Circular 38a, International Copyright Relations of the United States

Circular 38a International Copyright Relations of the United States

GENERAL INFORMATION

This circular 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:

BAC Party to the Buenos Aires Convention of 1910, as of the date given. U.S. ratification deposited with the Government of Argen tina, May 1, 1911 ; proclaimed by the Presi dent of the United States , July 13, 1914 .

Berne Party to the Berne Convention for the Pro tection of Literary and Artistic Works as of the date given. Appearing within parenthe ses 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 re-vision 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.

None No copyright relations with the United States .

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 P ROGRAMME -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 .

Unclear Became independent since 1943. Has not established copyright relations with the United States , but may be honoring obligations incurred under former political status.

WCT Party to the World Intellectual Property Or ganization 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 Or ganization Performances and Phonograms Treaty, Geneva , 1996, as of the date provided. The effective date for the United States if 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 effec tive as of the date indicated.

RELATIONS AS OF JANUARY 2003
Afghanistan	Bahrain	Bulgaria
None	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Berne Dec. 5, 1921 ( Paris ) 2
Albania	Berne March 2, 1997 ( Paris )	UCC Geneva June 7, 1975
Berne March 6, 1994 ( Paris ) 1	Bangladesh	UCC Paris June 7, 1975
WTO Sept. 8, 2000	UCC Geneva Aug. 5, 1975	Phonograms Sept. 6, 1995
WPPT May 20, 2002	UCC Paris Aug. 5, 1975	WTO Dec. 1, 1996
Algeria	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	WCT March 6, 2002
UCC Geneva Aug. 28, 1973	Berne May 4, 1999 ( Paris )	WPPT May 20, 2002
UCC Paris July 10, 1974	Barbados	Burkina Faso
Berne April 19, 1998 ( Paris )	UCC Geneva June 18, 1983	Berne Aug. 19, 1963 ( Paris ) 2
Andorra	UCC Paris June 18, 1983	Phonograms Jan. 30, 1988
UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955	Berne July 30, 1983 ( Paris ) 2	WTO June 3, 1995
Angola	Phonograms July 29, 1983	WCT March 6, 2002
WTO Nov. 23, 1996	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	WPPT May 20, 2002
Antigua and Barbuda	Belarus 17	Burundi
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	UCC Geneva May 27, 1973	WTO July 23, 1995
Berne March 17, 2000 ( Paris )	Berne Dec. 12, 1997 ( Paris )	Cambodia
Argentina	WCT March 6, 2002	UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955
Bilateral Aug. 23, 1934	WPPT May 20, 2002	Cameroon
BAC April 19, 1950	Belgium	Berne Sept. 21, 1964 ( Paris ) 2
UCC Geneva Feb. 13, 1958	Berne Dec. 5, 1887 ( Paris ) 2	UCC Geneva May 1, 1973
Berne June 10, 1967 ( Paris ) 2	Belize	UCC Paris July 10, 1974
Phonograms June 30, 1973 3	UCC Geneva Dec. 1, 1982	WTO Dec. 13, 1995
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Canada
WCT March 6, 2002	Berne June 17, 2000 ( Paris )	Bilateral Jan. 1, 1924
WPPT May 20, 2002	Benin	Berne April 10, 1928 ( Paris ) 2
Armenia 17	Berne Jan. 3, 1961 ( Paris ) 2	UCC Geneva Aug. 10, 1962
UCC Geneva May 27, 1973	WTO Feb. 22, 1996	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
SAT Dec.13, 1993	Bhutan	Cape Verde
Berne Oct. 19, 2000 ( Paris )	None	Berne July 7, 1997 ( Paris )
Australia	Bolivia	Central African Republic
Bilateral March 15, 1918	BAC May 15, 1914	Berne Sept. 3, 1977 ( Paris ) 2
Berne April 14, 1928 ( Paris ) 2	UCC Geneva March 22, 1990	WTO May 31, 1995
UCC Geneva May 1, 1969	UCC Paris March 22, 1990	Chad
Phonograms June 22, 1974	Berne Nov. 4, 1993 ( Paris )	Berne Nov. 25, 1971 ( Brussels ) 2
UCC Paris Feb. 28, 1978	WTO Sept. 12, 1995	WTO Oct. 19, 1996
SAT Oct. 26,1990	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Chile
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	UCC Geneva May 11, 1966	Bilateral May 25, 1896
Austria	UCC Paris July 10, 1974	BAC June 14, 1955
Bilateral Sept. 20, 1907	Berne March 1, 1992 ( Paris )	UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955
Berne Oct. 1, 1920 ( Paris ) 2	SAT March 6, 1992	Berne June 5, 1970 ( Paris ) 2
UCC Geneva July 2, 1957	Botswana	Phonograms March 24, 1977
