Digital Rights, Copyright, Trademark, and Patent Laws
Requirement: Most content on federal public websites* is in the public domain and should not include copyright or other intellectual property notices. However, when an organization uses or duplicates information available from the private sector as part of an information resource, product or service, the organization must ensure that the property rights of the private sector source are adequately protected. These protections apply to any material posted to federal public websites, such as documents, graphics, or audio files. Organizations should also review content to determine if it is subject to international copyright laws. Organizations should review the relevant laws and regulations to ensure that their public websites meet the full range of requirements:
- Digital Millennium Copyright Act
- Copyright Law
- U.S. Trademark Law
- U.S. Patent Law, U.S. Code 35, Chapter 26
Examples
- FEMA explains permissions and restrictions for using photos and other audio/visual recordings.
- U.S. Mint explains intellectual property rights for various products and materials.
- National Library of Medicine has a well-written and concise copyright notice.
* These requirements apply to executive departments and agencies and their public websites. Check the specific law to see if it also applies to judicial or legislative agencies or to intranets.
Page Updated or Reviewed: December 14, 2005
