Legal Definitions - work of the United States government

A work of the United States government refers to any creation, such as a document, report, photograph, map, or software, that is produced by an officer or employee of the U.S. federal government as part of their official job responsibilities. A key characteristic of such works is that they are generally not eligible for copyright protection within the United States. This means they are considered to be in the public domain from the moment of their creation and can be freely copied, distributed, and adapted by anyone without needing permission or paying royalties.

Here are some examples illustrating this concept:

• Example 1: A scientist employed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducts research on ocean currents and publishes a detailed scientific report outlining their findings. This report, created as part of the scientist's official duties for a federal agency, is considered a "work of the United States government."

  Explanation: Because the report was produced by a federal employee within the scope of their employment at NOAA, it is not subject to U.S. copyright. Anyone can freely download, reproduce, and use this report without seeking permission from NOAA or the author.

• Example 2: An artist working for the National Park Service creates a new informational poster depicting the wildlife found in Yellowstone National Park. The poster is designed to be displayed at visitor centers and distributed to the public.

  Explanation: The poster was created by a federal employee as part of their official duties for the National Park Service. Therefore, it is a "work of the United States government" and is in the public domain, meaning individuals or organizations can freely print copies, use the images, or adapt the design without copyright restrictions.

• Example 3: A programmer working for the Department of Defense develops a new software tool to help analyze cybersecurity threats. This software is created entirely during work hours and using government resources as part of their job function.

  Explanation: Since the software was developed by a federal employee as part of their official responsibilities for a U.S. government agency, it qualifies as a "work of the United States government." Consequently, the software itself is not copyrighted in the U.S. and can be freely used, modified, and distributed by the public.