Get back to us as soon as you have a legal definition for the term "depraved shit," so we can commence arrests.

As I recall, and I may very well be incorrect, the speech had been distributed on paper to some members of the press before it was given. The first copies bore no copyright mark, which was required back then. Someone realized that, and a copyright notice was applied to subsequent copies. Therefore, there certainly was an attempt to copyright it, but since it was first published without the notice, its status was in doubt. Apparently the subsequent estate lawsuit settled that though.

I'd check the facts for you, but, you know, Wikipedia SOPA strike blackout.

I'm looking real hard and I'm not seeing that. What I see is

15 (b) APPLICABILITY TO UNITED STATES CITIZENS
16 AND LAWFUL RESIDENT ALIENS.—
17 (1) UNITED STATES CITIZENS.—The require-
18 ment to detain a person in military custody under
19 this section does not extend to citizens of the United
20 States.

Which means it's optional to do so, just not required.

One small correction:

Copyright (in the US at least) is obtained when a work is created and affixed in a physical form. No publication, distribution, or registration necessary.

Carry on.

Bruce Campbell.

... said the giant pitcher that crashed through the wall.

It's spelled liberry. You're welcome.