to1

Publishedwithoutnotice,butwithsubsequentregistrationwithin5years

March1989

70yearsafterthe
deathofauthor.Ifa
workofcorporate
authorship,95years
frompublicationor120
yearsfromcreation,
whicheverexpiresfirst

1923through

Publishedwithnoticebutcopyrightwasnotrenewed8

1963

None.Inthepublic
domaindueto
copyrightexpiration

1923through

Publishedwithnoticeandthecopyrightwasrenewed8

1963
1964through

publicationdate
Publishedwithnotice

1977
1978to1

95yearsafter

95yearsafter
publicationdate

Createdafter1977andpublishedwithnotice

March1989

70yearsafterthe
deathofauthor.Ifa
workofcorporate
authorship,95years
frompublicationor120
yearsfromcreation,
whicheverexpiresfirst

1978to1

Createdbefore1978andfirstpublishedwithnoticeinthespecifiedperiod

March1989

Thegreateroftheterm
specifiedinthe
previousentryor31
December2047

From1March

Createdafter1977

70yearsafterthe

1989through

deathofauthor.Ifa

2002

workofcorporate
authorship,95years
frompublicationor120

yearsfromcreation,
whicheverexpiresfirst
From1March

Createdbefore1978andfirstpublishedinthisperiod

Thegreateroftheterm

1989through

specifiedinthe

2002

previousentryor31
December2047

After2002

None

70yearsafterthe
deathofauthor.Ifa
workofcorporate
authorship,95years
frompublicationor120
yearsfromcreation,
whicheverexpiresfirst

Anytime

WorkspreparedbyanofficeroremployeeoftheUnitedStatesGovernmentaspartof

None.Inthepublic

thatperson'sofficialduties.21

domainintheUnited
States(17U.S.C.
105)

Works First Published Outside the U.S. by Foreign Nationals or U.S. Citizens
Living Abroad9
Dateof
Publication

Conditions

CopyrightTermin
theUnitedStates

Before1923

None

Inthepublic
domain(Butseefirst
specialcasebelow)

WorksPublishedAbroadBefore197810
1923through

PublishedwithoutcompliancewithUSformalities,andinthepublicdomaininitssource

1977

countryasof1January1996(butseespecialcases)20

1923through

PublishedincompliancewithallUSformalities

95yearsafter

1977

(i.e.,notice,renewal)11

publicationdate

1923through

Solelypublishedabroad,withoutcompliancewithUSformalitiesorrepublicationinthe

95yearsafter

1977

US,andnotinthepublicdomaininitshomecountryasof1January1996(butsee

publicationdate

specialcases)

Inthepublicdomain

1923through

PublishedintheUSlessthan30daysafterpublicationabroad

1977

UsetheUSpublication
charttodetermine
duration

1923through

PublishedintheUSmorethan30daysafterpublicationabroad,withoutcompliance

95yearsafter

1977

withUSformalities,andnotinthepublicdomaininitshomecountryasof1January

publicationdate

1996(butseespecialcases)

WorksPublishedAbroadAfter1January1978
1978to2002

Createdbefore1978andfirstpublishedinacountrythatisasignatorytotheBerne
Conventionorother17USC104A(h)(3)treaties22

Thegreaterof70
yearsafterthedeathof
author(orifworkof
corporateauthorship,
95yearsfrom
publication)or31
December2047

2003

Createdbefore1978andfirstpublishedafter2002inacountrythatisasignatorytothe
BerneConventionorother17USC104A(h)(3)treaties22

70yearsafterthe
deathoftheauthor,or
ifworkofcorporate
authorship,95years
frompublication

1January1978

Publishedwithoutcopyrightnotice,andinthepublicdomaininitssourcecountryasof1

Inthepublicdomain

1March1989

January1996(butseespecialcases)20

1January1978

PublishedwithoutcopyrightnoticeinacountrythatisasignatorytotheBerne

1March1989

Conventionorother17USC104A(h)(3)treatiesandisnotinthepublicdomaininits
sourcecountryasof1January1996(butseespecialcases)20

70yearsafterthe
deathofauthor,orif
workofcorporate
authorship,95years
frompublication

PublishedwithcopyrightnoticeinacountrythathascopyrightrelationswiththeUS(but
seespecialcases)13

70yearsafterthe
deathofauthor,orif
workofcorporate
authorship,95years
frompublication

