Copyright Law of the United States of America

and Related Laws Contained in Title 17 of the United States Code

Circular 92

Appendix I
Title 44 — Public Printing and Documents, U.S. Code

Chapter 21 — National Archives and Records Administration

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§ 2117 · Limitation on liability¹

When letters and other intellectual productions (exclusive of patented material, published works under copyright protection, and unpublished works for which copyright registration has been made) come into the custody or possession of the Archivist, the United States or its agents are not liable for infringement of copyright or analogous rights arising out of use of the materials for display, inspection, research, reproduction, or other purposes.

Appendix I · Endnote

¹In 1968, this section, originally designated as section 2113, which is entitled “Limitation on liability,” was added to title 44 of the United States Code. Pub. L. No. 90-620, 82 Stat. 1238, 1291. The 1976 Copyright Act amended section 2113 in its entirety. Pub. L. No. 94-553, 90 Stat. 2541, 2599. The National Archives and Records Administration Act of 1984 amended section 2113 by redesignating it as section 2117 and by inserting “Archivist” in lieu of “Administrator of General Services.” Pub. L. No. 98-497, 98 Stat. 2280 and 2286.