Introduction

With the information explosion of the 21st century, copyright law is now considered a central element of the nation's information economy. Whether the issue is downloading music or distance education, traditional copyright principles are being applied to new technologies in a way few could have predicted.

This research guide helps its readers select useful print and electronic materials on the American copyright law. The guide focuses on the Copyright Act of 1976, but refers to other intellectual property fields and international copyright where applicable.

(a) Guide Organization

The guide is organized into the following four sections:

1. Getting Started: A few introductory tips on starting research into copyright law.
   
   
2. Primary Sources of American Copyright Law: A review of the Copyright Act of 1976 and major amendments, regulations for the Copyright Office and proposed copyright legislation.
   
   
3. Secondary Sources of American Copyright Law: A review of the major treatises, journals, books and news outlets that cover copyright issues.
   
   
4. Organizations and Associations: A list of government, private and advocacy organizations that consistently deal with copyright issues.

(b) Intended Audience

This guide was created for the students, staff and faculty of the Georgetown University Law Center. All Library references ‹ including floor locations and call numbers ‹ are keyed to the collection at the Law Center's Edward Bennett Williams Law Library. Additionally, many of the title links reference the appropriate record in the Library's online catalog, GULLiver.

Members of the Georgetown University Community may seek additional assistance at the reference desk.

Getting Started

(a) General Information

Generally, the library keeps its print collection of copyright law material in call numbers KF2986-3080. Law Center faculty, staff, and students may borrow many of these titles. There is one significant exception to this rule: The print treatise, Nimmer on Copyright (KF2991.5 .N5), which is considered the leading treatise on U.S. copyright law, is only available for use in the library and does not circulate (Nimmer on Copyright is also available electronically on LexisNexis). If you have any questions about whether a book can leave the Library, check with a staff member at the circulation desk.

(b) Searching GULLiver Subject Headings

You can search GULLiver, the library's online catalog, to find bibliographic information on the wide range of copyright titles that the Georgetown Law Library maintains in its collection. The following subject headings, among others, will help you locate relevant materials:

• Copyright
• Copyright broadcasting rights
• Copyright infringement
• Copyright computer programs
• Copyright databases
• Copyright and electronic data processing
• Copyright motion pictures
• Copyright music
• Copyright performing rights
• Copyright periodicals
• Copyright sound recordings
• Copyright licenses
• Design Protection
• Fair Use (Copyright)
• Public Domain (Copyright Law)
• Computers law and legislation
• Multimedia systems law and legislation
• Authors and publishers

Note: Adding the term "United States" at the end of each of these subject headings limits results to materials on the United States only.

(c) United States Copyright Office

The U.S. Copyright Office website is a good, introductory source of information about U.S. copyright law and how to register a work. From the site, you can download forms (many of which you can complete online before you print them out), instructions, legislative information and primers on the Copyright Act and how it applies to different types of works.

The following pages are particularly valuable:

• Copyright Basics: This document is a useful introduction to American copyright law and process. It explains a number of topics, including what copyright is, what copyright protects, the scope of copyright's notification provisions, and how long copyright lasts. It is also available in Spanish.
  
  
• Circulars and Fact Sheets: U.S. Copyright Office Circulars, such as Copyright Basics, and fact sheets are short, introductory, plain language documents providing information on specific topics, such as registration procedures, fees, notice, and more.
  
  
• Frequently Asked Questions: Provides basic information about copyright law and the U.S. Copyright Office and its operations.
  
  
• Copyright Laws: Provides all of Title 17 of the United States Code. Users can download the entire Title or specific chapters.
  
  
• Copyright Registrations: The Copyright Office allows users to search registrations and ownership documents from 1978 to the present. For more information on pre-1978 records, see Circular 22: How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work.
  
  
• Legislative Developments: Pending copyright legislation.

Primary Sources

(a) Statutes & Legislative History

For information on statutory research generally, see our Finding Statutes Research Guide and Statutory Research Tutorial .