PublishedinacountrythathascopyrightrelationswiththeUS13

70yearsafterthe
deathofauthor,orif
workofcorporate
authorship,95years
frompublication

After1March

PublishedinacountrywithwhichtheUnitedStatesdoesnothavecopyrightrelations

Inthepublicdomain

1989

underatreaty

1January1978
1March1989

After1March
1989

SpecialCases
1July1909

InAlaska,Arizona,California,Hawaii,Idaho,Montana,Nevada,Oregon,Washington,

Treatasan

through1978

Guam,andtheNorthernMarianaIslandsONLY.Publishedinalanguageotherthan

unpublishedworkuntil

English,andwithoutsubsequentrepublicationwithacopyrightnotice12

suchdateasfirst

UScompliant
publicationoccurred
Anytime

CreatedbyaresidentofAfghanistan,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Iran,Iraq,orSanMarino,and

NotprotectedbyUS

publishedinoneofthesecountries13

copyrightlawuntilthey
becomepartyto
bilateralor
internationalcopyright
agreements

Anytime

WorkswhosecopyrightwasonceownedoradministeredbytheAlienProperty

NotprotectedbyUS

Custodian,andwhosecopyright,ifrestored,wouldasofJanuary1,1996,beownedby

copyrightlaw

agovernment14
Anytime

Ifpublishedinoneofthefollowingcountries,the1January1996dategivenaboveis

replacedbythedateofthecountry'smembershipintheBerneConventionortheWorld
TradeOrganization,whicheverisearlier:

Algeria,Andorra,Angola,Armenia,Azerbaijan,Belarus,Bhutan,Cambodia,Cape
Verde,Comoros,EquatorialGuinea,Grenada,Haiti,Jersey,Jordan,Democratic
People'sRepublicofKorea,Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan,Laos,Malaysia,Micronesia,Mongolia,
Montenegro,Nepal,Niue,Oman,Panama,PapuaNewGuinea,Qatar,Samoa,So
TomandPrncipe,SaudiArabia,SolomonIslands,Sudan,Syria,Taiwan,Tajikistan,
Tonga,Turkmenistan,UnitedArabEmirates,Uzbekistan,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Yemen

Sound Recordings
(Note: The following information applies only to the sound recording itself, and not to any copyrights in underlying
compositions or texts.)
Dateof
Conditions
Fixation/Publication

Whatwasinthe
publicdomaininthe
U.S.asof1January
20163

UnpublishedSoundRecordings,DomesticandForeign
Priorto15Feb.1972

Indeterminate

Subjecttostate
commonlaw
protection.Entersthe
publicdomainon15
Feb.2067

After15Feb.1972

Lifeoftheauthor+70years.Forunpublishedanonymousandpseudonymous

Nothing.Thesoonest

worksandworksmadeforhire(corporateauthorship),120yearsfromthedate

anythingentersthe

offixation

publicdomainis15
Feb.2067

SoundRecordingsPublishedintheUnitedStates
Dateof
Conditions
Fixation/Publication

Whatwasinthe
publicdomaininthe
U.S.asof1January
20163

Fixedpriorto15Feb.

Subjecttostate

None

1972

statutoryand/or
commonlawprotection.
Fullyentersthepublic
domainon15Feb.
2067

15Feb1972to1978

Publishedwithoutnotice(i.e, ,yearofpublication,andnameofcopyright

Inthepublicdomain

owner)15
15Feb.1972to1978

Publishedwithnotice

95yearsfrom
publication.2068atthe
earliest

1978to1March1989

Publishedwithoutnotice,andwithoutsubsequentregistration

Inthepublicdomain

1978to1March1989

Publishedwithnotice

70yearsafterdeathof
author,orifworkof
corporateauthorship,
theshorterof95years
frompublication,or120
yearsfromcreation.
2049attheearliest

After1March1989

None

70yearsafterdeathof
author,orifworkof
corporateauthorship,
theshorterof95years
frompublication,or120
yearsfromcreation.
2049attheearliest

SoundRecordingsPublishedOutsidetheUnitedStates
Priorto1923

None

Subjecttostate
statutoryand/or
commonlaw
protection.Fullyenters
thepublicdomainon15
Feb.2067

