Circular

1

38a United States Copyright Office

International

Copyright

Relations

of the

United States

GENERAL INFORMATION

This sets forth U.S. copyright relations of current interest

with the other independent nations of the world. Each

entry gives country name (and alternate name) and a statement of copyright relations. The following code is used:

Berne Party to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works as of

the date given. Appearing within parentheses is the latest Act1

 of the Convention to

which the country is party. The effective

date for the United States is March 1, 1989.

The latest Act of the Convention, to which

the United States is party, is the revision

done at Paris on July 24, 1971.

Bilateral Bilateral copyright relations with the United

States by virtue of a proclamation or treaty,

as of the date given. Where there is more

than one proclamation or treaty, only the

date of the first one is given.

BAC Party to the Buenos Aires Convention of

1910, as of the date given. U.S. ratification

deposited with the Government of Argentina, May 1, 1911; proclaimed by the President of the United States, July 13, 1914.

None No copyright relations with the United

States.

Phonogram Party to the Convention for the Protection of

Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms,

Geneva, 1971, as of the date given. The

effective date for the United States is March

10, 1974.

SAT Party to the Convention Relating to the

Distribution of Programme-Carrying Signals

Transmitted by Satellite, Brussels, 1974, as

of the date given. The effective date for the

United States is March 7, 1985.
2

UCC Geneva Party to the Universal Copyright Convention, Geneva, 1952, as of the date given.

The effective date for the United States is

September 16, 1955.

UCC Paris Party to the Universal Copyright Convention as revised at Paris, 1971, as of the date

given. The effective date for the United

States is July 10, 1974.

Unclear Became independent since 1943. Has not

established copyright relations with the

United States, but may be honoring obligations incurred under former political status.

WTO (World Trade Organization) Member of the

World Trade Organization, established

pursuant to the Marrakesh Agreement of

April 15, 1994, to implement the Uruguay

Round Agreements. These Agreements

affect, among other things, intangible property rights, including copyright and other

intellectual property rights. The effective

date of United States membership in the

WTO is January 1, 1995. A country’s membership in the World Trade Organization is

effective as of the date indicated.

Explanations of footnotes appear on the last page.

Afghanistan

None

Albania

Berne Mar. 6, 1994 (Paris) 1

Algeria

UCC Geneva Aug. 28, 1973

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

Berne April 19, 1998 (Paris)

Andorra

UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955

Angola

WTO Nov. 23, 1996

Antigua and Barbuda

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Argentina

Bilateral Aug. 23, 1934

BAC Apr. 19, 1950

UCC Geneva Feb. 13, 1958

Berne June 10, 1967 (Brussels) 2

Phonogram June 30, 1973 3

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Armenia

SAT Dec.13, 1993

Australia

Bilateral March 15, 1918

Berne Apr. 14, 1928 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva May 1, 1969

Phonogram June 22, 1974

UCC Paris Feb. 28, 1978

SAT Oct. 26,1990

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Austria

Bilateral Sept. 20, 1907

Berne Oct. 1, 1920 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva July 2, 1957

SAT Aug. 6, 1982 4

UCC Paris Aug. 14, 1982

Phonogram Aug. 21, 1982

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Azerbaijan

UCC Geneva May 27, 1973

Bahamas, The

Berne July 10, 1973 (Brussels)

UCC Geneva Dec. 27, 1976

UCC Paris Dec. 27, 1976

Bahrain

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Berne Mar. 2, 1997 (Paris)

Bangladesh

UCC Geneva Aug. 5, 1975

UCC Paris Aug. 5, 1975

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Berne May 4, 1999 (Paris)

Barbados

UCC Geneva June 18, 1983

UCC Paris June 18, 1983

Berne July 30, 1983 (Paris) 2

Phonogram July 29, 1983

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Belarus

UCC Geneva May 27, 1973

Berne Dec. 12, 1997 (Paris)

Belau

(see Palau)

Belgium

Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Brussels) 2

Bilateral July 1, 1891

UCC Geneva Aug. 31, 1960

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Belize

UCC Geneva Dec. 1, 1982

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Benin (formerly Dahomey)

