200-5
202
Original works of authorship.(cont'd)
202.03
Works in the public domain. Works in the public domain in the United States cannot be the subject of U.S. copyright protection. Since such works may be copied and used by anyone insofar as the U.S. copyright law is concerned, they may be freely combined with new matter or otherwise incorporated or embodied in compilations or in abridgments, adaptations, arrangements, dramatizations, translations, or other derivative forms. If the new matter contains sufficient original authorship to support a copyright, registration may be based on such new matter. However, in any such case, copyright extends only to the new material and does not imply any exclusive right in the public domain material. Works in the public domain include those whose once valid U.S. copyright has expired and works otherwise dedicated to the public either voluntarily or by operation of law. Also considered part of the public domain are edicts of government, which are uncopyrightable for reasons of public policy: see section 206.01 below. In addition, works of the U.S. Government, that is, works prepared by officers or employees of the U.S. Government as part of such persons' official duties are not copyrightable: see section 206.02 below.
203
Fixation. In order to be subject to copyright registration, a work must be fixed in a tangible medium of expression by or under the authority of the author. A work consisting of sounds, images, or both, that are being transmitted, is "fixed" if a fixation of the work is being made simultaneously with its transmission. See 17 U.S.C. 101 and 102. Special problems with respect to the fixation of sound recordings are treated in Chapter 400: COPYRIGHTABLE MATTER - WORKS OF THE PERFORMING ARTS AND SOUND RECORDINGS.
[1984]