1923to1March1989

Inthepublicdomaininitshomecountryasof1Jan.1996ortherewasUS

Subjecttostate

publicationwithin30daysoftheforeignpublication(butseespecialcases)

commonlaw
protection.Entersthe
publicdomainon15
Feb.2067

1923to15Feb.1972

Notinthepublicdomaininitshomecountryasof1Jan.1996.Atleastone

Enterspublicdomainon

authoroftheworkwasnotaUScitizenorwaslivingabroad,andtherewasno

15Feb.2067

USpublicationwithin30daysoftheforeignpublication(butseespecialcases)
15Feb.1972to1978

1978to1March1989

Notinthepublicdomaininitshomecountryasof1Jan.1996.Atleastone

95yearsfromdateof

authoroftheworkwasnotaUScitizenorwaslivingabroad,andtherewasno

publication.2068atthe

USpublicationwithin30daysoftheforeignpublication(butseespecialcases)

earliest

Notinthepublicdomaininitshomecountryasof1Jan.1996.Atleastone

70yearsafterdeathof

authoroftheworkwasnotaUScitizenorwaslivingabroad,andtherewasno

author,orifworkof

USpublicationwithin30daysoftheforeignpublication(butseespecialcases)

corporateauthorship,
theshorterof95years
frompublication,or120
yearsfromcreation

After1March1989

None

70yearsafterdeathof
author,orifworkof
corporateauthorship,
theshorterof95years
frompublication,or120
yearsfromcreation

SpecialCases
Fixedatanytime

CreatedbyaresidentofAfghanistan,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Iran,Iraq,orSan

NotprotectedbyUS

Marino,andpublishedinoneofthesecountries13

copyrightlawbecause
theyarenotpartyto
internationalcopyright
agreements

Fixedpriorto1996

WorkswhosecopyrightwasonceownedoradministeredbytheAlienProperty

NotprotectedbyUS

Custodian,andwhosecopyright,ifrestored,wouldasof1January1996 be

copyrightlaw

ownedbyagovernment14
Fixedatanytime

Iffixedorsolelypublishedinoneofthefollowingcountries,the1January1996

dategivenaboveisreplacedbythedateofthecountry'smembershipinthe
BerneConventionortheWorldTradeOrganization,whicheverisearlier:

Algeria,Andorra,Angola,Armenia,Azerbaijan,Belarus,Bhutan,Cambodia,
CapeVerde,Comoros,EquatorialGuinea,Grenada,Haiti,Jersey,Jordan,
DemocraticPeople'sRepublicofKorea,Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan,Laos,Malaysia,
Micronesia,Mongolia,Montenegro,Nepal,Niue,Oman,Panama,PapuaNew
Guinea,Qatar,Samoa,SoTomandPrncipe,SaudiArabia,Solomon
Islands,Sudan,Syria,Taiwan,Tajikistan,Tonga,Turkmenistan,UnitedArab
Emirates,Uzbekistan,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Yemen

Architectural Works16
(Note: Architectural plans and drawings may also be protected as textual/graphics works)
Dateof
Design

DateofConstruction

CopyrightStatus

Priorto1

Notconstructedby31Dec.

Protectedonlyasplansordrawings

Dec.

2002

1990
Priorto1
Dec.
1990

Constructedby1Dec.1990

Protectedonlyasplansordrawings

Priorto1

Constructedbetween30

Buildingisprotectedfor70yearsafterdeathofauthor,orifworkofcorporate

Dec.

