Copyright Law Resources

Vicenç Feliú
October 2005

Law Library Guide
Legal Research Guides

Copyright Law Resources

• Primary Sources
  • Statutes
  • Legislative Histories
  • Regulations
  • Pending Legislation
  • Cases
  • Copyright Office Publications
• Secondary Sources
  • Periodicals
    • Finding Periodical Articles
    • Selected Specialized Copyright Journals
  • Books
    • Finding Books
    • Copyright Handbooks
    • Copyright Treatises
    • Specialized Formbooks
    • Copyright How-To Books
    • Copyright Books for Fun
  • Online Resources
    • Commercial Databases
    • Practical Websites
    • Cool Websites
    • Copyright Blogs
    • E-Mail Discussion List
    • E-Mail Newsletters
  • Foreign and International Sources
    • Primary Sources
    • Secondary Sources
    • Online Resources

Copyright Law Resources

Selected Guide to Materials at or Available Through the LSU Law Library

Vicenç Feliú
Foreign, Comparative, and International Law Librarian
October, 2005

NOTICE: The purpose of this pathfinder is to assist in the identification and use of potentially relevant sources of legal information. Nothing in this document should be interpreted as legal advice. Items cited in this pathfinder can be located using the library’s catalog. Also, many of the items cited can be used electronically through LEXIS, WESTLAW, and the Internet.

Primary Sources

Statutes

United States Code, Title 17, deals with copyright

• Second Floor, Federal Materials
• US Copyright Office: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/
• LexisNexis: 17 USCS
• Westlaw: FIP-USCA

Legislative Histories

• United States Code Congressional and Administrative News. Second Floor Federal Materials
• Legislative History of the 1909 Copyright Act. Fourth Floor KF2989.54 .A15 1976
• Kaminstein Legislative History Project: A Compendium and Index of Materials Leading Up to the Copyright Act of 1976. Not at LSU, available through interlibrary loan. ` ILL
• Omnibus Copyright Revision Legislative History. KF2989.52 .A15 1976
• Federal Copyright Law: The Legislative Histories of the Major Enactments of the 105th Congress (Digital Millennium Copyright Act, No Electronic Theft Act, Copyright Term Extension Act). Fourth Floor KF2988.8 1999
• Copyright and the GATT: An Interpretation and Legislative History of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act: 1995 Supplement to Copyright Law and Practice. Fourth Floor KF2994 .P345 1995
• Westlaw: General Revision of the Copyright Law, 1976. COPYREV76-LH

Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations 37 C.F.R. Parts 201-204 deal with copyrights

• Print:
  • Current two years: Documents-- Range 4-31B
  • Previous Editions: Documents-- Range 4-28
• Patent and Trademark Office: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/tmlaw2.html
• LexisNexis: CFR Title 37 (Patent, Trademark & Copyright)
• Westlaw: FIP-CFR

Federal Register

• Print: Documents-- Ranges 4-28/4-29
• E-Resource: Hein Online Indexes
• Government Printing Office: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html
• LexisNexis: Federal Register
• Westlaw: Federal Register

Pending Legislation

Thomas: provides text and status of bills before the U.S. Congress.
http://thomas.loc.gov/

Cases

• United States Patent Quarterly (USPQ) contains the full text of copyright cases from federal courts and several administrative agencies.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2975.3 .U55
  • BNA's Intellectual Property Library: Available online to LSU Students, Faculty and Staff
  • LexisNexis: BNA United States Patents Quarterly
  • Westlaw: USPQ
• CCH Copyright Law Reporter
  • o Print: Fourth Floor KF2991.5 .C6
• CCH Copyright Law Decisions
  • o Print: Fourth Floor KF 2991.5 .C62
• LexisNexis: Federal Copyright Cases Copyright Cases of Fed Cts, Int'l Trade Com; FR, CFR (19, 37)
• Westlaw:
  • Federal court cases dealing with intellectual property. FIP-CS

Case Finding

• Use annotated codes.
  • United States Code Annotated. Second Floor, Federal Materials. Westlaw: USCA
  • United States Code Service. Second Floor, Federal Materials. LexisNexis: USCS
• Use West's Federal Practice Digest 4th and its predecessors. Topic: Copyrights and Intellectual Property. Second Floor, Federal Materials.
• Look for cases cited in footnotes in relevant treatise sections and law review articles.
• Look in the index to American Law Reports Federal (ALR Fed) to find relevant articles. Reading Room First Floor
• Westlaw: ALR

Copyright Office Publications

• Copyright Registrations: http://www.copyright.gov/records/
• Circulars and factsheets: http://www.loc.gov/copyright/circs/
• Forms: http://www.copyright.gov/forms/
• Compendium of Copyright Office Practices: http://www.copyright.gov/compendium/index.html
• Digital Millennium Copyright Act Section 104 Study (2001):
  • Microfrom: Fourth Floor Documents Y 4.J 89/1:107/52
  • EResource: http://www.loc.gov/copyright/reports/studies/dmca/dmca%5Fstudy.html
• Report on Legal Protection for Databases: A Report of the Register of Copyrights, August 1997
  • Print: Fourth Floor Documents LC 3.2:D 26
  • EResource: http://www.copyright.gov/reports/
• Annual Report of the Register of Copyrights:
  • Microform: Fourth Floor Documents LC 3.1
  • EResource: http://www.copyright.gov/reports/

