The other top-level comments are correct that copyrightable works created by the federal goverment are in the public domain. But federal agencies can and do cla

The other top-level comments are correct that copyrightable works created by the federal goverment are in the public domain. But federal agencies can and do claim trademark protections: You cannot use U.S. government trademarks or the logos of U.S. government agencies without permission. For example, you cannot use an agency logo or trademark on your social media page. [0] In other words, the article's line of speculation, including its title (note the question mark), is obviously incorrect, but it can be made sound merely by substituting "IP" or "trademark" for "copyright". The article would otherwise read substantially the same, as parody is likewise a defense to trademark infringement on First Amendment grounds, just as it is in copyright cases. (The standard is higher for a successful free-speech defense of trademark infringement, though). 0. http://www.usa.gov/copyright.shtml http://www.usa.gov/copyright.shtml ; this claim isn't entirely correct. Legal protections of government trademarks are mostly limited to uses which could cause confusion about an agency's position or endorsement of a statement or product. Use of logos of a federal agencies in some other common ways is legal. (Think t-shirts emblazoned with the letters "FBI".)