Nov.1990and31Dec.2002

authorship,theshorterof95yearsfrompublication,or120yearsfromcreation17

Immaterial

Buildingisprotectedfor70yearsafterdeathofauthor,orifworkofcorporate

1990
From1
Dec.

authorship,theshorterof95yearsfrompublication,or120yearsfromcreation17

1990

Notes
1.ThischartwasfirstpublishedinPeterB.Hirtle,"RecentChangesToTheCopyrightLaw:CopyrightTermExtension,"ArchivalOutlook,
January/February1999.Thisversioniscurrentasof1January2017.Themostrecentversionisfoundat
http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm.Forsomeexplanationonhowtousethechartandcomplicationshiddeninit,see
PeterB.Hirtle,"Whenis1923GoingtoArriveandOtherComplicationsoftheU.S.PublicDomain,"Searcher(Sept2012).
ThechartisbasedinpartonLauraN.Gasaway'schart,"WhenWorksPassIntothePublicDomain,"at<http://www.unc.edu/~unclng/public
d.htm>,andsimilarchartsfoundinMarieC.Malaro,ALegalPrimerOnManagingMuseumCollections(Washington,D.C.:Smithsonian
InstitutionPress,1998):155156.AusefulcopyrightdurationchartbyMaryMinow,organizedbyyear,isfoundat
<http://www.librarylaw.com/DigitizationTable.htm>.A"flowchart"forcopyrightdurationisfoundat<http://sunsteinlaw.com/practices/copyright
portfoliodevelopment/copyrightpointers/copyrightflowchart/>,andatreeviewchartoncopyrightisat<http://chart.copyrightdata.com>.
SeveralU.S.copyrightdurationcalculatorsareavailableonline,includingthePublicDomainSherpa
(http://www.publicdomainsherpa.com/calculator.html)andtheDurationator(inbetaathttp://www.durationator.com/).Europeanaspublicdomain
calculatorsfor30differentcountriesoutsideoftheU.S.(athttp://www.outofcopyright.eu/).TheOpenKnowledgeFoundationhasbeen
encouragingthedevelopmentofpublicdomaincalculatorsformanycountries:seehttp://publicdomain.okfn.org/calculators/.SeealsoLibraryof
CongressCopyrightOffice.Circular15a,DurationofCopyright:ProvisionsoftheLawDealingwiththeLengthofCopyrightProtection(
Washington,D.C.:LibraryofCongress,2004)<http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ15a.pdf>.Furtherinformationoncopyrightdurationisfound
inChapter3,"DurationandOwnershipofCopyright,"inCopyrightandCulturalInstitutions:GuidelinesforDigitizationforU.S.Libraries,
Archives,andMuseums,byPeterB.Hirtle,EmilyHudson,andAndrewT.Kenyon(Ithaca,NY:CornellUniversityLibrary,2009)availablefor
purchaseathttp://bookstore.library.cornell.edu/andasafreedownloadathttp://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/14142.
2.Treatunpublishedworksregisteredforcopyrightpriorto1978asiftheyhadbeenpublishedintheUS(thoughnotethattheonlyformalitythat
appliedwastherequirementtorenewcopyrightafter28years).Unpublishedworksregisteredforcopyrightsince1978canbeconsideredasif
theywerean"Unpublished,UnregisteredWork."
3.Alltermsofcopyrightrunthroughtheendofthecalendaryearinwhichtheywouldotherwiseexpire,soaworkentersthepublicdomainonthe
firstoftheyearfollowingtheexpirationofitscopyrightterm.Forexample,abookpublishedon15March1923willenterthepublicdomainon1
January2019,not16March2018(1923+95=2018).
4.Unpublishedworkswhenthedeathdateoftheauthorisnotknownmaystillbecopyrightedafter120years,butcertificationfromtheCopyright
Officethatithasnorecordtoindicatewhetherthepersonislivingordiedlessthan70yearsbeforeisacompletedefensetoanyactionfor
infringement.See17U.S.C.302(e).
5.Presumptionastotheauthor'sdeathrequiresacertifiedreportfromtheCopyrightOfficethatitsrecordsdisclosenothingtoindicatethatthe
authoroftheworkislivingordiedlessthanseventyyearsbefore.