SAT Aug. 6, 1982 4	WTO May 31, 1995	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
UCC Paris Aug. 14, 1982	Berne April 15, 1998 ( Paris )	WCT March 6, 2002
Phonograms Aug. 21, 1982	Brazil	WPPT May 20, 2002
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	BAC Aug. 31, 1915	China
Azerbaijan 17	Berne Feb. 9, 1922 ( Paris ) 2	Bilateral Jan. 13, 1904 5
UCC Geneva May 27, 1973	Bilateral April 2, 1957	Bilateral March 17, 1992 9
Berne June 4, 1999 ( Paris )	UCC Geneva Jan. 13, 1960	Berne Oct. 15, 1992 ( Paris )
Phonograms Sept. 1, 2001	Phonograms Nov. 28, 1975	UCC Geneva Oct. 30, 1992
Bahamas , The	UCC Paris Dec. 11, 1975	UCC Paris Oct. 30, 1992
Berne July 10, 1973 ( Brussels )	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Phonograms April 30, 1993
UCC Geneva Dec. 27, 1976	Brunei	WTO Dec. 22, 2001
UCC Paris Dec. 27, 1976	WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Chinese Taipei	Czech Republic	Ethiopia
WTO Jan. 1, 2002	UCC Geneva Jan. 6, 1960	None
Colombia	UCC Paris April 17, 1980	European Community
BAC Dec. 23, 1936	Berne Jan. 1, 1993 ( Paris )	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
UCC Geneva June 18, 1976	Phonograms Jan. 1, 1993	Fiji
UCC Paris June 18, 1976	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Berne Dec.1, 1971 ( Brussels ) 2
Berne March 7, 1988 ( Paris ) 2	WCT March 6, 2002	UCC Geneva March 13, 1972
Phonograms May 16, 1994	WPPT May 20, 2002	Phonograms April. 18, 1973 3
WTO April 30, 1995	Denmark	WTO Jan. 14, 1996
WCT March 6, 2002	Bilateral May 8, 1893	Finland
WPPT May 20, 2002	Berne July 1, 1903 ( Paris ) 2	Berne April 1, 1928 ( Paris ) 2
Comoros	UCC Geneva Feb. 9, 1962	Bilateral Jan. 1, 1929
Un cl ear	Phonograms March 24, 1977	UCC Geneva April 16, 1963
Congo , Democratic Republic of	UCC Paris July 11, 1979	Phonograms April 18, 1973 3
the	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	UCC Paris Nov. 1, 1986
Berne Oct. 8, 1963 ( Paris ) 2	Djibouti	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
Phonograms Nov. 29, 1977	WTO May 31, 1995	France
WTO Jan. 1, 1997	Berne May 13, 2002 ( Paris )	Berne Dec. 5, 1887 ( Paris ) 2
Congo , Republic of the	Dominica	Bilateral July 1, 1891 14
Berne May 8, 1962 ( Paris ) 2	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	UCC Geneva Jan. 14, 1956
WTO March 27, 1997	Berne Aug. 7, 1999 ( Paris )	Phonograms April 18, 1973 3
Costa Rica 6	Dominican Republic 6	UCC Paris July 10, 1974
Bilateral Oct. 19, 1899	BAC Oct. 31, 1912	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
BAC Nov. 30, 1916	UCC Geneva May 8, 1983	Gabon
UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955	UCC Paris May 8, 1983	Berne March 26, 1962 ( Paris ) 2
Berne June 10, 1978 ( Paris ) 2	WTO March 9, 1995	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
UCC Paris March 7, 1980	Berne Dec. 24, 1997 ( Paris )	WCT March 6, 2002
Phonograms June 17, 1982	Ecuador	WPPT May 20, 2002
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	BAC Aug. 31, 1914	Gambia , The
SAT June 25, 1999	UCC Geneva June 5, 1957	Berne March 7, 1993 ( Paris )
WCT March 6, 2002	Phonograms Sept. 14, 1974	WTO Oct. 23, 1996
WPPT May 20, 2002	UCC Paris Sept. 6, 1991	Georgia 17
Cote d'Ivoire	Berne Oct. 9, 1991 ( Paris )	UCC Geneva May 27, 1973
Berne Jan. 1, 1962 ( Paris ) 2	WTO Jan. 21, 1996	Berne May 16, 1995 ( Paris )
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	WCT March 6, 2002	WTO June 14, 2000
Croatia	WPPT May 20, 2002	WCT March 6, 2002
UCC Geneva May 11, 1966	Egypt	WPPT May 20, 2002
UCC Paris July 10, 1974	Berne June 7, 1977 ( Paris ) 2	Germany 10, 15
Berne Oct. 8, 1991 ( Paris ) 2	Phonograms April 23, 1978	Berne Dec. 5, 1887 ( Paris ) 2, 7
SAT Oct. 8, 1991	WTO June 30, 1995	Bilateral April 15, 1892
Phonograms April 20, 2000	El Salvador	UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955
WTO Nov. 30, 2000	Bilateral June 30, 1908 , by virtue	Bilateral July 12, 1967 15
WCT March 6, 2002	of	Phonograms May 18, 1974
WPPT May 20, 2002	Mexico City Convention, 1902	UCC Paris July 10, 1974
Cuba	Phonograms Feb. 9, 1979	SAT Aug. 25, 1979 4
Bilateral Nov. 17, 1903	UCC Geneva March 29, 1979	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
UCC Geneva June 18, 1957	UCC Paris March 29, 1979	Ghana
WTO April 20, 1995	Berne Feb. 19, 1994 ( Paris )	UCC Geneva Aug. 22, 1962
