The public domain status of US federal government works has been a point of envy for librarians working in Commonwealth countries for more than a century. Absent of the constructed barriers of copyright controls, anyone is able to freely reproduce, share, and build upon US federal government publications. This results in greater distribution, and thus greater visibility and impact, for the expertise of federal employees including scientists, policy analysts, and statisticians. It also helps prevent copyright chill, which occurs when legitimate rights are not exercised due to a fear of infringement, real or imagined.
