FOREIGN

This page is a supplement to the main illustrations page on Foreign Copyright at CopyrightData.com.  This page provides specific information on the copyright treaties that the United States has with the Earth’s countries.  As with all of the pages on this web site concerning copyright of non-U.S. works, a basic principle is: If the work was created in, copyrighted in, first published in — or is the work of a citizen of — a nation other than the United States, the work may be considered a foreign work for purposes of copyright.  If the user is certain that the work is considered an American work for U.S. copyright purposes, this section can be skipped.  (Copyright Transfers illustrations page)

Country   BAC Berne Bilateral Phonograms SAT UCC
Geneva
UCC
Paris
WCT WPPT WTO
Afghanistan  [None] N                    
Albania     March 6, 1994 (Paris)1             May 20, 2002 Sept.8, 2000
Algeria     April 19, 1998 (Paris)       Aug.28,1973 July 10, 1974      
Andorra     June 2, 2004 (Paris)       Sept.16,1955        
Angola                     Nov.23,1996
Antigua and Barbuda     March 17, 2000 (Paris)               Jan.1,1995
Argentina   April 19, 1950 June 10, 1967 (Paris)2 Aug.23, 1934 June 30, 19733   Feb.13, 1958   March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan.1, 1995
Armenia17     Oct. 19, 2000 (Paris)     Dec.13, 1993 May 27, 1973        
Australia     Oct. 19, 2000 (Paris) March 15, 1918
Jan.1, 20052A
June 22, 1974 Oct. 26, 1990 May 1, 1969 Feb.28, 1978     Jan.1, 1995
Austria     Oct. 1, 1920 (Paris)2 Sept. 20, 1907 Aug. 21, 1982 Aug. 6, 19824 July 2, 1957 Aug. 14, 1982     Jan. 1, 1995
Azerbaijan 17     June 4, 1999 (Paris)   Sept. 1, 2001   May 27, 1973        
Bahamas, The     July 10, 1973 (Brussels)       Dec. 27, 1976 Dec. 27, 1976      
Bahrain     March 2, 1997 (Paris)               Jan. 1, 1995
Bangladesh     May 4, 1999 (Paris)       Aug. 5, 1975 Aug. 5, 1975     Jan. 1, 1995
Barbados     July 30, 1983 (Paris)2   July 29, 1983   June 18, 1983 June 18, 1983     Jan. 1, 1995
Belarus 17     Dec. 12, 1997 (Paris)       May 27, 1973   March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002  
Belgium     Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris)2
July 1, 189114
             
