<P> United States copyright law is governed by the Copyright Act of 1976 . The United States Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to create copyright law under Article 1 , Section 8 , Clause 8 , known as the Copyright Clause . Under the Copyright Clause , Congress has the power , `` To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts , by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries . '' </P>
who gives congress authority to grant authors and inventors copyright and patent rights
The United States Constitution Copyright Act of 1976