Berne Jan. 3, 1961 (Paris) 2

WTO Feb. 22, 1996

Bhutan

None

Bolivia

BAC May 15, 1914

UCC Geneva Mar. 22, 1990

UCC Paris Mar. 22, 1990

Berne Nov. 4, 1993 (Paris)

WTO Sept. 13, 1995

Bosnia and Herzegovina

UCC Geneva May 11, 1966

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

Berne Mar. 6, 1992 (Paris)

SAT Mar. 6, 1992

Botswana

WTO May 31, 1995

Berne Apr. 15, 1998 (Paris)

RELATIONS AS OF MAY 1999
3

Brazil

BAC Aug. 31, 1915

Berne Feb. 9, 1922 (Paris) 2

Bilateral Apr. 2, 1957

UCC Geneva Jan. 13, 1960

Phonogram Nov. 28, 1975

UCC Paris Dec. 11, 1975

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Brunei Darussalam

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Bulgaria

Berne Dec. 5, 1921 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva June 7, 1975

UCC Paris June 7, 1975

Phonogram Sept. 6, 1995

WTO Dec. 1, 1996

Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta)

Berne Aug. 19, 1963 (Paris) 2

Phonogram Jan. 30, 1988

WTO June 3, 1995

Burma

(See Myanmar, Union of)

Burundi

WTO July 23, 1995

Cambodia

UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955

Cameroon

Berne Sept. 21, 1964 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva May 1, 1973

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

WTO Dec. 13, 1995

Canada

Bilateral Jan. 1, 1924

Berne Apr. 10, 1928 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva Aug. 10, 1962

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Cape Verde

Berne July 7, 1997 (Paris)

Central African Republic

Berne Sept. 3, 1977 (Paris) 2

WTO May 31, 1995

Chad

Berne Nov. 25, 1971 (Brussels) 2

WTO Oct. 19, 1996

Chile

Bilateral May 25, 1896

BAC June 14, 1955

UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955

Berne June 5, 1970 (Paris) 2

Phonogram Mar. 24, 1977

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

China

Bilateral Jan. 13, 1904 5

Bilateral Mar. 17, l992 9

Berne Oct. 15, 1992 (Paris)

UCC Geneva Oct. 30, 1992

UCC Paris Oct. 30, 1992

Phonogram Apr. 30, 1993

Colombia

BAC Dec. 23, 1936

UCC Geneva June 18, 1976

UCC Paris June 18, 1976

Berne Mar. 7, 1988 (Paris) 2

Phonogram May 16, 1994

WTO Apr. 30, 1995

Comoros

Unclear

Congo

Berne May 8, 1962 (Paris) 2

WTO Mar. 27, 1997

Costa Rica 6

Bilateral Oct. 19, 1899

BAC Nov. 30, 1916

UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955

Berne June 10, 1978 (Paris) 2

UCC Paris Mar. 7, 1980

Phonogram June 17, 1982

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Berne Jan. 1, 1962 (Paris) 2

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Croatia

UCC Geneva May 11, 1966

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

Berne Oct. 8, 1991 (Paris) 2

SAT Oct. 8, 1991

Cuba

Bilateral Nov. 17, 1903

UCC Geneva June 18, 1957

WTO Apr. 20, 1995

Berne Feb. 20, 1997 (Paris)

Cyprus

Berne Feb. 24, 1964 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva Dec. 19, 1990

UCC Paris Dec. 19,1990

Phonogram Sept. 30, 1993

WTO July 30, 1995

Czech Republic

UCC Geneva Jan. 6, 1960

UCC Paris Apr. 17, 1980

Berne Jan. 1, 1993 (Paris)

Phonogram Jan. 1, 1993

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Czechoslovakia 11

Bilateral Mar. 1, 1927

Democratic Republic of Congo

(formerly Zaire)

Berne Oct. 8, 1963 (Paris)2

Phonogram Nov. 29, 1977

WTO Jan. 1, 1997

Denmark

Bilateral May 8, 1893

Berne July 1, 1903 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva Feb. 9, 1962