Berne Feb. 20, 1997 ( Paris )	WTO May 7, 1995	Berne Oct. 11, 1991 ( Paris )
Cyprus	WCT March 6, 2002	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
Berne Feb. 24, 1964 ( Paris ) 2	WPPT May 20, 2002	Greece
UCC Geneva Dec. 19, 1990	Equatorial Guinea	Berne Nov. 9, 1920 ( Paris ) 2
UCC Paris Dec. 19,1990	Berne June 26, 1997 ( Paris )	Bilateral March 1, 1932
Phonograms Sept. 30, 1993	Estonia	UCC Geneva Aug. 24, 1963
WTO July 30, 1995	Berne Oct. 26, 1994 ( Paris )	SAT Oct. 22, 1991
	WTO Nov. 13, 1999	Phonograms Feb. 9, 1994
	Phonograms May 28, 2000	WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Grenada	India	Kazakhstan 17
WTO Feb. 22, 1996	Berne April 1, 1928 ( Paris ) 2	UCC Geneva May 27, 1973
Berne Sept. 22, 1998 ( Paris )	Bilateral Aug. 15, 1947	Berne April 12, 1999 ( Paris )
Guatemala 6	UCC Geneva Jan. 21, 1958	Phonograms Aug. 3, 2001
BAC March 28, 1913	Phonograms Feb. 12, 1975	Kenya
UCC Geneva Oct. 28, 1964	UCC Paris April 7, 1988	UCC Geneva Sept. 7, 1966
Phonograms Feb. 1, 1977	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	UCC Paris July 10, 1974
WTO July 21, 1995	Indonesia	Phonograms April 21, 1976
Berne July 28, 1997 ( Paris )	Bilateral Aug. 1, 1989	SAT Aug. 25, 1979 4
WCT Feb. 4, 2003	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Berne June 11, 1993 ( Paris )
WPPT Jan. 8, 2003	Berne Sept. 5, 1997 ( Paris )	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
Guinea	WCT March 6, 2002	Kiribati
Berne Nov. 20, 1980 ( Paris ) 2	Iran	Un cl ear
UCC Geneva Nov. 13, 1981	None	Korea , North
UCC Paris Nov. 13, 1981	Iraq	Unclear
WTO Oct. 25, 1995	None	Korea , South
WCT May 25, 2002	Ireland	UCC Geneva Oct. 1, 1987
WPPT May 25, 2002	Berne Oct. 5, 1927 ( Brussels ) 2	UCC Paris Oct. 1, 1987
Guinea-Bissau	Bilateral Oct. 1, 1929	Phonograms Oct. 10, 1987
Berne July 22, 1991 ( Paris )	UCC Geneva Jan. 20, 1959	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
WTO May 31, 1995	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Berne Aug. 21, 1996 ( Paris )
Guyana	Israel	Kuwait
Berne Oct. 25, 1994 ( Paris )	Bilateral May 15, 1948	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Berne March 24, 1950 ( Brussels ) 2	Kyrgyz Republic 17
Haiti	UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955	UCC Geneva May 27, 1973
BAC Nov. 27, 1919	Phonograms May 1, 1978	WTO Dec. 20, 1998
UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955	WTO April 21, 1995	Berne July 8, 1999 ( Paris )
Berne Jan. 11, 1996 ( Paris )	Italy	WCT March 6, 2002
WTO Jan. 30, 1996	Berne Dec. 5, 1887 ( Paris ) 2	WPPT Aug. 15, 2002
Honduras 6	Bilateral Oct. 31, 1892	Phonograms Oct. 12, 2002
BAC April 27, 1914	UCC Geneva Jan. 24, 1957	Laos
Berne Jan. 25,1990 ( Paris )	Phonograms March 24, 1977	UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955
Phonograms March 6, 1990	UCC Paris Jan. 25, 1980	Latvia
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	SAT July 7, 1981 4	Berne Aug. 11, 1995 ( Paris )
WCT May 20, 2002	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Phonograms Aug. 23, 1997
WPPT May 20, 2002	Jamaica	WTO Feb. 10, 1999
Hong Kong 12	Berne Jan. 1, 1994 ( Paris )	WCT March 6, 2002
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Phonograms Jan. 11, 1994	WPPT May 20, 2002
Berne July 1, 1997 ( Paris )	WTO March 9, 1995	Lebanon
Phonograms July 1, 1997	SAT Jan. 12, 2000	Berne Sept. 30, 1947 ( Rome ) 2
Hungary	WCT June 12, 2002	UCC Geneva Oct. 17, 1959
Bilateral Oct. 16, 1912	WPPT June 12, 2002	Lesotho
Berne Feb. 14, 1922 ( Paris ) 2	Japan 8	Berne Sept. 28, 1989 ( Paris )
UCC Geneva Jan. 23, 1971	Berne July 15, 1899 ( Paris ) 2	WTO May 31, 1995
UCC Paris July 10, 1974	UCC Geneva April 28, 1956	Liberia
Phonograms May 28, 1975	UCC Paris Oct. 21, 1977	UCC Geneva July 27, 1956
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Phonograms Oct. 14, 1978	Berne March 8, 1989 ( Paris )
WCT March 6, 2002	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Libya
WPPT May 20, 2002	WCT March 6, 2002	Berne Sept. 28, 1976 ( Paris ) 2
Iceland	WPPT Oct. 9, 2002	Liechtenstein
Berne Sept. 7, 1947 ( Rome ) 2	Jordan	Berne July 30, 1931 ( Paris ) 2
UCC Geneva Dec. 18, 1956	Berne July 28, 1999 ( Paris )	UCC Geneva Jan. 22, 1959
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	WTO April 11, 2000	WTO Sept. 1, 1995
	Bilateral Dec. 17, 2001 16	Phonograms Oct. 12, 1999
		UCC Paris Nov. 11, 1999

