17 USC § 1304 - Commencement of protection

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1304"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "17 USC § 1304 - Commencement of protection"
title_number: 17
title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
section_number: "1304"
section_name: "Commencement of protection"
chapter_number: 13
chapter_name: "PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2907.)"
---


# § 1304. Commencement of protection

The protection provided for a design under this chapter shall commence upon the earlier of the date of publication of the registration under section 1313(a) or the date the design is first made public as defined by section 1310(b).

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2907.)