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17 U.S.C. § 203

Termination of transfers and licenses granted by the author

United States · Title 17 — COPYRIGHTS · Status: effective

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17 U.S.C. § 203, Termination of transfers and licenses granted by the author, United States, version 1 as recorded 2026-07-09, yourstate.us, https://yourstate.us/provision/448487
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In the case of any work other than a work made for hire, the exclusive or nonexclusive grant of a transfer or license of copyright or of any right under a copyright, executed by the author on or after January 1, 1978, otherwise than by will, is subject to termination under the following conditions: Where an author is dead, his or her termination interest is owned, and may be exercised, as follows: The termination shall be effected by serving an advance notice in writing, signed by the number and proportion of owners of termination interests required under clauses (1) and (2) of this subsection, or by their duly authorized agents, upon the grantee or the grantee’s successor in title. Upon the effective date of termination, all rights under this title that were covered by the terminated grants revert to the author, authors, and other persons owning termination interests under clauses (1) and (2) of subsection (a), including those owners who did not join in signing the notice of termination under clause (4) of subsection (a), but with the following limitations:

Legislative history

The public laws that enacted or amended this section. Tallies are for the whole bill as it passed each chamber — often an omnibus covering far more than this provision — not a vote on this section alone.

  • Enacted byPub. L. 94-553(S. 22)1976-10-19
    An Act for the general revision of the Copyright Law, title 17 of the United States Code, and for other purposes.
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 105-298(S. 505)1998-10-27
    Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 107-273(H.R. 2215)2002-11-02
    21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act
    House: 400–4Senate: no recorded tally