The law on a builder's plans and project records
4 of 13 US and UK texts read decide who owns a building's drawings, newest read 28 October 2026.
What it does to a sale of a builder's records
What the provision guards
What it says, in its own words
Every answer from every provision
Read across a row for one provision's answers, and open any of them for the quoted sentence, its text and the read date. A "not stated" cell means the text does not speak to that question.
| Provision | What the provision guards | What it does to a sale of a builder's records | What it says, in its own words |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 U.S.C. 101 | a building design as a protected work | defines the terms the rules use | is the design of a building as embodied in any tangible medium of expression, |
| 17 U.S.C. 102 | a building design as a protected work | defines the terms the rules use | Copyright protection subsists, in accordance with this title, in original works of… |
| 17 U.S.C. 106 | the copyright owner's exclusive rights | limits what the builder may do with a design it does not own | Subject to sections 107 through 122, the owner of copyright under this title has the… |
| 17 U.S.C. 120 | the copyright owner's exclusive rights | limits what the builder may do with a design it does not own | the owners of a building embodying an architectural work may, without the consent of the… |
| 17 U.S.C. 201 | who first owns a work | decides who owns the drawings | Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors… |
| 17 U.S.C. 204 | how ownership passes to someone else | decides who owns the drawings | A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, is not valid unless an… |
| CDPA 1988 s 11 | who first owns a work | decides who owns the drawings | The author of a work is the first owner of any copyright in it, subject to the following… |
| CDPA 1988 s 16 | the copyright owner's exclusive rights | limits what the builder may do with a design it does not own | to issue copies of the work to the public (see section 18); |
| CDPA 1988 s 4 | a building design as a protected work | defines the terms the rules use | a work of architecture being a building or a model for a building, or |
| CDPA 1988 s 90 | how ownership passes to someone else | decides who owns the drawings | An assignment of copyright is not effective unless it is in writing signed by or on… |
| U.S. Copyright Office Circular 41 | a building design as a protected work | defines the terms the rules use | An architectural work is the design of a building as embodied in any tangible medium of… |
| UK GDPR Article 4 | what counts as personal data and how it is handled | defines the terms the rules use | an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in… |
| UK GDPR Article 5 | what counts as personal data and how it is handled | sets conditions before records are used | for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed |
The 39 sentences the answers come from
- 17 U.S.C. 101, Definitions, architectural work, read 2026-10-03, What the provision guards:
is the design of a building as embodied in any tangible medium of expression,
- 17 U.S.C. 101, Definitions, architectural work, read 2026-10-03, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
is the design of a building as embodied in any tangible medium of expression,
- 17 U.S.C. 101, Definitions, architectural work, read 2026-10-03, What it says, in its own words:
is the design of a building as embodied in any tangible medium of expression,
- 17 U.S.C. 102, Subject matter of copyright, read 2026-10-27, What the provision guards:
Copyright protection subsists, in accordance with this title, in original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression
- 17 U.S.C. 102, Subject matter of copyright, read 2026-10-27, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
Copyright protection subsists, in accordance with this title, in original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression
- 17 U.S.C. 102, Subject matter of copyright, read 2026-10-27, What it says, in its own words:
Copyright protection subsists, in accordance with this title, in original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression
- 17 U.S.C. 106, Exclusive rights in copyrighted works, read 2026-10-08, What the provision guards:
Subject to sections 107 through 122, the owner of copyright under this title has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of the following:
- 17 U.S.C. 106, Exclusive rights in copyrighted works, read 2026-10-08, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
Subject to sections 107 through 122, the owner of copyright under this title has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of the following:
- 17 U.S.C. 106, Exclusive rights in copyrighted works, read 2026-10-08, What it says, in its own words:
Subject to sections 107 through 122, the owner of copyright under this title has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of the following:
- 17 U.S.C. 120, Scope of exclusive rights in architectural works, read 2026-10-27, What the provision guards:
the owners of a building embodying an architectural work may, without the consent of the author or copyright owner of the architectural work, make or authorize the making of alterations to such building
- 17 U.S.C. 120, Scope of exclusive rights in architectural works, read 2026-10-27, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
the owners of a building embodying an architectural work may, without the consent of the author or copyright owner of the architectural work, make or authorize the making of alterations to such building
- 17 U.S.C. 120, Scope of exclusive rights in architectural works, read 2026-10-27, What it says, in its own words:
the owners of a building embodying an architectural work may, without the consent of the author or copyright owner of the architectural work, make or authorize the making of alterations to such building
- 17 U.S.C. 201, Ownership of copyright, read 2026-10-08, What the provision guards:
Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors of the work.
- 17 U.S.C. 201, Ownership of copyright, read 2026-10-08, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors of the work.
- 17 U.S.C. 201, Ownership of copyright, read 2026-10-08, What it says, in its own words:
Copyright in a work protected under this title vests initially in the author or authors of the work.
- 17 U.S.C. 204, Execution of transfers of copyright ownership, read 2026-10-08, What the provision guards:
A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, is not valid unless an instrument of conveyance, or a note or memorandum of the transfer, is in writing and signed by the owner of the rights conveyed
- 17 U.S.C. 204, Execution of transfers of copyright ownership, read 2026-10-08, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, is not valid unless an instrument of conveyance, or a note or memorandum of the transfer, is in writing and signed by the owner of the rights conveyed
- 17 U.S.C. 204, Execution of transfers of copyright ownership, read 2026-10-08, What it says, in its own words:
A transfer of copyright ownership, other than by operation of law, is not valid unless an instrument of conveyance, or a note or memorandum of the transfer, is in writing and signed by the owner of the rights conveyed
- CDPA 1988 s 11, First ownership of copyright, read 2026-10-08, What the provision guards:
The author of a work is the first owner of any copyright in it, subject to the following provisions.
