US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 17USC507]

 
                          TITLE 17--COPYRIGHTS
 
             CHAPTER 5--COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES
 
Sec. 507. Limitations on actions

    (a) Criminal Proceedings.--Except as expressly provided otherwise in 
this title, no criminal proceeding shall be maintained under the 
provisions of this title unless it is commenced within 5 years after the 
cause of action arose.
    (b) Civil Actions.--No civil action shall be maintained under the 
provisions of this title unless it is commenced within three years after 
the claim accrued.

(Pub. L. 94-553, title I, Sec. 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2586; Pub. 
L. 105-147, Sec. 2(c), Dec. 16, 1997, 111 Stat. 2678; Pub. L. 105-304, 
title I, Sec. 102(e), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2863.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

                        house report no. 94-1476

    Section 507, which is substantially identical with section 115 of 
the present law [section 115 of former title 17], establishes a three-
year statute of limitations for both criminal proceedings and civil 
actions. The language of this section, which was adopted by the act of 
September 7, 1957 (71 Stat. 633) [Pub. L. 85-313, Sec. 1, Sept. 7, 1957, 
71 Stat. 633], represents a reconciliation of views, and has therefore 
been left unaltered.


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-304 substituted ``Except as expressly 
provided otherwise in this title, no'' for ``No''.
    1997--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-147 substituted ``5'' for ``three''.