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Title 17, CopyrightsRelease 119-102

§204 Execution of Transfers of Copyright Ownership

Title 17 › CHAPTER 2 — COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER › § 204

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

A copyright transfer is only valid if it is written down and signed by the copyright owner or by the owner’s authorized agent, unless the transfer happens automatically under the law. Verbal transfers do not count. A signed certificate (like a notarization) is not required, but if there is one it serves as good initial proof that the transfer was properly signed. For transfers in the United States, the certificate must come from someone allowed to administer oaths (for example, a notary). For transfers done abroad, the certificate must come from a U.S. diplomat or consul, or from someone who can administer oaths whose authority is confirmed by such an officer.

Full Legal Text

Title 17, §204

Copyrights, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, is not valid unless an instrument of conveyance, or a note or memorandum of the transfer, is in writing and signed by the owner of the rights conveyed or such owner’s duly authorized agent.
(b)A certificate of acknowledgement is not required for the validity of a transfer, but is prima facie evidence of the execution of the transfer if—
(1)in the case of a transfer executed in the United States, the certificate is issued by a person authorized to administer oaths within the United States; or
(2)in the case of a transfer executed in a foreign country, the certificate is issued by a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States, or by a person authorized to administer oaths whose authority is proved by a certificate of such an officer.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

house report no. 94–1476

section 204 is a somewhat broadened and liberalized counterpart of section 28 and 29 of the present statute [section 28 and 29 of former title 17]. Under subsection (a), a transfer of copyright ownership (other than one brought about by operation of law) is valid only if there exists an instrument of conveyance, or alternatively a “note or memorandum of the transfer,” which is in writing and signed by the copyright owner “or such owner’s duly authorized agent.” Subsection (b) makes clear that a notarial or consular acknowledgment is not essential to the validity of any transfer, whether executed in the United States or abroad. However, the subsection would liberalize the conditions under which certificates of acknowledgment of documents executed abroad are to be accorded prima facie weight, and would give the same weight to domestic acknowledgments under appropriate circumstances.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

17 U.S.C. § 204

Title 17, Copyrights

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102