Preface 2012 edition: The United States Code is the official codification of the general and permanent laws of the United States. The Code was first published in 1926, and a new edition of the code has been published every six years since 1934. The 2012 edition of the Code incorporates laws enacted through the One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second session, the last of which was signed by the President on January 15, 2013. It does not include laws of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First session, enacted between January 3, 2013, the date it convened, and January 15, 2013. By statutory authority this edition may be cited "U.S.C. 2012 ed." As adopted in 1926, the Code established prima facie the general and permanent laws of the United States. The underlying statutes reprinted in the Code remained in effect and controlled over the Code in case of any discrepancy. In 1947, Congress began enacting individual titles of the Code into positive law. When a title is enacted into positive law, the underlying statutes are repealed and the title then becomes legal evidence of the law. Currently, 26 of the 51 titles in the Code have been so enacted. These are identified in the table of titles near the beginning of each volume. The Law Revision Counsel of the House of Representatives continues to prepare legislation pursuant to 2 USC 285b to enact the remainder of the Code, on a title-by-title basis, into positive law. The 2012 edition of the Code was prepared and published under the supervision of Ralph V. Seep, Law Revision Counsel. Grateful acknowledgment is made of the contributions by all who helped in this work, particularly the staffs of the Office of the Law Revision Counsel and the Government Printing Office. -- John. A. Boehner, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., January 15, 2013--Page VII.

Contains laws, legislative history, administrative regulations, lists of committees, proclamations, executive messages and orders.

Contains the text of title 17 of the U.S. Code, including allamendments enacted through June 30, 2009. It includes the Copyright Act of 1976 and all subsequent amend. to copyright law; the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984; and the Vessel Hull Design Protection Act. The U.S. copyright law is contained in chap. 1 through 8 and 10 through 12 of title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Copyright Act of 1976 was enacted on Oct. 19, 1976. Chap. 9 of title 17 is the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984. Chap. 13 of title 17 is the Vessel Hull Design Protection Act. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find publication.

This legal reference provides the definitions of various copyrighted works in various media formats as a documented method to distinguish between the different types of works that may have several interpretations by members of the public around the globe. This text also includes the updated amendments enacted by Congress through December 2016. Many specific and niche areas relating to this updated copyright law can be found in the appendices portions. Students, musicians, authors, graphic designers, publishers, attorneys, professors, teachers, business executives, and librarians will be most interested in this updated work. Related products: Business Communications and Publishing collection Other published materials by theLibrary of Congress