Copy Regulations
United States
Congress, by statute, has forbidden the reproduction of the following subjects under certain circumstances. Penalties of fine or imprisonment can be imposed on those guilty of making such reproductions.
1. Obligations or Securities of the United States Government, such as:
• Certificates of Indebtedness
• National Bank Currency
• Coupons from Bonds
• Federal Reserve Bank Notes
• Silver Certificates
• Gold Certificates
• United States Bonds
• Treasury Notes
• Federal Reserve Notes
• Fractional Notes
• Certificates of Deposit
• Paper Money
• Bonds and Obligations of certain agencies of the government, such as FHA and so on
• Bonds. United States Savings Bonds can be photographed only for publicity purposes for the campaign of the sale of such bonds
• Internal Revenue Stamps. If it is necessary to reproduce a legal document on which there is a canceled revenue stamp, this can be done provided the reproduction of the document is performed for lawful purposes
• Postage Stamps, canceled or uncanceled. For philatelic purposes, Postage Stamps can be photographed, provided the reproduction is in black and white and is less than 75% or more than 150% of the linear dimensions of the original document
• Postal Money Orders
• Bills, Checks, or Drafts of money drawn by or upon authorized officers of the United States
• Stamps and other representatives of value, of whatever denomination, which have been or can be issued under any Act of Congress
• Adjusted Compensation Certificates for Veterans of the World Wars
2. Obligations or Securities of any Foreign Government, Bank, or Corporation
3. Copyrighted materials, unless permission of the copyright owner has been obtained or the reproduction falls within the fair use or library reproduction rights provisions of the copyright law. Further information of these provisions can be obtained from the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20559. Ask for Circular R21.
4. Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization. Foreign Naturalization Certificates can be photographed.
5. Passports. Foreign Passports can be photographed.
6. Immigration papers
7. Draft Registration Cards
8. Selective Service Induction papers that bear any of the following Registrant information:
• Earnings or Income
• Court Record
• Physical or mental condition
• Dependency status
• Previous military service
• Exception: United States military discharge certificates can be photographed
9. Badges, Identification Cards, Passes, or Insignia carried by military personnel, or by members of the various Federal Departments, such as FBI, Treasury, and so on, unless the head of such department or bureau orders a photograph.
Reproducing the following items is prohibited in certain states:
• Automobile Licenses
• Driver Licenses
• Automobile Certificates of Title
The above list is not all-inclusive, and no liability is assumed for its completeness or accuracy. If there is doubt, consult your attorney.
For more information about these provisions, contact the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20559. Ask for Circular R21.