Title 17, CopyrightsRelease 119-110
§507 Limitations on Actions
Title 17 › CHAPTER 5 — COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES › § 507
Summary
Criminal cases must be started within 5 years after the event that gave rise to the charge, unless another part of the law sets a different time limit. Civil lawsuits must be started within 3 years after the claim first arose.
Full Legal Text
Title 17, §507
Copyrights, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(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.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
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, § 1, Sept. 7, 1957, 71 Stat. 633], represents a reconciliation of views, and has therefore been left unaltered.
Editorial Notes
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”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
17 U.S.C. § 507
Title 17, Copyrights
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110