Belize     June 17, 2000 (Paris)       Dec. 1, 1982       Jan. 1, 1995
Benin     Jan. 3, 1961 (Paris)2               Feb. 22, 1996
Bhutan [None] N                    
Bolivia   May 15, 1914 Nov. 4, 1993 (Paris)       March 22, 1990 March 22, 1990     Sept. 12, 1995
Bosnia and Herzegovina     March 1, 1992 (Paris)     March 6, 1992 May 11, 1966 July 10, 1974      
Botswana     April 15, 1998 (Paris)               May 31, 1995
Brazil   Aug. 31, 1915 Feb. 9, 1922 (Paris)2 April 2, 1957 Nov. 28, 1975   Jan. 13, 1960 Dec. 11, 1975     Jan. 1, 1995
Brunei                     Jan. 1, 1995
Bulgaria     Dec. 5, 1921 (Paris)2   Sept. 6, 1995   June 7, 1975 June 7, 1975 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Dec. 1, 1996
Burkina Faso     Aug. 19, 1963 (Paris)2   Jan. 30, 1988       March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 June 3, 1995
Burundi                     July 23, 1995
Cambodia             Sept. 16, 1955        
Cameroon     Sept. 21, 1964 (Paris)2       May 1, 1973 July 10, 1974     Dec. 13, 1995
Canada     April 10, 1928 (Paris)2 Jan. 1, 1924     Aug. 10, 1962       Jan. 1, 1995
Cape Verde     July 7, 1997 (Paris)                
Central African Republic     Sept. 3, 1977 (Paris)2               May 31, 1995
Chad     Nov. 25, 1971 (Brussels)2               Oct. 19, 1996
Chile   June 14, 1955 June 5, 1970 (Paris)2 May 25, 1896
Jan.1, 20044A
March 24, 1977   Sept. 16, 1955   March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
China     Oct. 15, 1992 (Paris) Jan. 13, 19045
Bilateral March 17, 19929
April 30, 1993   Oct. 30, 1992 Oct. 30, 1992     Dec. 22, 2001
Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)                     Jan. 1, 2002
Colombia   Dec. 23, 1936 March 7, 1988 (Paris)2   May 16, 1994   June 18, 1976 June 18, 1976 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 April 30, 1995
Comoros [Unclear] U                    
Congo, Democratic Republic of the     Oct. 8, 1963 (Paris)2   Nov. 29, 1977           Jan. 1, 1997
Congo, Republic of the     May 8, 1962 (Paris)2               March 27, 1997
Costa Rica 6   Nov. 30, 1916 June 10, 1978 (Paris)2 Oct. 19, 1899 June 17, 1982 June 25, 1999 Sept. 16, 1955 March 7, 1980 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Cote d ’Ivoire     Jan. 1, 1962 (Paris)2               Jan. 1, 1995
Croatia     Oct. 8, 1991 (Paris)2   April 20, 2000 Oct. 8, 1991 May 11, 1966 July 10, 1974 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Nov. 30, 2000
Cuba     Feb. 20, 1997 (Paris) Nov. 17, 1903     June 18, 1957       April 20, 1995
Cyprus     Feb. 24, 1964 (Paris)2   Sept. 30, 1993   Dec. 19, 1990 Dec. 19, 1990     July 30, 1995
Czech Republic     Jan. 1, 1993 (Paris)   Jan. 1, 1993   Jan. 6, 1960 April 17, 1980 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Denmark     July 1, 1903 (Paris)2 May 8, 1893 March 24, 1977   Feb. 9, 1962 July 11, 1979     Jan. 1, 1995
Djibouti     May 13, 2002 (Paris)               May 31, 1995
Dominica     Aug. 7, 1999 (Paris)               Jan. 1, 1995
Dominican Republic   Oct. 31, 1912 Dec. 24, 1997 (Paris)       May 8, 1983 May 8, 1983     March 9, 1995
Ecuador   Aug. 31, 1914 Oct. 9, 1991 (Paris)   Sept. 14, 1974   June 5, 1957 Sept. 6, 1991 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 21, 1996
Egypt     June 7, 1977 (Paris)2   April 23, 1978           June 30, 1995
El Salvador     Feb. 19, 1994 (Paris) June 30, 1908,
by virtue of Mexico
City Convention, 1902
Feb. 9, 1979   March 29, 1979 March 29, 1979 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 May 7, 1995
Equatorial Guinea     June 26, 1997 (Paris)                
Eritrea [None] N                    
Estonia     Oct. 26, 1994 (Paris)   May 28, 2000           Nov. 13, 1999
Ethiopia [None] N                    
European Community                     Jan. 1, 1995
