There is no such thing as an “international copyright” that will automatically protect an author’s writings throughout the world. Protection against unauthorized use in a particular country depends on the national laws of that country.

Many countries offer protection to foreign works under certain conditions that have been greatly simplified by international copyright treaties and conventions. This circular provides a brief overview of the international conventions, treaties, and other bilateral instruments that the United States has concluded with other countries, and it details the participation of other countries in these same instruments.