17 USC § 507 - Limitations on actions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s507"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "17 USC § 507 - Limitations on actions"
title_number: 17
title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
section_number: "507"
section_name: "Limitations on actions"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2586; Pub. L. 105–147, § 2(c), Dec. 16, 1997, 111 Stat. 2678; Pub. L. 105–304, title I, § 102(e), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2863.)"
---


# § 507. Limitations on actions

**(a)** **Criminal Proceedings.—** Except as expressly provided otherwise in this title, no criminal proceeding shall be maintained under the provisions of this title unless it is commenced within 5 years after the cause of action arose.

**(b)** **Civil Actions.—** No civil action shall be maintained under the provisions of this title unless it is commenced within three years after the claim accrued.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2586; Pub. L. 105–147, § 2(c), Dec. 16, 1997, 111 Stat. 2678; Pub. L. 105–304, title I, § 102(e), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2863.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

### house report no. 94–1476

Section 507, which is substantially identical with section 115 of the present law [section 115 of former title 17], establishes a three-year statute of limitations for both criminal proceedings and civil actions. The language of this section, which was adopted by the act of  () [, , ], represents a reconciliation of views, and has therefore been left unaltered.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1998—Subsec. (a).  substituted “Except as expressly provided otherwise in this title, no” for “No”.

1997—Subsec. (a).  substituted “5” for “three”.