Int. Copyright Law International Property Right Law
The U.S. abides by international copyright treaties, which are governed principally by the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, to which about 160 other nations adhere. The United States is also a member of the Universal Copyright Convention (UCC) and has special bilateral relations with a number of foreign countries. Under the Berne Convention, works created by a national of a Berne Union country, or works first or simultaneously published in a Berne Union country, are automatically eligible for protection in every other country of the Berne Union, without registration or compliance with any other formality of law.
These rules apply to works first published in the United States on or after March 1, 1989. Works first published before March 1989 were protected in many countries under the UCC. Older works may also be protected as a result of simultaneous publication in a Berne Union country or by virtue of bilateral obligations. The requirements and protection vary from country to country, so you should investigate them before seeking publication anywhere.