The Copyright Act of 1976 is codified as amended in Title 17 of the United States Code. The United States Code contains the official version of U.S. statutes currently in force, although it is a few years behind. Both the United States Code Annotated and United States Code Service are more current and add useful annotations to cases and other sources. Current versions of all three sources are kept in the Williams Library Reading Room. Previous editions are located in the Historic Core collection; visit the reference desk to obtain materials from the Historic Core.

• United States Code (U.S.C.)
  • Print: KF62 2006 .A2
  • Electronic:
    • GPO FDsys
    • Legal Information Institute
      
      
• United States Code Annotated (U.S.C.A.)
  • Print: KF62 1927 .A3
  • Westlaw: USCA
    
    
• United States Code Service (U.S.C.S.)
  • Print: KF62 1972 .U5
  • LexisNexis: United States Code Service

There are several compiled legislative histories for the Copyright Act of 1976, such as

• Omnibus Copyright Revision Legislative History (George Grossman ed., 1976) (KF2988.8 O4)
  
  
• Kaminstein Legislative History Project: A Compendium and Analytical Index of Materials Leading to the Copyright Act of 1976 (Alan Latman & James F. Lightstone eds., 1981-85) (Available in print, KF2989.56.A16 K35, and on HeinOnline)
  
  
• Arnold & Porter Legislative History: General Revision of Copyright Law, 1976 (Westlaw: COPYREV76-LH)
  Note: To view the table of contents, run a search for ci(contents).
  
  
• ProQuest Congressional (formerly Lexis Nexis Congressional)
  Select the "Search by Number" tab, then choose "Find a legislative history by number," and search for Public Law 94-553.

For information on how to obtain other compilations and legislative history materials on copyright legislation, see our Legislative History Research Guide or Legislative History Tutorial .

(b) Proposed Legislation

There are a number of tools and resources useful for tracking proposed federal legislation affecting copyright law.

• General Resources
  
  
  • THOMAS
    The Library of Congress's free legislative research service. In order to find information on copyright legislation in the current Congress, select "Word/Phrase" under "Search Bill Summary & Status" and search for "copyright." To search prior Congresses (93rd - ), click on "Search Bill Text from Multiple Congresses" and then "Search Bill Summary & Status."
    
    
  • Open Congress
    Search for legislation from the 109th Congress forward. Search by keyword for copyright or by issue for copyright or intellectual property.
    
    
  • GovTrack
    Search for legislation from the 103rd Congress forward. Search by keyword for copyright or view a list of intellectual property legislation.
    
    
  • CQ.com
    In addition to searching for the text and status of proposed legislation, CQ.com has a Bill Comparison tool that can be used to compare different versions of a bill or different bills.
    
    
  • LexisNexis: Legal > Legislation & Politics > U.S. Congress
    Historical and current bill text and tracking as well as other legislative information.
    
    
  • Westlaw: Bill Tracking
    Historical and current bill text and tracking as well as other legislative information.
    
    
  • Congressional Committees
    The Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on the Judiciary has primary legislative jurisdiction over intellectual property issues. Both committees' websites contain information on any pending copyright legislation. Occasionally, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce will handle copyright legislation if it also involves interstate commerce.
    
    
• Copyright-Specific Resources
  
  
  • U.S. Copyright Office: Legislative Developments
    Proposed legislation affecting copyright law from the 105th Congress to the present.
    
    
  • Bloomberg BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal (Available in print, KF2976.5 .B95 (1973-April 2008), and electronically (July 31, 1997 - ))
    This weekly journal publishes news articles on notable legal developments in intellectual property law. For legislation, see the Legislative Tables or look under "Legislation" in the Index.
    
    
  • Bloomberg BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Daily (Available electronically (July 7, 1998 - ))
    Daily e-newsletter with articles on notable legal developments in intellectual property law. To find articles on copyright legislation, do an advanced search for the topics "copyrights" and "legislation".
    
    
  • CCH Copyright Law Reporter (Available in print, KF2991.5 .C6 (1978-2008), and electronically (current))
    A looseleaf updated monthly that contains "federal regulations, a complete text of the copyright laws, pending legislation, U.S. Supreme Court docket, full-text of court decisions, copyright circulars and reference materials, and administrative forms" along with explanation and analysis of copyright law.
    

