How to Find Out if a Visual Material's Copyright Has Been Renewed
Copyright is a form of protection afforded by the federal government that prohibits the unauthorized reproduction, distribution or sale of original works. This protection falls under the 1976 Copyright Act and covers various types of original works, including literary, musical, audiovisual and architectural works. The protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years after the author's death. Copyright ownership can be renewed or transferred either at the end of the term or if a significant change is made. The US Copyright Office has an internet database that can be searched using information about the copyright.
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Instructions
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Go to the WebVoyage database on the US Copyright Office website.
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Type the name of the work in the "Search for" box. To search by copyright owner or another parameter, type in the information in the "Search for" box and select the appropriate parameter from the "Search by" box. Click "Begin Search" in the center of the screen.
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Scroll through the results to find the appropriate title. Click on the title to see more information about the work. Under "Registration Number / Date" will be renewal information if any is applicable.
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Tips & Warnings
Information for copyrights registered before 1978 may not be available online, but is available in the Copyright Public Records Reading Room.
References
Resources
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