Is My Copyright Good in Other Countries?

There is no such thing as an “international copyright” that will automatically protect a work throughout the world. Protection against unauthorized use in a particular country depends on the national laws of that country. However, most countries offer protection to foreign works under certain conditions that have been greatly simplified by international copyright treaties and conventions. Even if a particular country is not bound to protect copyrights by international copyright treaties or conventions, protection under the specific provisions of the country’s national laws may still be possible. A listing of countries and the nature of their copyright relations with the United States is available from the U.S. Copyright Office. In addition, the IP Attaché program is ready to assist U.S. stakeholders. IP Attachés are posted at U.S. missions around the world to address intellectual property issues arising in their assigned regions. Find an Attaché in your region.