Phonogram Mar. 24, 1977

UCC Paris July 11, 1979

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Djibouti

WTO May 31, 1995

Dominica

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Dominican Republic 6

BAC Oct. 31, 1912

UCC Geneva May 8, 1983

UCC Paris May 8, 1983

WTO Mar. 9, 1995

Berne Dec. 24, 1997 (Paris)

Ecuador

BAC Aug. 31, 1914

UCC Geneva June 5, 1957

Phonogram Sept. 14, 1974

UCC Paris Sept. 6, 1991

Berne Oct. 9, 1991 (Paris)

WTO Jan. 21, 1996

Egypt

Berne June 7, 1977 (Paris) 2

Phonogram Apr. 23, 1978

WTO June 30, 1995

El Salvador

Bilateral June 30, 1908 by virtue of

Mexico City Convention, 1902

Phonogram Feb. 9, 1979

UCC Geneva Mar. 29, 1979

UCC Paris Mar. 29, 1979

Berne Feb. 19, 1994 (Paris)

WTO May 7, 1995

Equatorial Guinea

Berne Jun. 26, 1997 (Paris)

Estonia

Berne Oct. 26, 1994 (Paris)

Ethiopia

None

European Community

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Fiji

Berne Dec.1, 1971 (Brussels) 2

UCC Geneva Mar. 13, 1972

Phonogram Apr. 18, 1973 3

WTO Jan. 14, 1996

Finland

Berne Apr. 1, 1928 (Paris) 2

Bilateral Jan. 1, 1929

UCC Geneva Apr. 16, 1963

Phonogram Apr. 18, 1973 3

UCC Paris Nov. 1, 1986

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

France

Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris) 2

Bilateral July 1, 1891

UCC Geneva Jan. 14, 1956

Phonogram Apr. 18, 1973 3

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Gabon

Berne Mar. 26, 1962 (Paris) 2

WTO Jan. 1, 1995
4

Gambia, The

Berne Mar. 7, 1993 (Paris)

WTO Oct. 23, 1996

Georgia

Berne May 16, 1995 (Paris)

Germany 10

Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris) 2,7

Bilateral Apr. 15, 1892

UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955

Phonogram May 18, 1974

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

SAT Aug. 25, 1979 4

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Ghana

UCC Geneva Aug. 22, 1962

Berne Oct. 11, 1991 (Paris)

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Greece

Berne Nov. 9, 1920 (Paris) 2

Bilateral Mar. 1, 1932

UCC Geneva Aug. 24, 1963

SAT Oct. 22, 1991

Phonogram Feb. 9, 1994

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Grenada

WTO Feb. 22, 1996

Berne Sept. 22, 1998 (Paris)

Guatemala 6

BAC Mar. 28, 1913

UCC Geneva Oct. 28, 1964

Phonogram Feb. 1, 1977

WTO July 21, 1995

Berne Jul. 28, 1997 (Paris)

Guinea

Berne Nov. 20, 1980 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva Nov. 13, 1981

UCC Paris Nov. 13, 1981

WTO Oct. 25, 1995

Guinea-Bissau

Berne July 22, 1991 (Paris)

WTO May 31, 1995

Guyana

Berne Oct. 25, 1994 (Paris)

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Haiti

BAC Nov. 27, 1919

UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955

Berne Jan. 11, 1996 (Paris)

WTO Jan. 30, 1996

Holy See

(See entry under Vatican City)

Honduras 6

BAC Apr. 27, 1914

Berne Jan. 25,1990 (Paris)

Phonogram Mar. 6, 1990

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Hong Kong 12

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Hungary

Bilateral Oct. 16, 1912

Berne Feb. 14, 1922 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva Jan. 23, 1971

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

Phonogram May 28, 1975

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Iceland

Berne Sept. 7, 1947 (Rome) 2

UCC Geneva Dec. 18, 1956

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

India

Berne Apr. 1, 1928 (Paris) 2

Bilateral Aug. 15, 1947

UCC Geneva Jan. 21, 1958

Phonogram Feb. 12, 1975

UCC Paris Apr. 7, 1988

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Indonesia

Bilateral Aug. 1, 1989

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Berne Sept. 5, 1997 (Paris)