Lithuania	Mexico	New Zealand
Berne Dec. 14, 1994 ( Paris )	Bilateral Feb. 27, 1896	Bilateral Dec. 1, 1916
Phonograms Jan. 27, 2000	UCC Geneva May 12, 1957	Berne April 24, 1928 ( Rome ) 2
WTO May 31, 2001	BAC April 24, 1964	UCC Geneva Sept. 11, 1964
WCT March 6, 2002	Berne June 11, 1967 ( Pa ri s ) 2	Phonograms Aug. 13, 1976
WPPT May 20, 2002	Phonograms Dec. 21, 1973 3	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
Luxembourg	UCC Pa ri s Oct. 31, 1975	Nicaragua 6
Berne June 20, 1888 ( Paris ) 2	SAT Aug. 25, 1979 4	BAC Dec. 15, 1913
Bilateral June 29, 1910	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	UCC Geneva Aug. 16, 1961
UCC Geneva Oct. 15, 1955	WCT March 6, 2002	SAT Aug. 25, 1979 4
Phonograms March 8, 1976	WPPT May 20, 2002	WTO Sept. 3, 1995
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Moldova 17	Phonograms Aug. 10, 2000
Macau	UCC Geneva May 27, 1973	Berne Aug. 23, 2000 (Paris)
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Berne Nov. 2, 1995 (Pa ri s)	WCT March 6, 2003
Berne Dec. 20, 1999 (Paris)	Phonograms July 17, 2000	WPPT March 6, 2003
Macedonia	WTO July 26, 2001	Niger
Berne Sept. 8, 1991 (Paris)	WCT March 6, 2002	Berne May 2, 1962 (Paris) 2
SAT Nov. 17, 1991	WPPT May 20, 2002	UCC Geneva May 15, 1989
UCC Geneva July 30, 1997	Monaco	UCC Paris May 15, 1989
UCC Paris July 30, 1997	Berne May 30, 1889 (Pa ri s) 2	WTO Dec. 13, 1996
Phonograms March 2, 1998	Bilateral Oct. 15, 1952	Nigeria
Madagascar	UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955	UCC Geneva Feb. 14, 1962
Berne Jan. 1, 1966 (Brussels) 2	Phonograms Dec. 2, 1974	Berne Sept. 14, 1993 (Paris)
WTO Nov. 17, 1995	UCC Pa ri s Dec. 13, 1974	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
Malawi	Mongolia	Norway
UCC Geneva Oct. 26, 1965	WTO Jan. 29, 1997	Berne April 13, 1896 (Paris) 2
Berne Oct. 12, 1991 (Paris)	Berne March 12, 1998 (Pa ri s)	Bilateral July 1, 1905
WTO May 31, 1995	WCT Oct. 25, 2002	UCC Geneva Jan. 23, 1963
Malaysia	WPPT Oct. 25, 2002	UCC Paris Aug. 7, 1974
Berne Oct. 1, 1990 (Paris)	Morocco	Phonograms Aug. 1, 1978
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Berne June 16, 1917 (Pa ri s) 2	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
Maldives	UCC Geneva May 8, 1972	Oman
WTO May 31, 1995	UCC Pa ri s Jan. 28, 1976	Berne July 14, 1999 (Paris)
Mali	SAT June 30, 1983 4	WTO Nov. 9, 2000
Berne March 19, 1962 (Paris) 2	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Pakistan
WTO May 31, 1995	Mozambique	Berne July 5, 1948 (Rome) 2
WCT April 24, 2002	WTO Aug. 26, 1995	UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955
WPPT May 20, 2002	Myanmar, Union of	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
Malta	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Palau
Berne Sept. 21, 1964 (Rome) 2	Namibia	Un cl ear
UCC Geneva Nov. 19, 1968	Berne March 21, 1990 (Pa ri s)	Panama
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	BAC Nov. 25, 1913
Mauritania	Nauru	UCC Geneva Oct. 17, 1962
Berne Feb. 6, 1973 (Paris) 2	Unclear	Phonograms June 29, 1974
WTO May 31, 1995	Nepal	UCC Paris Sept. 3, 1980
Mauritius	None	SAT Sept. 25, 1985
UCC Geneva March 12, 1968	Netherlands and Possessions	Berne June 8, 1996 (Paris)
Berne May 10, 1989 (Paris)	Bilateral Nov. 20, 1899	WTO Sept. 6, 1997
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Berne Nov. 1, 1912 (Pa ri s) 2	WCT March 6, 2002
	UCC Geneva June 22, 1967	WPPT May 20, 2002
	UCC Pa ri s Nov. 30, 1985	Papua New Guinea
	Phonograms Oct. 12, 1993	WTO June 9, 1996
	WTO Jan. 1, 1995

