International and Foreign Copyright

Major Treaties and International Agreements

Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (WIPO)

The most important international copyright treaty, with the highest standards of protection. Countries that belong to the Berne Convention include the United States, most of western Europe, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and Australia. The treaty was first adopted in 1886, but the United States has only been a signatory since 1989.

Universal Copyright Convention (UNESCO)

The second most important international copyright treaty. The UCC was developed by UNESCO as an alternative to the Berne Convention for countries that disagreed with aspects of the Berne Convention but still wished to participate in some form of multilateral copyright protection. In countries that have signed both treaties, the Berne Convention has priority.

URAA, GATT Amendments to U.S. Law (U.S. Copyright Office)

On December 8, 1994, President Clinton signed the "Uruguay Round Agreements Act" (URAA). The URAA implements the Uruguay Round General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which includes an agreement on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS). Several provisions of the URAA amend the U.S. copyright law.

International Agencies

ALAI (Association littéraire et artistique internationale)

ALAI carries on a continuous and vigilant reflection on all the problems inherent to literary and artistic copyright in our modern world, a world where technical progress constantly modifies how we deal with the works of the mind.

CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers)

Non-governmental, non-profit organization that works toward increased recognition and protection of creators’ rights throughout the world.

European Copyright User Platform Copyright Focal Point (ECUP)

Clearinghouse for information on European copyright developments.

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization)

Committed to promoting copyright protection since its early days (the Universal Copyright Convention was adopted under UNESCO’s aegis in 1952), UNESCO has over time grown concerned with ensuring general respect for copyright in all fields of creation and cultural industries. It conducts, in the framework of the Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity, awareness-raising and capacity-building projects, in addition to information, training and research in the field of copyright law. It is particularly involved in developing new initiatives to fight against piracy.

WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)

International agency established by the United Nations to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world, through cooperation among nations. Their Copyright and Related Rights page has an FAQ, press releases, treaties, notices of meetings, and other information related to international copyright.