 

(c) Regulations

For information on researching U.S. regulations generally, see Georgetown Law Library's Administrative Law Research Guide or the Administrative Law Tutorial . In regard to copyright regulations specifically,

• Patent, trademark, and copyright regulations appear in Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Regulations promulgated by the U.S. Copyright Office appear in Parts 201-270.
  
  
• Regulations, Federal Register notices, and other regulatory materials on copyright law are available from the U.S. Copyright Office.
  
  
• CCH Copyright Law Reporter (Available in print, KF2991.5 .C6 (1978-2008), and electronically (current))
  A looseleaf updated monthly that contains "federal regulations, a complete text of the copyright laws, pending legislation, U.S. Supreme Court docket, full-text of court decisions, copyright circulars and reference materials, and administrative forms" along with explanation and analysis of copyright law.

(d) Cases

For information on researching U.S. case law generally, see Georgetown Law Library's Case Law Research Guide or the Case Law Research Tutorial . Additional sources for finding court opinions dealing with copyright law include the following:

• CCH Copyright Law Reporter (Available in print, KF2991.5 .C6 (1978-2008) and electronically (current))
  A looseleaf updated monthly that contains "federal regulations, a complete text of the copyright laws, pending legislation, U.S. Supreme Court docket, full-text of court decisions, copyright circulars and reference materials, and administrative forms" along with explanation and analysis of copyright law.
  
  
• Bloomberg BNA's United States Patent Quarterly (Available in print, KF2975 .A2 (Law Library copy last updated in 2010), and electronically (1929 - ))
  Despite its name, BNA's U.S. Patent Quarterly reports federal and state court opinions and administrative decisions on copyright law. USPQ has its own classification scheme but works much like the West Digest system.
  
  
• Bloomberg BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal (Available in print, KF2976.5 .B95, (1973-April 2008) and electronically (July 31, 1997 - ))
  This weekly journal publishes news articles on notable legal developments in intellectual property law. The articles contain links to the relevant court opinions.
  
  
• Bloomberg BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Daily (Available electronically (July 7, 1998 - ))
  Daily e-newsletter with articles on notable legal developments in intellectual property law. The articles contain links to the relevant court opinions.
  
  
• Westlaw and LexisNexis each contain copyright-specific case law databases
  
  
  • Westlaw: FIPC-CS
    Federal cases on copyright law from 1820.
    
    
  • LexisNexis: Copyright Cases, Federal
    Federal cases on copyright law; dates vary by court.

Secondary Sources

(a) Treatises

• Melville B. Nimmer & David Nimmer, Nimmer on Copyright (Available in print, KF2991.5 .N5, and on LexisNexis Nimmer on Copyright)
  Nimmer is widely considered to be the leading copyright treatise by virtue of how often federal courts cite it. It is exhaustive in its coverage (10 volumes).
  
  
• Paul Goldstein, Goldstein on Copyright (3d ed.) (Available in print, KF2994 .G65, and through CCH Intelliconnect)
  This four-volume treatise explains the fundamentals of copyright law to non-specialists well.
  
  
• William F. Patry, Patry on Copyrights (Available in print, KF2991.5 .P382, and on Westlaw PATRYCOPY)
  Seven-volume treatise covering all the essential topics.
  
  
• Bruce P. Keller & Jeffrey P. Cunard, Copyright Law: A Practitioners Guide (Available in print, KF2994 .K345, Law Library copy no longer updated)
  A Practicising Law Institute publication that, according to the authors, addresses the copyright issues most likely to be encountered in practice. 

• James E. Hawes, Copyright Registration Practice (2d ed.) (Available in print, KF3004 .H29 (Law Library copy no longer updated), and Bloomberg Law)
  A good resource for explaining the copyright registration process.
  
  
• John W. Hazard, Jr., Copyright Law in Business and Practice (Rev. ed.) (Available in print, KF2994 .H35, and on Westlaw COPYLBP)
  A two-volume treatise with an in-depth discussion of copyright protection for computer programs.
  