Fiji     Dec.1, 1971 (Brussels)2   April 18, 1973   March 13, 1972       Jan. 14, 1996
Finland     April 1, 1928 (Paris)2 Jan. 1, 1929 April 18, 1973   April 16, 1963 Nov. 1, 1986     Jan. 1, 1995
France     Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris)2 July 1, 189114 April 18, 19733   Jan. 14, 1956 July 10, 1974     Jan. 1, 1995
Gabon     March 26, 1962 (Paris)2           March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Gambia,The     March 7, 1993 (Paris)               Oct. 23, 1996
Georgia 7     May 16, 1995 (Paris)       May 27, 1973   March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 June 14, 2000
Germany 10,15     Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris)2,7 April 15, 1892
Bilateral July 12, 196715
May 18, 1974 Aug. 25, 19794 Sept. 16, 1955 July 10, 1974     Jan. 1, 1995
Ghana     Oct. 11, 1991 (Paris)       Aug. 22, 1962       Jan. 1, 1995
Greece     Nov. 9, 1920 (Paris)2 March 1, 1932 Feb. 9, 1994 Oct. 22, 1991 Aug. 24, 1963       Jan. 1, 1995
Grenada     Sept. 22, 1998 (Paris)               Feb. 22, 1996
Guatemala 6   March 28, 1913 July 28, 1997 (Paris)   Feb. 1, 1977   Oct. 28, 1964   Feb. 4, 2003 Jan. 8, 2003 July 21, 1995
Guinea     Nov. 20, 1980 (Paris)2       Nov. 13, 1981 Nov. 13, 1981 May 25, 2002 May 25, 2002 Oct. 25, 1995
Guinea-Bissau     July 22, 1991 (Paris)               May 31, 1995
Guyana     Oct. 25, 1994 (Paris)               Jan. 1, 1995
Haiti   Nov. 27, 1919 Jan. 11, 1996 (Paris)       Sept. 16, 1955       Jan. 30, 1996
Honduras 6   April 27, 1914 Jan. 25, 1990 (Paris)   March 6, 1990       May 20, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Hong Kong 12     July 1, 1997 (Paris)   July 1, 1997           Jan. 1, 1995
Hungary     Feb. 14, 1922 (Paris)2 Oct. 16, 1912 May 28, 1975   Jan. 23, 1971 July 10, 1974 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Iceland     Sept. 7, 1947 (Rome)2       Dec. 18, 1956       Jan. 1, 1995
India     April 1, 1928 (Paris)2 Aug. 15, 1947 Feb. 12, 1975   Jan. 21, 1958 April 7, 1988     Jan. 1, 1995
Indonesia     Sept. 5, 1997 (Paris) Aug. 1, 1989         March 6, 2002   Jan. 1, 1995
Iran [None] N                    
Iraq [None] N                    
Ireland     Oct. 5, 1927 (Brussels)2 Oct. 1, 1929     Jan. 20, 1959       Jan. 1, 1995
Israel     March 24, 1950 (Brussels)2 May 15, 1948 May 1, 1978   Sept. 16, 1955       April 21, 1995
Italy     Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris)2 Oct. 31, 1892 March 24, 1977 July 7, 19814 Jan. 24, 1957
UCC Paris Jan. 25, 1980
    Jan. 1, 1995
Jamaica     Jan. 1, 1994 (Paris)   Jan. 11, 1994 Jan. 12, 2000     June 12, 2002 June 12, 2002 March 9, 1995
Japan 8     July 15, 1899 (Paris)2   Oct. 14, 1978   April 28, 1956 Oct. 21, 1977 March 6, 2002 Oct. 9, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Jordan     July 28, 1999 (Paris) Dec. 17, 200116         April 27, 2004 May 24, 2004 April 11, 2000
Kazakhstan 17     April 12, 1999 (Paris)   Aug. 3, 2001   May 27, 1973        
Kenya     June 11, 1993 (Paris)   April 21, 1976 Aug. 25, 19794 Sept. 7, 1966 July 10, 1974     Jan. 1, 1995
Kiribati [Unclear] U                    
Korea, North [Unclear] U                    
Korea, South     Aug. 21, 1996 (Paris)   Oct. 10, 1987   Oct. 1, 1987 Oct. 1, 1987     Jan. 1, 1995
Kuwait                     Jan. 1, 1995
Kyrgyz Republic 17     July 8, 1999 (Paris)   Oct. 12, 2002   May 27, 1973   March 6, 2002 Aug. 15, 2002 Dec. 20, 1998
Laos             Sept. 16, 1955        
Latvia     Aug. 11, 1995 (Paris)   Aug. 23, 1997       March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Feb. 10, 1999
Lebanon     Sept. 30, 1947 (Rome)2       Oct. 17, 1959        
Lesotho     Sept. 28, 1989 (Paris)               May 31, 1995
Liberia     March 8, 1989 (Paris)       July 27, 1956        
Libya     Sept. 28, 1976 (Paris)2                