Iran

None

Iraq

None

Ireland

Berne Oct. 5, 1927 (Brussels) 2

Bilateral Oct. 1, 1929

UCC Geneva Jan. 20, 1959

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Israel

Bilateral May 15, 1948

Berne Mar. 24, 1950 (Brussels) 2

UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955

Phonogram May 1, 1978

WTO Apr. 21, 1995

Italy

Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris) 2

Bilateral Oct. 31, 1892

UCC Geneva Jan. 24, 1957

Phonogram Mar. 24, 1977

UCC Paris Jan. 25, 1980

SAT July 7, 1981 4

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Ivory Coast

(See entry under Cote d’Ivoire)

Jamaica

Berne Jan. 1, 1994 (Paris)

Phonogram Jan. 11, 1994

WTO Mar. 9, 1995

Japan 8

Berne July 15, 1899 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva Apr. 28, 1956

UCC Paris Oct. 21, 1977

Phonogram Oct. 14, 1978

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Jordan

Unclear

Kazakhstan

UCC Geneva May 27, 1973

Berne Apr. 12, 1999 (Paris)

Kenya

UCC Geneva Sept. 7, 1966

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

Phonogram Apr. 21, 1976

SAT Aug. 25, 1979 4

Berne June 11, 1993 (Paris)

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Kiribati

Unclear

Korea

Democratic People’s Republic of

Korea

Unclear

Republic of Korea

UCC Geneva Oct. 1, 1987

UCC Paris Oct. 1, 1987

Phonogram Oct. 10, 1987

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Berne Aug. 21, 1996 (Paris)

Kuwait

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Kyrgyz Republic

WTO Dec. 20, 1998

Laos

UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955

Latvia

Berne Aug. 11, 1995 (Paris)

Phonogram Aug. 23, 1997

WTO Feb. 10, 1999

Lebanon

Berne Sept. 30, 1947 (Rome) 2

UCC Geneva Oct. 17, 1959

Lesotho

Berne Sept. 28, 1989 (Paris)

WTO May 31, 1995

Liberia

UCC Geneva July 27, 1956

Berne Mar. 8, 1989 (Paris)

Libya

Berne Sept. 28, 1976 (Paris) 2

Liechtenstein

Berne July 30, 1931 (Brussels) 2

UCC Geneva Jan. 22, 1959

WTO Sept. 1, 1995

Lithuania

Berne Dec. 14, 1994 (Paris)

Luxembourg

Berne June 20, 1888 (Paris) 2

Bilateral June 29, 1910

UCC Geneva Oct. 15, 1955

Phonogram Mar. 8, 1976

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Macau

WTO Jan. 1, 1995
5

Macedonia (former Yugoslav

Republic of)

Berne Sept. 8, 1991 (Paris)

SAT Nov. 17, 1991

UCC Geneva July 30, 1997

UCC Paris July 30, 1997

Phonogram Mar. 2, 1998

Madagascar (Malagasy Republic)

Berne Jan. 1, 1966 (Brussels) 2

WTO Nov. 17, 1995

Malawi

UCC Geneva Oct. 26, 1965

Berne Oct. 12, 1991 (Paris)

WTO May 31, 1995

Malaysia

Berne Oct. 1, 1990 (Paris)

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Maldives

WTO May 31, 1995

Mali

Berne Mar. 19, 1962 (Paris) 2

WTO May 31, 1995

Malta

Berne Sept. 21, 1964 (Rome) 2

UCC Geneva Nov. 19, 1968

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Mauritania

Berne Feb. 6, 1973 (Paris) 2

WTO May 31, 1995

Mauritius

UCC Geneva Mar. 12, 1968

Berne May 10, 1989 (Paris)