Secondary Sources

Periodicals

Finding Periodical Articles

• Legal Resource Index. Search by keyword or by subject. Use search terms such as Inventions, Inventors, Patent Infringement, Patent Law, and Patents (International Law).
  • LexisNexis: Legal Resource Index
• Current Index to Legal Periodicals. Use Intellectual Property Law as search term.
  • o Print: Current Issue at Reference Area
  • o E-Resource: Access available from LSU Law Center computers
  • o Westlaw: CILP
• Legal Scholarship Network: http://www.ssrn.com/lsn/index.html

Selected Specialized Copyright Periodicals

• AIPLA Quarterly Journal, from the American Intellectual Property Law Association, 1984-date.
  • Print: Second Floor K1 .P58
  • LexisNexis: AIPLA Quarterly Journal
  • Westlaw: AIPLAQJ
• BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal, 1998-date.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF3091.A3 B58
  • E-Resource: Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal
  • LexisNexis: BNA Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal
  • Westlaw: BNA-PTCJ
• BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Daily.
  • LexisNexis: BNA Patent Trademark & Copyright Daily
  • Westlaw: BNA-PTD
• The Yearbook of Copyright and Media Law.
  • Print: Second Floor Journal Collection K29 .E36
• Idea: The Journal of Law and Technology.
  • Print: Second Floor Journal Collection K9 .D4
• Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal.
  • Print: Second Floor Journal Collection K6 .O72
• Journal of the Copyright Society of the U.S.A.
  • Print: Second Floor Journal Collection K2 .U45

Books

Finding Books

Use the Law Library's online catalog. Consider using United States Copyrights as a search term.

Handbooks

• The Copyright Book: A Practical Guide, 5th ed.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2994 .S75
• Copyright Law: A Practitioner's Guide.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2994 .K345 2001
• Copyright Law: Student Study Guide.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2995 .L56 1999
• Intellectual Property: Patents, Trademarks, and Copyright in a Nutshell, 3d ed.
  • Print: First Floor, Reserve Book Room KF2980 .M52 2000
• Understanding Copyright Law. (3d ed. 1999)
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2994 .L53 1999

Treatises

• Goldstein on Copyright. (with current supplementation)
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2994 .G652
• Copyright Law and Practice. (with current supplementation)
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2994 .P35 1994
• Copyright Law in Business and Practice. (with current supplementation)
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2994 .H35 1989
• The Fair Use Privilege in Copyright Law, 2d ed.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF3030.1 .P37 1995
• Nimmer on Copyright: A Treatise on the Law of Literary, Musical and Artistic Property, and the Protection of Ideas. (with current supplementation)
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2991.5 .N5 1978

Formbooks

Most treatises and general formbooks also include licensing forms.

• Library of Congress Copyright Office Forms
  • EResource http://www.copyright.gov/forms/
• Computer Law: Drafting and Negotiating Forms and Agreements. (with current supplementation)
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF390.5.C6 R3 2004
  • Disc: Reserve Room
• Computer Software: Protection, Liability, Law, Forms.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF3024.C6 K88 1987-88
• Doing Business on the Internet: Forms and Analysis.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF889 .M54
• Kohn on Music Licensing.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF3035 .K64 2002
  • Disc: Reserve Room
• Lindey on Entertainment, Publishing and the Arts: Agreements and the Law, 2d ed.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2992 .L52
• Protecting Trade Secrets, Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks, 3d ed.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2979 .D67

How-To Books

• The Copyright Handbook: How to Protect & Use Written Works, 8th ed.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2995 .F53 2004
• Copyright Your Software, 3d ed.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF3024.C6 F57 2001
  • Disc: Reserve Room
• Getting Permission: How to License & Clear Copyrighted Materials Online & Off.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF3024.C6 S75 2000
  • Disc: Reserve Room
• Patent, Copyright & Trademark, 6th ed.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2980 .E44 2003

Books for Fun

• Code: and Other Laws of Cyberspace.
  • Print: Fourth Floor ZA3225 .L47 1999
• Copyright's Highway: From Gutenberg to the Celestial Jukebox.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF2994 .G654 1994
• Digital Copyright: Protecting Intellectual Property on the Internet.
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF3030.1 .L58 2001
• The Future of Ideas: The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World.
  • Print: Fourth Floor K1401 .L47 2001

Online Resources

Commercial Databases

• LexisNexis: See “Area of Law by Topic” Copyright Law
• Westlaw: See "Intellectual Property" under "Topical Materials by Area of Practice" Database Directory

Practical Websites

• Copyright Clearance Center: http://www.copyright.com/
• Motion Picture Association of America: http://www.mpaa.org
• U.S. Copyright Office: http://www.lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/
• U. Texas Copyright Management Center: http://www.creditscore.net/additional-resources/understanding-copyright/
• When Works Pass into the Public Domain: http://www.unc.edu/%7Eunclng/public-d.htm

