Are some records protected by copyright?
Because they were created by employees or agents of the Federal Government, most of the records in the custody of the National Archives of the United States are in the public domain. However, we do hold some documentary materials that originated in private hands, and these may be protected by copyright. If so, it is your responsibility to obtain any necessary permission from the copyright holder. Particularly in the case of some special media records, Federal agencies may have obtained materials from private commercial sources, and these may carry publication restrictions, as well as copyright protection. Furthermore, the owners of these images may impose usage fees.
