Copyright Law Research

This guide offers an overview of print and electronic materials available for conducting research on Copyright Law at the Biddle Law Library.

Copyright is a form of intellectual property ("IP").  IP law also encompasses patents, trademarks, trade secrets, unfair competition, and publicity rights.

The Constitution gives Congress the power "[t]o promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries." Copyright provides certain exclusive rights and protections for artistic and intellectual works of original authorship.

U.S. Copyrights are governed by federal law, which is codified in the United States Code ("USC"). Accompanying regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations ("CFR").  Copyright registrations are administered by the Copyright Office, which is part of the Library of Congress.

Consult the following resources for exam preparation or a general overview of US copyright law.