Scope and Content Note
The Library of Congress Copyright Office Mask Work deposits span the years 1985-1997. The collection consists of a representative sampling of mask works (schematic plans or layouts of an integrated circuit or computer chip) deposited with the Library of Congress Copyright Office. Per the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984, mask works are deposited with the Copyright Office by their manufacturers. The Copyright Office is obligated to retain the designs thirteen years after registration. Because Copyright Records Management was ready to dispose of the mask works it was no longer obligated to keep, the Manuscript Division decided to retain them by transfer. The Manuscript Division retained a representative sampling (every twentieth deposit) rather than accept the entire transfer.