DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
O
FFICE
O
F THE
S
ECRETA
RY
1000
NA
VY
PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20350·1000
SECNAVINST 5870.8
CNR
14 Jun 2019
SECNAV INSTRUCTION 5870.8
From: Secretary of the Navy
Subj: COPYRIGHT IN WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP PREPARED BY DEPARTMENT
OF THE NAVY PERSONNEL
Ref: (a) 17 U.S.C. §101
(b) 17 U.S.C. §105
(c) SECNAVINST 5720.44C
(d) 17 U.S.C. §506(c)
(e) 17 U.S.C. §403
(f) 28 U.S.C. §1498(b)
Encl. (1) General Guidance on Copyright
1. Purpose. To provide guidance regarding works of authorship
prepared by Department of the Navy (DON) employees.
2. Applicability. This instruction applies to the Offices of
the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, the
Commandant of the Marine Corps, and all U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine
Corps, installations, commands, activities, field offices, and
all other organizational entities within the DON.
3. Policy. Works of authorship created by the federal
government are not protected by U.S. copyright; works of
authorship created by private citizens are protected by U.S.
copyright. It is the responsibility of the Federal Government
to determine whether works of authorship created by Federal
employees were created in the performance of the author’s
official duties, and to thereby determine whether these works
are or are not protected by copyright.
4. Responsibilities. The Chief of Naval Research (CNR) is
responsible for the supervision, administration, and control of
activities within and for the DON relating to copyrights and
matters connected therewith.
a. The CNR shall issue guidance, as necessary, to implement
this instruction.
