---
kind: "section"
citation: "17 U.S.C. § 507"
title: "17"
title_heading: "Copyrights"
number: "507"
heading: "Limitations on actions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/17/507"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Copyright Infringement and Remedies"
---

# §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.)

## Notes

### 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 September 7, 1957 (71 Stat. 633) [Pub. L. 85–313, § 1, Sept. 7, 1957, 71 Stat. 633], represents a reconciliation of views, and has therefore been left unaltered.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–304 substituted “Except as expressly provided otherwise in this title, no” for “No”.

1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–147 substituted “5” for “three”.