Paraguay	Rwanda	Slovenia
BAC Sept. 20, 1917	Berne March 1, 1984 (Paris) 2	UCC Geneva May 11, 1966
UCC Geneva March 11, 1962	UCC Geneva Nov. 10, 1989	UCC Pa ri s July 10, 1974
Phonograms Feb. 13, 1979	UCC Paris Nov. 10, 1989	Berne June 25, 1991 (Pa ri s) 2
Berne Jan. 2, 1992 (Paris)	WTO May 22, 1996	SAT June 25, 1991
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	St. Kitts and Nevis	WTO July 30, 1995
WCT March 6, 2002	Berne April 9, 1995 (Paris) 2	Phonograms Oct. 15, 1996
WPPT May 20, 2002	WTO Feb. 21, 1996	WCT March 6, 2002
Peru	Saint Lucia	WPPT May 20, 2002
BAC April 30, 1920	Berne Aug. 24, 1993 (Paris) 2	Solomon Islands
UCC Geneva Oct. 16, 1963	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	WTO July 26, 1996
UCC Paris July 22, 1985	Phonograms April 2, 2001	Somalia
SAT Aug. 7, 1985	WCT March 6, 2002	Un cl ear
Phonograms Aug. 24, 1985	WPPT May 20, 2002	South Africa
Berne Aug. 20, 1988 (Paris) 2	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Bilateral July 1, 1924
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	UCC Geneva April 22, 1985	Berne Oct. 3, 1928 (Brussels) 2
WCT March 6, 2002	UCC Paris April 22, 1985	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
WPPT July 18, 2002	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Spain
Philippines	Berne Aug. 29, 1995 (Paris)	Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Pa ri s) 2
Bilateral Oct. 21, 1948	San Marino	Bilateral July 10, 1895
Berne Aug. 1, 1951 (Paris) 2	None	UCC Geneva Sept. 16, 1955
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	S a o Tom e and Principe	UCC Pa ri s July 10, 1974
WCT Oct. 4, 2002	Unclear	Phonograms Aug. 24, 1974
WPPT Oct. 4, 2002	Saudi Arabia	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
Poland	UCC Geneva July 13, 1994	Sri Lanka
Berne Jan. 28, 1920 (Paris) 2	UCC Paris July 13, 1994	Berne July 20, 1959 (Rome) 2
Bilateral Feb. 16, 1927	Senegal	UCC Geneva Jan. 25, 1984
UCC Geneva March 9, 1977	Berne Aug. 25, 1962 (Paris) 2	UCC Pa ri s Jan. 25, 1984
UCC Paris March 9, 1977	UCC Geneva July 9, 1974	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
WTO July 1, 1995	UCC Paris July 10, 1974	Sudan
Portugal	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Berne Dec. 28, 2000 (Pa ri s)
Bilateral July 20, 1893	WCT May 18, 2002	Suriname
Berne March 29, 1911 (Paris) 2	WPPT May 20, 2002	Berne Feb. 23, 1977 (Pa ri s) 2
UCC Geneva Dec. 25, 1956	Serbia and Montenegro	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
UCC Paris July 30, 1981	Berne June 17, 1930 (Paris) 2	Swaziland
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	UCC Geneva May 11, 1966	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
SAT March 11, 1996	UCC Paris July 10, 1974	Berne Dec. 14, 1998 (Pa ri s)
Qatar	SAT Aug. 25, 1979 4	Sweden
WTO Jan. 13, 1996	Seychelles	Berne Aug. 1, 1904 (Pa ri s) 2
Berne July 5, 2000 (Paris)	Unclear	Bilateral June 1, 1911
Romania	Sierra Leone	UCC Geneva July 1, 1961
Berne Jan. 1, 1927 (Paris) 2	WTO July 23, 1995	Phonograms April 18, 1973 3
Bilateral May 14, 1928	Singapore	UCC Pa ri s July 10, 1974
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Bilateral May 18, 1987	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
Phonograms Oct. 1, 1998	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Switzerland
WCT March 6, 2002	Berne Dec. 21, 1998 (Paris)	Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Pa ri s) 2
WPPT May 20, 2002	Slovakia	Bilateral July 1, 1891 14
Russia 17	UCC Geneva Jan. 6, 1960	UCC Geneva March 30, 1956
UCC Geneva May 27, 1973	UCC Paris April 17, 1980	UCC Pa ri s Sept. 21, 1993
SAT Dec. 25, 1991	Berne Jan. 1, 1993 (Paris) 2	SAT Sept. 24, 1993
UCC Paris March 9, 1995	Phonograms Jan. 1, 1993	Phonograms Sept. 30, 1993
Berne March 13, 1995 (Paris)	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	WTO July 1, 1995
Phonograms March 13, 1995	WCT March 6, 2002	Syria
	WPPT May 20, 2002	Unclear