  
• Howard B. Abrams, Law of Copyright (Available in print, KF2994 .A72 (Law Library copy no longer updated), and on Westlaw COPYLAW)
  A two-volume treatise that analyzes the "history and debates of copyright law."

(b) Academic Journals

For information on finding law review and journal articles generally, see our guide to Using Articles for Legal & Non-Legal Research and our Secondary Sources Tutorial .

• Law Journal Databases
  
  
  • Westlaw and LexisNexis each include the full text for approximately 500 law reviews and journals. Coverage varies by journal, but in general they include articles starting from the late 1980s/early 1990s:
    
    
    • Westlaw: JLR
      
      
    • LexisNexis: US & Canadian Law Reviews, Combined
      
      
  • HeinOnline includes approximately 500 law reviews and journals from the inception date of the publication to present (about a year behind)
    
    
  • LegalTrac (formerly known as the Legal Resource Index) Tutorial
    Index of approximately 1,300 journals; coverage begins in 1980. Also available through
    • Westlaw: LRI
      
      
  • Index to Legal Periodicals and Books
    Index of approximately 1,000 journals (with some full text); coverage begins in August 1981.
    
    
  • Index to Legal Periodicals and Books Retrospective: 1908-1981
    Index of over 750 journals; coverage from 1908 to 1981
    
    
• If the full text of the article is not available in a particular index/database, click on the link "Full Text @ GU Law" to find an electronic version of the article, if available, or "GULLiver @ GU Law" to search the catalog for the library's print holdings. If the article is not available electronically or in print, you can submit an Interlibrary Loan Request.
  
  
• Copyright Law Journals
  
  
  • Scholarly articles on copyright law appear in numerous publications. In addition, there are several law reviews and journals dedicated to copyright and intellectual property. To identify and locate these journals, search GULLiver by subject for "Copyright -- United States -- Periodicals" or "Intellectual Property -- United States -- Periodicals."
    
    
  • Westlaw and LexisNexis also have intellectual property law journal databases
    
    
    • Westlaw: IP-TP
      
      
    • LexisNexis: Intellectual Property Law Review Articles, Combined

(c) News and Current Awareness

The following sources report on recent developments in copyright law and will be useful for identifying paper topics and staying current. In addition many of the organizations' websites listed below will provide copyright law news and information.

• Bloomberg BNA's United States Patent Quarterly (Available in print, KF2975 .A2, (Law Library copy last updated in 2010) and electronically (1929 - ))
  Despite its name, BNA's U.S. Patent Quarterly reports federal and state court opinions and administrative decisions on copyright law. USPQ has its own classification scheme but works much like the West Digest system.
  
  
• Bloomberg BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal (Available in print, KF2976.5 .B95, (1973-April 2008) and electronically (July 31, 1997 - ))
  This weekly journal publishes news articles on notable legal developments in intellectual property law. The articles contain links to the relevant court opinions.
  
  
• Bloomberg BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Daily (Available electronically (July 7, 1998 - ))
  Daily e-newsletter with articles on notable legal developments in intellectual property law. The articles contain links to the relevant court opinions.
  
  
• Practising Law Institute Course Handbook Series
  Coursebooks prepared in conjunction with PLI continuing legal education seminars that generally contain information on recent developments and "year in review" articles. PLI offers a number of courses on copyright and intellectual property topics.
  
  
  • To find print copies of the handbooks available at the Georgetown Law Library, search GULLiver by keyword for "intellectual property course handbook series."
    
    
• Copyright Law Blogs
  There are a number of good blogs on copyright law and copyright-related topics. To find relevant blogs, view the entries in the ABA Journal Blawg Directory under copyright, intellectual property, internet law, and science & technology law.

(d) Study Aids

• Mary LaFrance, Copyright Law in a Nutshell (2011) (KF2994 .L3)
  
  
• Michelle A . Leaffer, Understanding Copyright Law (5th ed. 2010) (KF2994 .L43)
  
  
• Stephen M. McJohn, Copyright: Examples and Explanations (3d ed. 2012) (KF2995 .M35)
  
  
• George W. Kuney & Donna C. Looper, Mastering Intellectual Property (2009) (KF2979 .K86)

 

Organizations

Since copyright law is so central to our information economy, both public and private organizations are involved in the political, legislative, and judicial process as it relates to copyright law and policy. The following list provides links to some of the most active organizations in the copyright field.