6."Publication"wasnotexplicitlydefinedintheCopyrightLawbefore1976,butthe1909Actindirectlyindicatedthatpublicationwaswhencopies
ofthefirstauthorizededitionwereplacedonsale,sold,orpubliclydistributedbytheproprietorofthecopyrightorunderhisauthority.
7.Notallpublishedworksarecopyrighted.WorkspreparedbyanofficeroremployeeoftheUnitedStatesGovernmentaspartofthatperson's
officialdutiesreceivenocopyrightprotectionintheUS.Formuchofthetwentiethcentury,certainformalitieshadtobefollowedtosecure
copyrightprotection.Forexample,somebookshadtobeprintedintheUnitedStatestoreceivecopyrightprotection,andfailuretodeposit
copiesofworkswiththeRegisterofCopyrightcouldresultinthelossofcopyright.Therequirementsthatcopiesincludeaformalnoticeof
copyrightandthatthecopyrightberenewedaftertwentyeightyearswerethemostcommonconditions,andarespecifiedinthechart.
8.A1961CopyrightOfficestudyfoundthatfewerthan15%ofallregisteredcopyrightswererenewed.Forbooks,thefigurewasevenlower:7%.
SeeBarbaraRinger,"StudyNo.31:RenewalofCopyright"(1960),reprintedinLibraryofCongressCopyrightOffice.Copyrightlawrevision:
StudiespreparedfortheSubcommitteeonPatents,Trademarks,andCopyrightsoftheCommitteeontheJudiciary,UnitedStatesSenate,
EightysixthCongress,first[second]session.(Washington:U.S.Govt.Print.Off,1961),p.220.Agoodguidetoinvestigatingthecopyright
andrenewalstatusofpublishedworkisSamuelDemasandJennieL.Brogdon,"DeterminingCopyrightStatusforPreservationandAccess:
DefiningReasonableEffort,"LibraryResourcesandTechnicalServices41:4(October,1997):323334.SeealsoLibraryofCongressCopyright
Office,Howtoinvestigatethecopyrightstatusofawork.Circular22.[Washington,D.C.:LibraryofCongress,CopyrightOffice,2004].The
OnlineBooksPageFAQ,especially"HowCanITellWhetheraBookCanGoOnline?"and"HowCanITellWhetheraCopyrightWas
Renewed?",isalsoveryhelpful.
9.ThefollowingsectiononforeignpublicationsdrawsextensivelyonStephenFishman,ThePublicDomain:HowtoFindCopyrightfreeWritings,
Music,Art&More.(Berkeley:Nolo.com,2014).ItappliestoworksfirstpublishedabroadandnotsubsequentlypublishedintheUSwithin30
daysoftheoriginalforeignpublication.WorksthatweresimultaneouslypublishedabroadandintheUSaretreatedasiftheyareAmerican
publications.
10.Foreignworkspublishedafter1923arelikelytobestillundercopyrightintheUSbecauseoftheUruguayRoundAgreementsAct(URAA)
modifyingtheGeneralAgreementonTariffsandTrade(GATT).TheURAArestoredcopyrightinforeignworksthatasof1January1996had
fallenintothepublicdomainintheUSbecauseofafailuretocomplywithUSformalities.OneoftheauthorsoftheworkhadtobeanonUS
citizenorresident,theworkcouldnothavebeenpublishedintheUSwithin30daysafteritspublicationabroad,andtheworkneededtostillbe
incopyrightinthecountryofpublication.SuchworkshaveacopyrighttermequivalenttothatofanAmericanworkthathadfollowedallofthe
formalities.Formoreinformation,seeLibraryofCongressCopyrightOffice,HighlightsofCopyrightAmendmentsContainedintheUruguay
RoundAgreementsAct(URAA).Circular38b.[Washington,D.C.:LibraryofCongress,CopyrightOffice,2004].
11.USformalitiesincludetherequirementthataformalnoticeofcopyrightbeincludedintheworkregistration,renewal,anddepositofcopiesin
theCopyrightOfficeandthemanufactureoftheworkintheUS.
12.ThedifferingdatesisaproductofthequestionofcontroversialTwinBooksv.WaltDisneyCo.decisionbythe9thCircuitCourtofAppealsin
1996.ThequestionatissueisthecopyrightstatusofaworkonlypublishedinaforeignlanguageoutsideoftheUnitedStatesandwithouta
copyrightnotice.IthadlongbeenassumedthatfailuretocomplywithUSformalitiesplacedtheseworksinthepublicdomainintheUSand,
assuch,weresubjecttocopyrightrestorationunderURAA(seenote10).ThecourtinTwinBooks,however,concluded"publicationwithouta
copyrightnoticeinaforeigncountrydidnotputtheworkinthepublicdomainintheUnitedStates."Accordingtothecourt,theseforeign
publicationswereineffect"unpublished"intheUS,andhencehavethesamecopyrighttermasunpublishedworks.Thedecisionhasbeen
harshlycriticizedinNimmeronCopyright,theleadingtreatiseoncopyright,asbeingincompatiblewithpreviousdecisionsandtheintentof
Congresswhenitrestoredforeigncopyrights.TheCopyrightOfficeaswellignorestheTwinBooksdecisioninitscircularonrestored
copyrights.Nevertheless,thedecisioniscurrentlyapplicableinallofthe9thJudicialCircuit(Alaska,Arizona,California,Hawaii,Idaho,
Montana,Nevada,Oregon,Washington,andGuamandtheNorthernMarianaIslands),anditmayapplyintherestofthecountry.