Liechtenstein     July 30, 1931 (Paris)2   Oct. 12, 1999   Jan. 22, 1959 Nov. 11, 1999     Sept. 1, 1995
Lithuania     Dec. 14, 1994 (Paris)   Jan. 27, 2000       March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 May 31, 2001
Luxembourg     June 20, 1888 (Paris)2 June 29, 1910 March 8, 1976   Oct. 15, 1955       Jan. 1, 1995
Macau     Dec. 20, 1999 (Paris)               Jan. 1, 1995
Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of     Sept. 8, 1991 (Paris)   March 2, 1998 Nov. 17, 1991 July 30, 1997 July 30, 1997 Feb.4, 2004    
Madagascar     Jan. 1, 1966 (Brussels)2               Nov. 17, 1995
Malawi     Oct. 12, 1991 (Paris)       Oct. 26, 1965       May 31, 1995
Malaysia     Oct. 1, 1990 (Paris)               Jan. 1, 1995
Maldives                     May 31, 1995
Mali     March 19, 1962 (Paris)2           April 24, 2002 May 20, 2002 May 31, 1995
Malta     Sept. 21, 1964 (Rome)2       Nov. 19, 1968       Jan. 1, 1995
Mauritania     Feb. 6, 1973 (Paris)2               May 31, 1995
Mauritius     May 10, 1989 (Paris)       March 12, 1968       Jan. 1, 1995
Mexico   April 24, 1964 June 11, 1967 (Paris)2 Feb. 27, 1896 Dec. 21, 19733 Aug. 25, 19794 May 12, 1957 Oct. 31, 1975 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Micronesia, Federated States of     Oct.7, 2003 (Paris)                
Moldova 7     Nov. 2, 1995 (Paris)   July 17, 2000   May 27, 1973   March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 July 26, 2001
Monaco     May 30, 1889 (Paris)2 Oct. 15, 1952 Dec. 2, 1974   Sept. 16, 1955 Dec. 13, 1974      
Mongolia     March 12, 1998 (Paris)           Oct. 25, 2002 Oct. 25, 2002 Jan. 29, 1997
Morocco     June 16, 1917 (Paris)2     June 30, 19834 May 8, 1972 Jan. 28, 1976     Jan. 1, 1995
Mozambique                     Aug. 26, 1995
Myanmar, Union of                     Jan. 1, 1995
Namibia     March 21, 1990 (Paris)               Jan. 1, 1995
Nauru [Unclear] U                    
Nepal [None] N                    
Netherlands and Possessions     Nov. 1, 1912 (Paris)2 Nov. 20, 1899 Oct. 12, 1993   June 22, 1967 Nov. 30, 1985     Jan. 1, 1995
New Zealand     April 24, 1928 (Rome)2 Dec. 1, 1916 Aug. 13, 1976   Sept. 11, 1964       Jan. 1, 1995
Nicaragua 6   Dec. 15, 1913 Aug. 23, 2000 (Paris)   Aug. 10, 2000 Aug. 25, 19794 Aug. 16, 1961   March 6, 2003 March 6, 2003 Sept. 3, 1995
Niger     May 2, 1962 (Paris)2       May 15, 1989 May 15, 1989     Dec. 13, 1996
Nigeria     Sept. 14, 1993 (Paris)       Feb. 14, 1962       Jan. 1, 1995
Norway     April 13, 1896 (Paris)2 July 1, 1905 Aug. 1, 1978   Jan. 23, 1963 Aug. 7, 1974     Jan. 1, 1995
Oman     July 14, 1999 (Paris)               Nov. 9, 2000
Pakistan     July 5, 1948 (Rome)2       Sept. 16, 1955       Jan. 1, 1995
Palau [Unclear] U                    
Panama   Nov. 25, 1913 June 8, 1996 (Paris)   June 29, 1974 Sept. 25, 1985 Oct. 17, 1962 Sept. 3, 1980 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Sept. 6, 1997
Papua New Guinea                     June 9, 1996
Paraguay   Sept. 20, 1917 Jan. 2, 1992 (Paris)   Feb. 13, 1979   March 11, 1962   March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Peru   April 30, 1920 Aug. 20, 1988 (Paris)2   Aug. 24, 1985 Aug. 7, 1985 Oct. 16, 1963 July 22, 1985 March 6, 2002 July 18, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Philippines     Aug. 1, 1951 (Paris)2 Oct. 21, 1948         Oct. 4, 2002 Oct. 4, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Poland     Jan. 28, 1920 (Paris)2 Feb. 16, 1927     March 9, 1977 March 9, 1977 March 23, 2004 Oct.21, 2003 July 1, 1995
Portugal     March 29, 1911 (Paris)2 July 20, 1893   March 11, 1996 Dec. 25, 1956 July 30, 1981     Jan. 1, 1995
Qatar     July 5, 2000 (Paris)               Jan. 13, 1996