Cool Websites

• Chilling Effects: http://www.chillingeffects.org/
• The Copyright Website: http://www.benedict.com/
• Columbia Law School Music Plagiarism Project: http://library.law.columbia.edu/music_plagiarism
• Creative Commons: http://www.creativecommons.org
• Friends of Active Copyright Education: http://www.csusa.org/face/

Blogs

• Berkeley Intellectual Property Weblog: http://journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/biplog/
• Copyfight: The Politics of IP: http://www.corante.com/copyfight/
• Harvard’s Berkman Center Blog: http://grep.law.harvard.edu/
• Larry Lessig Blog: http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/lessig/blog/
• Yale Law School’s LawMeme: http://research.yale.edu/lawmeme/

Email Discussion List

• Coalition for Networked Information: Copyright. Subscription information at: http://www.cni.org/forums/cni-copyright/cni-copyright.html

Email Newsletters

• BNA’s Internet Law News: http://ecommercecenter.bna.com/
• Copyright Office News: http://www.copyright.gov/newsnet/subchange.html
• Gigalaw: http://www.gigalaw.com/news/index.html

Foreign and International Sources

Primary Sources

For a general discussion of Intellectual Property Research in an international context, see Stefanie Weigmann's Update to Researching Intellectual Property Law in an International Context: http://www.llrx.com/features/iplaw2.htm

The major website for international intellectual property law is the site of the World Intellectual Property Organization: http://www.wipo.int/

For additional information of doing research in European Union materials check the library’s research guides: The European Union

Major Treaties

• Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works: Texts.
  • Print: Third Floor K1413 1886- .A3 B4
  • EResource: Hein Online 25 United States Treaties 1341
• Universal Copyright Convention.
  • EResource: UNESCO
• Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms.
  • EResource: Hein Online 25 United States Treaties 309
• International Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations.
  • EResource: WIPO
• General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (including Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property).
  • Print: Fourth Floor KF6659.A3 G45 1986
  • EResource: Hein Online 33 International Legal Materials 81
• For links to the full text of major copyright treaties in electronic format, see the WIPO Treaties page: http://www.wipo.org/treaties/ip/

European Union Directives, Proposals, and Reports

• European Union Directives on Copyright and Related Material from the EU: http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/copyright/documents/documents_en.htm

Foreign National Copyright Law

• Collection of Laws for Electronic Access [CLEA] database from WIPO, contains citations and full-text to the intellectual property laws of numerous countries of the world: http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/index.jsp
• Intellectual Property Rights, contains citations and links to intellectual property laws of Organization of American States member states. http://www.sice.oas.org/int_prop/ipnale.asp
• World Intellectual Property Rights and Remedies, contains summaries of national intellectual property laws written by attorneys as well as translated legislation in volumes 3 & 4.
  • Print: Third Floor K1401 .W675
• UNESCO Collection of National Copyright Laws contains copyright laws from approximately 100 countries. http://www.unesco.org/culture/copy/index.shtml
• International Copyright Relations of the United States: Library of Congress, Copyright Office, Circular 38: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ38a.pdf

Secondary Sources

Selected Books on International Copyright Law

• International Copyright and Neighbouring Rights.
  • Print: Third Floor K1420.5 .S73 1989
• International Copyright and Neighboring Rights Law: Commentary with Special Emphasis on the European Community.
  • Print: Third Floor K1420.5 .N613 1990
• International Copyright: Principles, Law, and Practice.
  • Print: Third Floor K1420.5 .G65 2001
• International Copyright Law and Practice.
  • Print: Third Floor K1420.5 .I5 1988
• International Trademarks and Copyrights: Enforcement and Management.
  • Print: Third Floor K1420.5 .I58 2004
• World Copyright Law: Protection of Authors' Works, Performances, Phonograms, Films, Video, Broadcasts, and Published Editions in National, International, and Regional Law.
  • Print: Third Floor K1420.5 .S725 1998

Selected Journals

• IIC; International Review of Industrial Property and Copyright Law.
  • Print: Third Floor K Periodicals
• European Intellectual Property Review.
  • Print: Third Floor KJ Periodicals

To find articles on trademark in general foreign and international periodicals, try using the Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals online or the same set in print at the Third Floor, Index table: Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals

Online Sources

• The United Kingdom Patent Office: http://www.ukpats.org.uk/
• Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas; Spanish Trademark Office: http://www.oepm.es/
• Institut National de la Propiété Industrial; French Trademark Office: http://www.inpi.fr/front/?ref=http://www.pcug.org.au/%7Earhen/undefined
• Oficina de Marques del Principat d’Andorra; Andorran Patent Office: http://www.ompa.ad/
• Patent and Trademark Offices on the Internet: http://www.pcug.org.au/%7Earhen/
• LexisNexis: World Trademark Law and Practice
• Westlaw:
  • Trademark Practice Throughout the World: TMPRWLD
  • Trademarks Throughout the World: TMWORLD