Tajikistan 17	Turkmenistan 17	Vanuatu
UCC Geneva May 27, 1973	UCC Geneva May 27, 1973	Un cl ear
Berne March 9, 2000 (Paris)	Tuvalu	Vatican City
Tanzania	Unclear	Berne Sept. 12, 1935 (Pa ri s) 2
Berne July 25, 1994 (Paris)	Uganda	UCC Geneva Oct. 5, 1955
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Phonograms July 18, 1977
Thailand	Ukraine 17	UCC Pa ri s May 6, 1980
Bilateral Sept. 1, 1921	UCC Geneva May 27, 1973	Venezuela
Berne July 17, 1931 (Paris) 2	Berne Oct. 25, 1995 (Paris)	UCC Geneva Sept. 30, 1966
WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Phonograms Feb. 18, 2000	Phonograms Nov. 18, 1982
Togo	WCT March 6, 2002	Berne Dec. 30, 1982 (Pa ri s) 2
Berne April 30, 1975 (Paris) 2	WPPT May 20, 2002	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
WTO May 31, 1995	United Arab Emirates	UCC Pa ri s Feb. 11, 1997
Tonga	WTO April 10, 1996	Vietnam
Berne June 14, 2001 (Paris)	United Kingdom	Bilateral Dec. 23, 1998 13
Trinidad and Tobago	Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris) 2	Bilateral Dec. 10, 2001
Berne Aug. 16, 1988 (Paris) 2	Bilateral July 1, 1891 14	Yemen
UCC Geneva Aug. 19, 1988	UCC Geneva Sept. 27, 1957	(Unclear)
UCC Paris Aug. 19, 1988	Phonograms April 18, 1973 3	Zambia
Phonograms Oct. 1, 1988	UCC Paris July 10, 1974	UCC Geneva June 1, 1965
WTO March 1, 1995	WTO Jan. 1, 1995	Berne Jan. 2, 1992 (Pa ri s) 2
SAT Nov. 1, 1996	Uruguay	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
Tunisia	BAC Dec. 17, 1919	Zimbabwe
Berne Dec. 5, 1887 (Paris) 2	Berne July 10, 1967 (Paris) 2	Berne April 18, 1980 (Rome) 2
UCC Geneva June 19, 1969	Phonograms Jan. 18, 1983	WTO March 5, 1995
UCC Paris June 10, 1975	UCC Geneva April 12, 1993
WTO March 29, 1995	UCC Paris April 12, 1993
Turkey	WTO Jan. 1, 1995
Berne Jan. 1, 1952 (Paris) 2	Uzbekistan 17
WTO March 26, 1995	UCC Geneva May 27, 1973