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Mexico

Bilateral Feb. 27, 1896

UCC Geneva May 12, 1957

BAC Apr. 24, 1964

Berne June 11, 1967 (Paris) 2

Phonogram Dec. 21, 1973 3

UCC Paris Oct. 31, 1975

SAT Aug. 25, 1979 4

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Moldova

Berne Nov. 2, 1995 (Paris)

UCC Geneva July 18, 1997

Monaco

Berne May 30, 1889 (Paris) 2

Bilateral Oct. 15, 1952

UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955

Phonogram Dec. 2, 1974

UCC Paris Dec. 13, 1974

Mongolia

WTO Jan. 29, 1997

Berne Mar. 12, 1998 (Paris)

Morocco

Berne June 16, 1917 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva May 8, 1972

UCC Paris Jan. 28, 1976

SAT June 30, 1983 4

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Mozambique

WTO Aug. 26, 1995

Myanmar, Union of (formerly Burma)

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Namibia

Berne Mar. 21, 1990 (Paris)

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Nauru

Unclear

Nepal

None

Netherlands

Bilateral Nov. 20, 1899

Berne Nov. 1, 1912 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva June 22, 1967

UCC Paris Nov. 30, 1985

Phonogram Oct. 12, 1993

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

New Zealand

Bilateral Dec. 1, 1916

Berne Apr. 24, 1928 (Rome) 2

UCC Geneva Sept. 11, 1964

Phonogram Aug. 13, 1976

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Nicaragua 6

BAC Dec. 15, 1913

UCC Geneva Aug. 16, 1961

SAT Aug. 25, 1979 4

WTO Sept. 3, 1995

Niger

Berne May 2, 1962 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva May 15, 1989

UCC Paris May 15, 1989

WTO Dec. 13, 1996

Nigeria

UCC Geneva Feb. 14, 1962

Berne Sept. 14, 1993 (Paris)

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Norway

Berne Apr. 13, 1896 (Paris) 2

Bilateral July 1, 1905

UCC Geneva Jan. 23, 1963

UCC Paris Aug. 7, 1974

Phonogram Aug. 1, 1978

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Oman

None

Pakistan

Berne July 5, 1948 (Rome) 2

UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Palau

Unclear

Panama

BAC Nov. 25, 1913

UCC Geneva Oct. 17, 1962

Phonogram June 29, 1974

UCC Paris Sept. 3, 1980

SAT Sept. 25, 1985

Berne Jun. 8, 1996 (Paris)

Papua New Guinea

WTO Jun. 9, 1996

Paraguay

BAC Sept. 20, 1917

UCC Geneva Mar. 11, 1962

Phonogram Feb. 13, 1979

Berne Jan. 2, 1992 (Paris)

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Peru

BAC Apr. 30, 1920

UCC Geneva Oct. 16, 1963

UCC Paris July 22, 1985

SAT Aug. 7, 1985

Phonogram Aug. 24, 1985

Berne Aug. 20, 1988 (Paris) 2

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Philippines

Bilateral Oct. 21, 1948

Berne Aug. 1, 1951 (Paris) 2

UCC status undetermined by

UNESCO (Copyright Office

considers that UCC relations

do not exist.)

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Poland

Berne Jan. 28, 1920 (Paris) 2

Bilateral Feb. 16, 1927

UCC Geneva Mar. 9, 1977

UCC Paris Mar. 9, 1977

WTO July 1, 1995

Portugal

Bilateral July 20, 1893

Berne Mar. 29, 1911 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva Dec. 25, 1956

UCC Paris July 30, 1981

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

SAT Mar. 11, 1996

Qatar

WTO Jan. 13, 1996

Romania

Berne Jan. 1, 1927 (Paris)2

Bilateral May 14, 1928

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Phonogram Oct. 1, 1998

Russian Federation

UCC Geneva May 27, 1973

SAT Dec. 25, 1991

UCC Paris Mar. 9, 1995

Berne Mar. 13, 1995 (Paris)

Phonogram Mar. 13, 1995
6

Rwanda

Berne Mar. 1, 1984 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva Nov. 10, 1989

