Limited publication

Under U.S. copyright law, a limited publication


 * communicates the contents of a (work) . . . to a definitely selected group and for a limited purpose, and without the right of diffusion, reproduction, distribution or sale . . . (and) does not result in loss of the author's common-law right to his (work). . . . (T)he circulation must be restricted both as to persons and purpose, or it can not be called a private or limited publication.

The restrictions can be implied as well as express.