STATUTORY PROVISIONS

Reprinted below is section 104 of title 17 of the United States Code, as of March 1, 2003 .

§ 104. Subject matter of copyright: National origin

• Unpublished Works.-The works specified by sections 102 and 103, while unpublished, are subject to protection under this title without regard to the nationality or domicile of the author.

• Published Works. The works specified by sections 102 and 103, when published, are subject to protection under this title if-

• 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 treaty party, or is a stateless person, wherever that person may be domiciled; or

• the work is first published in the United States or in a foreign nation that, on the date of first publication, is a treaty party; or

• the work is a sound recording that was first fixed in a treaty party; or

• the work is a pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work that is incorporated in a building or other structure, or an architectural work th at is embodied in a building and th e building or struc ture is located in th e United States or a treaty party; or

• the work is first published by the United Nations or any of its specialized agencies, or by the Organization of American States; or

• 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 publicati on, 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.

For purposes of paragraph (2), a work that is published in the United States or a treaty party within 30 days after publication in a foreign nation that is not a treaty party shall be considered to be first published in the United States or such treaty party, as the case may be.

• 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.

• Effect of Phonograms Treaties.-Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), no works other than sound re cordings shall be eligible for protection under this title solely by virtue of the adherence of the United States to the Geneva Phonograms Convention or the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

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 coun try. 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 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 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 .

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 .

5 The government of the People's Republic of China views this treaty as not binding on the PRC. In the territory admin istered 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 Con vention 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 be-came 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).

10 The dates of adherence by Germany to multilateral trea ties 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 Lit erary 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 retu r n of Hong Kong to China, bilateral copy -right 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 Repub lic 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.

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, Geor gia, 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 obliga tions, 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 bilat eral 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 agree ments with the United States confirming the successor sta tus 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)

14 Bilateral copyright relations between the United States and Belgium , France , the United Kingdom , and Switzerland were established effective July 1, 1891 , by Presidential Proclamation No. 3. of that same date, at 27 Stat. 981 (1891), 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 Fed. Reg. 10341, under the authority of Copyright Act of 1909 amended at 55 Stat. 732.

Library of Congress • Copyright Office • 101 Independence Avenue, S.E. • Washington , D.C. 20559-6000
www.copyright.gov

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