(a) Government

• U.S. Copyright Office: The primary federal agency for copyright law.
  
  
• U.S. Congress
  Legislative authority for copyright matters vests in the following committees.
  
  
  • The Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on the Judiciary has primary legislative jurisdiction over intellectual property issues.
    
    
  • Occasionally, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce will handle copyright legislation if it also involves interstate commerce.
    
    
• U.S. Department of Justice, Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section
  Enforces intellectual property law and works to improve IP protections
  
  
• World Intellectual Property Organization
  WIPO is an international organization of member states that administers 23 treaties, including the WIPO Copyright Treaty.

(b) Entertainment and Media

• American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP)
  ASCAP is one of the major American organizations that collects music performance royalties on behalf of recording artists, songwriters, and performers.
  
  
• Association of American Publishers (AAP)
  AAP is the principal trade association for the book publishing industry.
  
  
• Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
  Like ASCAP, BMI is a performing rights organization that collects music performance royalties on behalf of recording artists, songwriters, and performers.
  
  
• Future of Music Coalition
  The coalition seeks to develop equitable policy initiatives across music and technology.
  
  
• Harry Fox Agency (National Music Publishers Association)
  Harry Fox collects licensing royalties on behalf of music publishers.
  
  
• Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)
  MPAA is the principal trade association of the film industry.
  
  
• Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
  RIAA is the principal trade association of the record industry.
  
  
• Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC)
  Although it is smaller than both ASCAP or BMI, SESAC is the third music performing rights organization in the United States.

(c) Library Associations

• American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)
  AALL is the trade association for law libraries in universities, law firms, businesses, and municipalities.
  
  
• American Library Association (ALA)
  ALA is the largest library representative organization in the country and focuses on public and school libraries.
  
  
• Association of Research Libraries (ARL)
  ARL is the principal trade association for North America's leading research libraries in universities and other nationally significant institutions.
  
  
• Special Libraries Association (SLA)
  SLA represents the interests of libraries that are in corporate environments, with some presence in academic and government libraries.

(d) Computers & Technology

• Business Software Alliance (BSA)
  BSA represents the interests of the computer software and electronic commerce industries.
  
  
• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
  EFF is a electronic civil liberties organization.
  
  
• TechAmerica
  TechAmerica is a trade association that represents the interests of the information technology industry.
  
  
• Software & Information Industries Association (SIIA)
  SIIA represents the interests of the software and digital content industry.

(e) Miscellaneous

• American Bar Association - Section of Intellectual Property Law
  This section is the largest intellectual property organization in the world and advances "the development and improvement of intellectual property laws and their fair and just administration."
  
  
• American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
  National Bar Association of lawyers involved in the practice of intellectual property law.
  
  
• Copyright Clearance Center
  CCC licenses reproduction rights for electronic and print content and collects license fees for use of that content.
  
  
• Copyright Society of the U.S.A.
  Advances "the study of copyright law and related rights" across all media.
  
  
• iCopyright
  iCopyright is an instant copyright permissions clearing service for electronic content.
  
  
• Creative Commons
  Creative Commons is a project that authors protect and share their works with alternative copyright licenses.
  
  
• Berkman Center for Internet & Society (Harvard University)
  Research center that studies the Internet and application of law to cyberspace.
  
  
• Chilling Effects Clearinghouse
  A joint project of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and several law school clinics, Chilling Effects promotes awareness about how the First Amendment and intellectual property law protect users online.
  
  
• UNESCO Collection of National Copyright Laws
  Comprehensive collection of copyright laws from UNESCO Member States.
  
  
• Stanford Copyright and Fair Use Center
  This site contains a lot of useful, easy-to-understand information on copyright law and how it applies to libraries and education.
  
  
• Center for the Study of the Public Domain (Duke Law)
  The center promotes scholarship on the public domain (i.e., materials not protected by intellectual property law and free to use) and how it contributes to art, science, and culture.