Title 17, CopyrightsRelease 119-102
§1303 Revisions, Adaptations, and Rearrangements
Title 17 › CHAPTER 13 — PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS › § 1303
Summary
A design can get protection even if it uses parts that are normally not protected, but only if it makes major changes, adaptations, or rearrangements to those parts. That protection is separate and does not give rights to unprotected parts.
Full Legal Text
Title 17, §1303
Copyrights, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Protection for a design under this chapter shall be available notwithstanding the employment in the design of subject matter excluded from protection under section 1302 if the design is a substantial revision, adaptation, or rearrangement of such subject matter. Such protection shall be independent of any subsisting protection in subject matter employed in the design, and shall not be construed as securing any right to subject matter excluded from protection under this chapter or as extending any subsisting protection under this chapter.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
17 U.S.C. § 1303
Title 17, Copyrights
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102