Romania     Jan. 1, 1927 (Paris)2 May 14, 1928 Oct. 1, 1998       March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Russia 17     March 13, 1995 (Paris)   March 13, 1995 Dec. 25, 1991 May 27, 1973 March 9, 1995      
Rwanda     March 1, 1984 (Paris)2       Nov. 10, 1989 Nov. 10, 1989     May 22, 1996
St.Kitts and Nevis     April 9, 1995 (Paris)2               Feb. 21, 1996
Saint Lucia     Aug. 24, 1993 (Paris)2   April 2, 2001       March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines     Aug. 29, 1995 (Paris)       April 22, 1985 April 22, 1985     Jan. 1, 1995
Samoa [Unclear] U                    
San Marino [None] N                    
São Tomé and Principe [Unclear] U                    
Saudi Arabia     March 11, 2004 (Paris)       July 13, 1994 July 13, 1994      
Senegal     Aug. 25, 1962 (Paris)2       July 9, 1974 July 10, 1974 May 18, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Serbia and Montenegro     June 17, 1930 (Paris)2     Aug. 25, 19794 May 11, 1966 July 10, 1974      
Seychelles [Unclear] U                    
Sierra Leone                     July 23, 1995
Singapore     Dec. 21, 1998 (Paris) May 18, 1987             Jan. 1, 1995
Slovakia     Jan. 1, 1993 (Paris)2   Jan. 1, 1993   Jan. 6, 1960 April 17, 1980 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 Jan. 1, 1995
Slovenia     June 25, 1991 (Paris)2   Oct. 15, 1996 June 25, 1991 May 11, 1966 July 10, 1974 March 6, 2002 May 20, 2002 July 30, 1995
Solomon Islands                     July 26, 1996
Somalia [Unclear] U                    
South Africa     Oct. 3, 1928 (Brussels)2 July 1, 1924             Jan. 1, 1995
Spain     Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris)2 July 10, 1895 Aug. 24, 1974   Sept. 16, 1955 July 10, 1974     Jan. 1, 1995
Sri Lanka     July 20, 1959 (Rome)2       Jan. 25, 1984 Jan. 25, 1984     Jan. 1, 1995
Sudan     Dec. 28, 2000 (Paris)                
Suriname     Feb. 23, 1977 (Paris)2               Jan. 1, 1995
Swaziland     Dec. 14, 1998 (Paris)               Jan. 1, 1995
Sweden     Aug. 1, 1904 (Paris)2 June 1, 1911 April 18, 19733   July 1, 1961 July 10, 1974     Jan. 1, 1995
Switzerland     Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris)2 July 1, 189114 Sept. 30, 1993 Sept. 24, 1993 March 30, 1956 Sept. 21, 1993     July 1, 1995
Syria [Unclear] U                    
Tajikistan 17     March 9, 2000 (Paris)       May 27, 1973        
Tanzania     July 25, 1994 (Paris)               Jan. 1, 1995
Thailand     July 17, 1931 (Paris)2 Sept. 1, 1921             Jan. 1, 1995
Togo     April 30, 1975 (Paris)2               May 31, 1995
Tonga     June 14, 2001 (Paris)                
Trinidad and Tobago     Aug. 16, 1988 (Paris)2   Oct. 1, 1988   Aug. 19, 1988 Aug. 19, 1988 SAT Nov. 1, 1996   March 1, 1995
Tunisia     Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris)2       June 19, 1969 June 10, 1975     March 29, 1995
Turkey     Jan. 1, 1952 (Paris)2               March 26, 1995
Turkmenistan 17             May 27, 1973        
Tuvalu [Unclear] U                    
Uganda                     Jan. 1, 1995
Ukraine _17     Oct. 25, 1995 (Paris)   Feb. 18, 2000   May 27, 1973   March 6, 2002   May 20, 2002
United Arab Emirates     July 14, 2004 (Paris)               April 10, 1996
United Kingdom     Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris)2 July 1, 189114 April 18, 19733   Sept. 27, 1957 July 10, 1974     Jan. 1, 1995
Uruguay   Dec. 17, 1919 July 10, 1967 (Paris)2   Jan. 18, 1983   April 12, 1993 April 12, 1993     Jan. 1, 1995
Uzbekistan 17             May 27, 1973        
Vanuatu [Unclear] U                    
Vatican City (Holy See)     Sept. 12, 1935 (Paris)2   July 18, 1977   Oct. 5, 1955 May 6, 1980      
Venezuela     Dec. 30, 1982 (Paris)2   Nov. 18, 1982   Sept. 30, 1966 Feb. 11, 1997     Jan. 1, 1995
Vietnam       Dec. 23, 199813
Bilateral Dec. 10, 2001
             