13.SeeLibraryofCongressCopyrightOffice,InternationalCopyrightRelationsoftheUnitedStates.Circular38a.[Washington,D.C.:Libraryof
Congress,CopyrightOffice,2011].
14.See63Fed.Reg.19,287(1998),LibraryofCongressCopyrightOffice,CopyrightRestorationofWorksinAccordanceWiththeUruguayRound
AgreementsActListIdentifyingCopyrightsRestoredUndertheUruguayRoundAgreementsActforWhichNoticesofIntentToEnforce
RestoredCopyrightsWereFiledintheCopyrightOffice.
15.CopyrightnoticerequirementsforsoundrecordingsarespelledoutintheCopyrightOffice'sCircular3,"CopyrightNotice,"availableat
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ03.pdf.Hereistheexacttext:
Thecopyrightnoticeforphonorecordsembodyingasoundrecordingisdifferentfromthatforotherworks.Soundrecordingsaredefinedas
"worksthatresultfromthefixationofaseriesofmusical,spokenorothersounds,butnotincludingthesoundsaccompanyingamotionpicture
orotheraudiovisualwork."Copyrightinasoundrecordingprotectstheparticularseriesofsoundsfixedintherecordingagainstunauthorized
reproduction,revision,anddistribution.Thiscopyrightisdistinctfromcopyrightofthemusical,literary,ordramaticworkthatmayberecorded
onthephonorecord.Phonorecordsmayberecords(suchasLPsand45s),audiotapes,cassettes,ordisks.Thenoticeshouldcontainthe
followingthreeelementsappearingtogetheronthephonorecord:
1.Thesymbol

and

2.Theyearoffirstpublicationofthesoundrecordingand
3.Thenameoftheownerofcopyrightinthesoundrecording,oranabbreviationbywhichthenamecanberecognized,oragenerally
knownalternativedesignationoftheowner.Iftheproducerofthesoundrecordingisnamedonthephonorecordlabelorcontainer
andifnoothernameappearsinconjunctionwiththenotice,theproducer'snameshallbeconsideredapartofthenotice.
4.Example:

2004X.Y.Z.Records,Inc.

16.Architecturalworksaredefinedas"thedesignofabuildingasembodiedinanytangiblemediumofexpression,includingabuilding,
architecturalplans,ordrawings.Theworkincludestheoverallformaswellasthearrangementandcompositionofspacesandelementsinthe
design,butdoesnotincludeindividualstandardfeatures."ArchitecturalworkswereexpresslyincludedincopyrightbyTitleVIIofPub.L.101
650.
17.Whatconstitutes"publication"ofabuildingisaveryinterestingquestion.AstheCopyrightOfficehasnoted,"Aworkisconsideredpublished
whenunderlyingcopiesofthebuildingdesignaredistributedormadeavailablepublicbysaleorothertransferofownership,orbyrental.
Constructionofabuildingdoesnotitselfconstitutepublicationregistration,unlessmultiplecopiesareconstructed."SeeitsCircular41,
"CopyrightClaimsinArchitecturalWorks,"availableathttp://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ41.pdf.
20.Ifthesourcecountry'sfirstadheredtoeithertheBerneTreatyortheWTOafter1January1996,thentherelevantdateistheearliestdateof
membership.Dateofmembershipistrackedathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_parties_to_international_copyright_agreements
21.Contractorsandgranteesarenotconsideredgovernmentempoyees.Generalytheycreateworkswithcopyright(thoughthegovernmentmay
ownthatcopyright).SeeCENDIFrequentlyaskedQuestionsaboutCopyright:IssuesAffectingtheU.S.Government.Thepublicdomainstatus
ofU.S.governmentworksappliesonlyintheU.S.
22.ThankstoDr.PaulGoldsmanandTonyGreenmanfornotingthatthechartlackedinformationforforeignworkscreatedbefore1978andfirst
publishedbetween1978and2003.

20042017PeterB.Hirtle.Lastupdated9January,2017.UseofthischartisgovernedbytheCreativeCommons
Attribution3.0License.Commentsandcorrectionsarewelcome,[email protected]<at>cornell.edu.
Thankstoallthosewhohavesuggestedimprovements.
CornellCopyrightInformationCenter<http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/>