UCC Paris Nov. 10, 1989

WTO May 22, 1996

St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis

Berne Apr. 9, 1995 (Paris) 2

WTO Feb. 21, 1996

Saint Lucia

Berne Aug. 24, 1993 (Paris) 2

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

UCC Geneva Apr. 22, 1985

UCC Paris Apr. 22, 1985

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Berne Aug. 29, 1995 (Paris)

San Marino

None

São Tomé and Principe

Unclear

Saudi Arabia

UCC Geneva July 13, 1994

UCC Paris July 13, 1994

Senegal

Berne Aug. 25, 1962 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva July 9, 1974

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Seychelles

Unclear

Sierra Leone

WTO July 23, 1995

Singapore

Bilateral May 18, 1987

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Berne Dec. 21, 1998 (Paris)

Slovakia

UCC Geneva Jan. 6, 1960

UCC Paris Apr. 17, 1980

Berne Jan. 1, 1993 (Paris) 2

Phonogram Jan. 1, 1993

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Slovenia

UCC Geneva May 11, 1966

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

Berne June 25, 1991 (Paris) 2

SAT June 25, 1991

WTO July 30, 1995

Phonogram Oct. 15, 1996

Solomon Islands

WTO July 26, 1996

Somalia

Unclear

South Africa

Bilateral July 1, 1924

Berne Oct. 3, 1928 (Brussels) 2

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Soviet Union

(See entry under Russian

Federation)

Spain

Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris) 2

Bilateral July 10, 1895

UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

Phonogram Aug. 24, 1974

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon)

Berne July 20, 1959 (Rome) 2

UCC Geneva Jan. 25, 1984

UCC Paris Jan. 25, 1984

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Sudan

Unclear

Suriname

Berne Feb. 23, 1977 (Paris) 2

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Swaziland

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Berne Dec. 14, 1998 (Paris)

Sweden

Berne Aug. 1, 1904 (Paris) 2

Bilateral June 1, 1911

UCC Geneva July 1, 1961

Phonogram Apr. 18, 1973 3

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Switzerland

Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris) 2

Bilateral July 1, 1891

UCC Geneva Mar. 30, 1956

UCC Paris Sept. 21, 1993

SAT Sept. 24, 1993

Phonogram Sept. 30, 1993

WTO July 1, 1995

Syria

Unclear

Tajikistan

UCC Geneva May 27, 1973

Tanzania

Berne July 25, 1994 (Paris)

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Thailand

Bilateral Sept. 1, 1921

Berne July 17, 1931 (Paris) 2

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Togo

Berne Apr. 30, 1975 (Paris) 2

WTO May 31, 1995

Tonga

None

Trinidad and Tobago

Berne Aug. 16, 1988 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva Aug. 19, 1988

UCC Paris Aug. 19, 1988

Phonogram Oct. 1, 1988

WTO Mar. 1, 1995

SAT Nov. 1, 1996

Tunisia

Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva June 19, 1969

UCC Paris June 10, 1975

WTO Mar. 29, 1995

Turkey

Berne Jan. 1, 1952 (Paris) 2

WTO Mar. 26, 1995

Tuvalu

Unclear

Uganda

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Ukraine

UCC Geneva May 27, 1973

Berne Oct. 25, 1995 (Paris)

United Arab Emirates

WTO Apr. 10, 1996

United Kingdom

Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris) 2

Bilateral July 1, 1891

UCC Geneva Sept. 27, 1957

Phonogram Apr. 18, 1973 3

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Upper Volta

(See entry under Burkina Faso)

Uruguay

BAC Dec. 17, 1919

Berne July 10, 1967 (Paris) 2

Phonogram Jan. 18, 1983

UCC Geneva Apr. 12, 1993

UCC Paris Apr. 12, 1993

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Vanuatu

Unclear

Vatican City (Holy See)

Berne Sept. 12, 1935 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva Oct. 5, 1955

Phonogram July 18, 1977

UCC Paris May 6, 1980

Venezuela

UCC Geneva Sept. 30, 1966

Phonogram Nov. 18, 1982

Berne Dec. 30, 1982 (Paris) 2

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

UCC Paris Feb. 11, 1997

Vietnam

Bilateral Dec. 23, 199813
7

Western Samoa

Unclear

Yemen (Aden)

