Frequently Asked Questions: General

The Library of Congress, as a publicly supported institution, does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot give or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute material in its collections.

It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions (such as donor restrictions, privacy rights, publicity rights, licensing and trademarks) when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the Division's collections. We try to supply as much information as we have, but sometimes key information is lacking, and ultimately you know how you plan to use the material and the level of risk with which you are comfortable.

Whenever possible, the Library of Congress provides factual information about copyright owners and related matters in the catalog records, finding aids and other texts that accompany collections. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners.

Items published in the United States before 1929 or by the United States government are in the public domain and can be used without restriction.

Related FAQ

• Can you give me permission to use an item that I found on the Library's website in my project or publication?