Yemen [Unclear] U                    
Zambia     Jan. 2, 1992 (Paris)2       June 1, 1965       Jan. 1, 1995
Zimbabwe     April 18, 1980 (Rome)2               March 5, 1995

[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following text is also from the Copyright Office Circular 38a, International Copyright Relations of the United States.  Text from the circular continues through to the full-browser-width horizontal line.]

List of Relations

How to Use This List

Each entry gives a country name (and any alternate name) and a statement of copyright relations.The following abbreviations are used to refer to specific multilateral agreements or bilateral relations:

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.

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. Note that “Berne (Paris)” means the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works as revised at Paris on July 24,1971 (Paris Act). “Berne (Stockholm)” means the said Convention as revised at Stockholm on July 14, 1967 (Stockholm Act). “Berne (Brussels)” means the said Convention as revised at Brussels on June 26, 1948 (Brussels Act). “Berne (Rome)” means the said Convention as revised at Rome on June 2, 1928 (Rome Act).   “Berne (Berlin)” means the said Convention as revised at Berlin on Nov.13, 1908 (Berlin Act). In each case the reference to the 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.

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.

Phonograms • 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.

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.

WCT • Party to the World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty, Geneva, 1996, as of the date provided. The effective date for the United States is March 6, 2002, the date the treaty entered into force.

WPPT • Party to the World Intellectual Property Organization Performances and Phonograms Treaty, Geneva, 1996, as of the date provided. The effective date for the United States is May 20, 2002, the date the treaty entered into force.

WTO • Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), 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 WTO is effective as of the date indicated.