Unclear

Yemen (San’a)

None

Yugoslavia

Berne June 17, 1930 (Paris) 2

UCC Geneva May 11, 1966

UCC Paris July 10, 1974

SAT Aug. 25, 1979 4

Zaire

(See entry under Democratic

Republic of Congo)

Zambia

UCC Geneva June 1, 1965

Berne Jan. 2, 1992 (Paris) 2

WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Zimbabwe

Berne Apr. 18, 1980 (Rome) 2

WTO Mar. 3, 1995

STATUTORY PROVISIONS

The copyright law embodied in title 17 of the United

States Code was completely revised by the Act of October

19, 1976 (Public Law 94-553, 90 Stat. 2541), which became fully effective on January 1, 1978. Reprinted below is

section 104 of that Act, as amended by the Act of October

31, 1988 (Public Law 100-568, 102 Stat. 2853, 2855).

§104. Subject matter of copyright: National origin

(a) UNPUBLISHED WORKS.—The works specified by

sections 102 and 108, while unpublished, are subject to

protection under this title without regard to the nationality

or domicile of the author.

(b) PUBLISHED WORKS.—The works specified by sections 102 and 103, when published, are subject to protection under this title if—

(1) on the date of first publication, one or more of the

authors is a national or domiciliary of the United States, or

is a national, domiciliary, or sovereign authority of a foreign

nation that is a party to a copyright treaty to which the

United States is also a party, or is a stateless person, wherever that person may be domiciled; or

(2) the work is first published in the United States or in a

foreign nation that, on the date of first publication, is a party

to the Universal Copyright Convention; or

(3) the work is first published by the United Nations or

any of its specialized agencies, or by the Organization of

American States; or

(4) the work is a Berne Convention work; or

(5) the work comes within the scope of a Presidential

proclamation. Whenever the President finds that a particular foreign nation extends, to works by authors who are

nationals or domiciliaries of the United States or to works

that are first published in the United States, copyright protection on substantially the same basis as that on which the

foreign nation extends protection to works of its own nationals and domiciliaries and works first published in that nation, the President may by proclamation extend protection

under this title to works 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 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 a proclamation.

(c) EFFECT OF BERNE CONVENTION.—No right or

interest in a work eligible for protection under this title may

be claimed by virtue of, or in reliance upon, the provisions

of the Berne Convention, or the adherence of the United

States thereto. Any rights in a work eligible for protection

under this title that derive from this title, other Federal or

State statutes, or the common law, shall not be expanded

or reduced by virtue of, or in reliance upon, the provisions

of the Berne Convention, or the adherence of the United

States thereto.

NOTE: Subsequent amendments to the Copyright

Act of October 19, 1976, included the North American

Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act of December 8, 1993, Pub. L. 103-182, 107 Stat. 2057, and the

Uruguay Round Agreements Act of December 8,

1994, Pub. L. 103-465, 108 Stat. 4809. The latter Act

amended section 104A of the Copyright Act in its entirety so as to provide for the automatic restoration of

copyright in certain foreign works that were in the public domain in the United States but are protected by

copyright or neighboring rights in their country of origin. The effective date for restoration of copyright in

such foreign works is January 1, 1996.

SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER REGARDING THE

INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF LITERARY AND

ARTISTIC WORKS

There is no such thing as an “international copyright” that

will automatically protect an author’s writings throughout

the world. Protection against unauthorized use in a particular country basically depends on the national laws of that

country. However, most countries offer protection to foreign

works under certain conditions that have been greatly simplified by international copyright treaties and conventions.

There are two principal international copyright conventions,

the Berne Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic

Property (Berne Convention) and the Universal Copyright

Convention (UCC).

An author who wishes copyright protection for his or her

work in a particular country should first determine the extent of the protection available to works of foreign authors

in that country. If possible, this should be done before the

work is published anywhere, because protection may depend on the facts existing at the time of first publication.

