§ 2117. — Limitation on liability.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 44USC2117]
TITLE 44--PUBLIC PRINTING AND DOCUMENTS
CHAPTER 21--NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
Sec. 2117. Limitation on liability
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unpublished works for which copyright registration has been made) come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.
(Pub. L. 90-620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1291, Sec. 2113; Pub. L. 94-
553, Sec. 105(b), Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2599; renumbered Sec. 2117 and
amended Pub. L. 98-497, title I, Secs. 102(a)(1), 107(a)(7), Oct. 19,
1984, 98 Stat. 2280, 2286.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on 44 U.S. Code, 1964 ed., Sec. 400 (June 30, 1949, ch. 288,
title V, Sec. 510, as added Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, Sec. 6(d), 64 Stat.
583).
Amendments
1984--Pub. L. 98-497, Sec. 107(a)(7), substituted ``Archivist'' for
``Administrator of General Services''.
1976--Pub. L. 94-553 substituted ``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unpublished works for which copyright registration has been made) come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 Administrator of General Services,
the United States or its agents are not liable for infringement of
copyright or analogous rights'' for ``productions, exclusive of material
copyrighted or patented, come into the custody or possession of the
Administrator of General Services, the United States or its agents are
not liable for infringement of literary property rights or analogous
rights''.
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 98-497 effective Apr. 1, 1985, see section 301
of Pub. L. 98-497, set out as a note under section 2102 of this title.
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 94-553 effective Jan. 1, 1978, see section 102
of Pub. L. 94-553, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section
101 of Title 17, Copyrights.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 3102 of this title.