[On this web site, where there is no copyright relations with a particular country, or these are uncertain, this information is given within brackets and in italics following the name of the country in the left-most column.  For the convenience of the reader, the first letter of the designation is given in the second column.  (The user can easily scan this column to find the applicable countries.  The next two items are the definitions for “None” and “Unclear” provided in Circular 38a:]

None • No copyright relations with the United States.

Unclear • Has not established copyright relations with the United States, but may be honoring obligations incurred under former political status.


Endnotes

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 Nov. 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 Sept. 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.

2A. Bilateral copyright relations between Australia and the United States were further developed pursuant to the Agreement between the United States of America and Government of Australia on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area, signed May 18, 2004, and effective Jan.1, 2005.

3. The Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms done at Geneva on Oct. 29, 1971, did not enter into force with respect to the United States until March 10, 1974.

4. The 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.

4A. Bilateral copyright relations between Chile and the United States were further developed pursuant to the Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Chile on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area, signed June 6, 2003, and effective Jan.1, 2004.

5. The government of the People’s Republic of China views this treaty as not binding. 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 Oct.31,1988 (Public Law 100-568,102 Stat.2853,2855). v7. 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.

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 Oct.3, 1990, of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany, in accordance with the German Unification Treaty of Aug.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 Feb.18, 1978, but ceased to be a party to the said Convention on Oct.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 Oct.5, 1973, and party to the revised Paris text of the same Convention on Dec. 10, 1980.

11. See also Czech Republic and Slovakia.

12. Prior to the return of Hong Kong to China, bilateral copyright relations existed with Hong Kong through the United Kingdom (from Aug.1, 1973), and Phonogram Convention Membership existed through the United Kingdom (from March 4, 1975).

13. Bilateral 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 fr 71571 (1998),under the authority of sections 104(b)(5)and 104A(g)of title 17 of the United States Code, as amended.

14. Bilateral copyright relations between the United States and Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland were established by Presidential Proclamation No.3.of July 1, 1891, 27 Stat.981 (1891), effective that same date, under the authority of the Chase Act of 1891.

15. Bilateral copyright relations between the United States and Germany were established effective July 12, 1967, by Presidential Proclamation No. 3792 of that same date, at 32 fr 10341, under the authority of Copyright Act of 1909 as amended at 55 Stat.732.

16. Bilateral copyright relations between Jordan and the United States were established pursuant to the Agreement between the United States of America and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area,signed Oct.24, 2000,and effective Dec.17, 2001.

17. Each of the following Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan (but not the CIS countries Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia), is a successor state to the Soviet Union’s copyright treaty obligations, in particular, the obligations under the UCC Geneva, and accordingly is a member of the UCC Geneva effective May 27, 1973, the date the Soviet Union became a party. The successor status in each case was confirmed in a bilateral trade agreement between each of these countries and the United States, effective in each case on the date set forth below. Note that the successor status is consistent with the treatment by UNESCO (secretariat for the UCC) of these countries. The effective dates of the bilateral agreements with the United States confirming the successor status are as follows:
Azerbaijan (April 21, 1995)
Belarus (Feb. 16, 1993)
Georgia (Aug. 13, 1993)
Kazakhstan (Feb. 18, 1993)
Kyrgyz Republic (Aug. 21, 1992)
Moldova (July 2, 1992)
Russia (June 17, 1992)
Tajikistan (Nov. 24, 1993)
Turkmenistan (Oct. 25, 1993)
Ukraine (June 23, 1992)
Uzbekistan (Jan. 13, 1994)

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Footnote numbering coincides with the January 2003 edition of the Circular, supplemented from the January 2005 edition where the later edition contained a new footnote.  The new footnotes retain their number with the addition of the letter “A” after the number, to distinguish these footnotes from the same numbers as used by the Copyright Office in 2003.]

“Although a country may become a source country through a presidential proclamation, only one such proclamation has been issued as of June 2000. That proclamation had to do with Vietnam.”  (Copyright Office Information Circular 38b)

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