If the country in which protection is sought is a party to

one of the international copyright conventions, the work

generally may be protected by complying with the conditions of that convention. Even if the work cannot be brought

under an international convention, protection under the

specific provisions of the country’s national laws may still
8

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http://www.loc.gov/copyright

be possible. There are, however, some countries that offer

little or no copyright protection to any foreign works. For

current information on the requirements and protection provided by other countries, it may be advisable to consult an

expert familiar with foreign copyright laws. The U.S. Copyright Office is not permitted to recommend agents or attorneys or to give legal advice on foreign laws.

Footnotes

1

 “Paris” means the Berne Convention for the Protection

of Literary and Artistic Works as revised at Paris on July 24,

1971 (Paris Act); “Stockholm” means the said Convention

as revised at Stockholm on July 14, 1967 (Stockholm Act);

“Brussels” means the said Convention as revised at Brussels on June 26, 1948 (Brussels Act); “Rome” means the

said Convention as revised at Rome on June 2, 1928

(Rome Act); “Berlin” means the said Convention as revised

at Berlin on November 13, 1908 (Berlin Act). NOTE: In each

case the reference to Act signifies adherence to the substantive provisions of such Act only, e.g., Articles 1 to 21

and the Appendix of the Paris Act. Articles 22 to 38 deal

with administration and structure. 2

 The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and

Artistic Works of September 9, 1886, as revised at Paris on

July 24, 1971, did not enter into force with respect to the

United States until March 1, 1989. 3The Convention for the Protection of Producers of

Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their

Phonograms done at Geneva on October 29, 1971, did not

enter into force with respect to the United States until March

10, 1974. 4The Convention Relating to the Distribution of

Programme-Carrying Signals Transmitted by Satellite done

at Brussels on May 21, 1974, did not enter into force with

respect to the United States until March 7, 1985. 5 The government of the People’s Republic of China

views this treaty as not binding on the PRC. In the territory

administered by the authorities on Taiwan the treaty is considered to be in force. 6

 This country became a party to the Mexico City Convention, 1902, effective June 30, 1908, to which the United

States also became a party, effective on the same date. As

regards copyright relations with the United States, this Convention is considered to have been superseded by adherence of this country and the United States to the Buenos

Aires Convention of 1910. 7

 Date on which the accession by the German Empire

became effective. 8 Bilateral copyright relations between Japan and the

United States, which were formulated effective May 10,

1906, are considered to have been abrogated and superseded by the adherence of Japan to the UCC Geneva, effective April 28, 1956. 9

 Bilateral copyright relations between the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America were established, effective March 17, 1992, by a Presidential Proclamation of the same date, under the authority of section

104 of title 17 of the United States Code, as amended by

the Act of October 31, 1988 (Public Law 100-568, 102 Stat.

2853, 2855). 10 The dates of adherence by Germany to multilateral

treaties include adherence by the Federal Republic of Germany when that country was divided into the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic.

However, through the accession, effective October 3, 1990,

of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany, in accordance with the German Unification

Treaty of August 31, 1990, the German Democratic Republic ceased, on the said date, to be a sovereign state. Previously, the German Democratic Republic had become party

to the Paris Act of the Berne Convention for the Protection

of Literary and Artistic Works on February 18, 1978, but

ceased to be a party to the said Convention on October 3,

1990. The German Democratic Republic had also been a

member of the Universal Copyright Convention, having

become party to the Geneva text of the said Convention on

October 5, 1973, and party to the revised Paris text of the

same Convention on December 10, 1980. 11 See also Czech Republic and Slovakia.

12Prior to the return of Hong Kong to China, bilateral

copyright relations existed with Hong Kong through the

United Kingdom (from August 1, 1973), and Phonogram

Convention Membership existed through the United Kingdom (from March 4, 1975). 13Bilateral copyright relations between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United States were established

effective December 23, 1998, by Presidential Proclamation

No. 7161 of that same date, at 63 Fed. Reg. 71571 (1998),

under the authority of sections 104(b)(5) and 104A(g) of

title 17 of the United States Code, as amended.

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