- CDPA 1988 s 11, First ownership of copyright, read 2026-10-08, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
The author of a work is the first owner of any copyright in it, subject to the following provisions.
- CDPA 1988 s 11, First ownership of copyright, read 2026-10-08, What it says, in its own words:
The author of a work is the first owner of any copyright in it, subject to the following provisions.
- CDPA 1988 s 16, The acts restricted by copyright in a work, read 2026-10-08, What the provision guards:
to issue copies of the work to the public (see section 18);
- CDPA 1988 s 16, The acts restricted by copyright in a work, read 2026-10-08, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
to issue copies of the work to the public (see section 18);
- CDPA 1988 s 16, The acts restricted by copyright in a work, read 2026-10-08, What it says, in its own words:
to issue copies of the work to the public (see section 18);
- CDPA 1988 s 4, Artistic works, read 2026-10-28, What the provision guards:
a work of architecture being a building or a model for a building, or
- CDPA 1988 s 4, Artistic works, read 2026-10-28, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
a work of architecture being a building or a model for a building, or
- CDPA 1988 s 4, Artistic works, read 2026-10-28, What it says, in its own words:
a work of architecture being a building or a model for a building, or
- CDPA 1988 s 90, Assignment and licences, read 2026-10-08, What the provision guards:
An assignment of copyright is not effective unless it is in writing signed by or on behalf of the assignor.
- CDPA 1988 s 90, Assignment and licences, read 2026-10-08, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
An assignment of copyright is not effective unless it is in writing signed by or on behalf of the assignor.
- CDPA 1988 s 90, Assignment and licences, read 2026-10-08, What it says, in its own words:
An assignment of copyright is not effective unless it is in writing signed by or on behalf of the assignor.
- U.S. Copyright Office Circular 41, Copyright claims in architectural works, read 2026-10-27, What the provision guards:
An architectural work is the design of a building as embodied in any tangible medium of expression, including a building, architectural plans, or drawings.
- U.S. Copyright Office Circular 41, Copyright claims in architectural works, read 2026-10-27, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
An architectural work is the design of a building as embodied in any tangible medium of expression, including a building, architectural plans, or drawings.
- U.S. Copyright Office Circular 41, Copyright claims in architectural works, read 2026-10-27, What it says, in its own words:
An architectural work is the design of a building as embodied in any tangible medium of expression, including a building, architectural plans, or drawings.
- UK GDPR Article 4, Definitions, read 2026-10-08, What the provision guards:
‘personal data’ means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person
- UK GDPR Article 4, Definitions, read 2026-10-08, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
‘personal data’ means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person
- UK GDPR Article 4, Definitions, read 2026-10-08, What it says, in its own words:
an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data
- UK GDPR Article 5, Principles relating to processing of personal data, read 2026-10-08, What the provision guards:
for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed
- UK GDPR Article 5, Principles relating to processing of personal data, read 2026-10-08, What it does to a sale of a builder's records:
for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed
- UK GDPR Article 5, Principles relating to processing of personal data, read 2026-10-08, What it says, in its own words:
for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed
Method
Each provision's own US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular were read through estate-fetch and stored whole (sha256 on every row).
For every text, three questions were answered from its own words: what the provision guards, what it does to a sale of a builder's records, what it says, in its own words.
Every stated answer carries the sentence it rests on, checked against the stored text; 'not stated' means the text read does not address the question.
A provision with several texts reads 'varies' where they disagree.
13 provisions, 13 texts.
Where we looked (13)
- 17 U.S. Code 101: definitions (architectural work) (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- 17 U.S. Code 102: subject matter of copyright (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- 17 U.S. Code 106: exclusive rights (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- 17 U.S. Code 120: scope of exclusive rights in architectural works (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- 17 U.S. Code 201: ownership of copyright (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- 17 U.S. Code 204: execution of transfers (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- U.S. Copyright Office Circular 41: copyright claims in architectural works (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- CDPA 1988 s 4: artistic works (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- CDPA 1988 s 11: first ownership of copyright (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- CDPA 1988 s 16: the acts restricted by copyright (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- CDPA 1988 s 90: assignment and licences (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- UK GDPR Article 4: definitions (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
- UK GDPR Article 5: principles (quoted for reporting from the publisher's US and UK statute texts and the Copyright Office's circular)
Reference or embed these figures
4 of 13 US and UK texts read decide who owns a building's drawings, newest read 28 October 2026.
What the provision guards, by provision: a building design as a protected work 4 of 13, the copyright owner's exclusive rights 3 of 13, who first owns a work 2 of 13, what counts as personal data and how it is handled 2 of 13, how ownership passes to someone else 2 of 13 (13 provisions, read 28 October 2026).
What it does to a sale of a builder's records, by provision: defines the terms the rules use 5 of 13, decides who owns the drawings 4 of 13, limits what the builder may do with a design it does not own 3 of 13, sets conditions before records are used 1 of 13 (13 provisions, read 28 October 2026).
What it says, in its own words, by provision: stated 13 of 13 (13 provisions, read 28 October 2026).
Citation: "The law on a builder's plans and project records", updated 2026-10-28, https://sellhomebuilderdatatoai.com/datasets/homebuilder-records-sale-law/.
Save the CSV (39 answers as of 2026-10-28)