Copyright Basics
Table of Contents
•What Is Copyright?
•Who Can Claim Copyright
•Copyright and National Origin of the Work
•What Works Are Protected?
•What Is Not Protected by Copyright?
•How to Secure Copyright
•Publication
•Notice of Copyright
o Form of Notice for Visually Perceptible Copies
o Form of Notice for Phonorecords of Sound Recordings
o Position of Notice
o Publications Incorporating U.S. Government Works
o Unpublished Works
o Omission of Notice and Errors in Notice
•How Long Copyright Protection Endures
•Transfer of Copyright
o Termination of Transfers
•International Copyright Protection
•Copyright Registration
•Registration Procedures
o Original Registration
o Special Deposit Requirements
o Unpublished Collections
•Effective Date of Registration
•Corrections and Amplifications of Existing Registrations
•Mandatory Deposit for Works Published in the United States
•Use of Mandatory Deposit to Satisfy Registration Requirements
•Who May File an Application Form?
•Application Forms
•Fill-in Forms
•Fees
•Search of Copyright Office Records
•For Further Information
WHAT IS COPYRIGHT?
Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S.
Code) to the authors of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical,
artistic, and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published
and unpublished works. Section 106 of the 1976 Copyright Act generally gives the owner of
copyright the exclusive right to do and to authorize others to do the following:
•To reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords;
•To prepare derivative works based upon the work;
•To distribute copies or phonorecords of the work to the public by sale or other
transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending;
•To perform the work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and
choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works;
•To display the copyrighted work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic,
and choreographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works,
including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work; and
•In the case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital
audio transmission.
In addition, certain authors of works of visual art have the rights of attribution and integrity
as described in section 106A of the 1976 Copyright Act. For further information, request
Circular 40, “Copyright Registration for Works of the Visual Arts.”
It is illegal for anyone to violate any of the rights provided by the copyright law to the
owner of copyright. These rights, however, are not unlimited in scope. Sections 107 through
121 of the 1976 Copyright Act establish limitations on these rights. In some cases, these
limitations are specified exemptions from copyright liability. One major limitation is the
doctrine of "fair use," which is given a statutory basis in section 107 of the 1976 Copyright
Act. In other instances, the limitation takes the form of a "compulsory license" under which
certain limited uses of copyrighted works are permitted upon payment of specified royalties
and compliance with statutory conditions. For further information about the limitations of
any of these rights, consult the copyright law or write to the Copyright Office.
WHO CAN CLAIM COPYRIGHT
Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form. The copyright
in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who created the
work. Only the author or those deriving their rights through the author can rightfully claim
copyright.
In the case of works made for hire, the employer and not the employee is considered to be
the author. Section 101 of the copyright law defines a "work made for hire" as:
•(1) a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or
•(2) a work specially ordered or commissioned for use as:
o a contribution to a collective work
o a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work
o a translation
o a supplementary work
o a compilation
o an instructional text
o a test
o answer material for a test
o an atlas
if the parties expressly agree in a written instrument signed by them that the work shall be
considered a work made for hire....
The authors of a joint work are co-owners of the copyright in the work, unless there is an
agreement to the contrary.
Copyright in each separate contribution to a periodical or other collective work is distinct
from copyright in the collective work as a whole and vests initially with the author of the
contribution.
Two General Principles
•Mere ownership of a book, manuscript, painting, or any other copy or phonorecord
does not give the possessor the copyright. The law provides that transfer of
ownership of any material object that embodies a protected work does not of itself
convey any rights in the copyright.
•Minors may claim copyright, but state laws may regulate the business dealings
involving copyrights owned by minors. For information on relevant state laws,
consult an attorney.
COPYRIGHT AND NATIONAL ORIGIN OF THE WORK
Copyright protection is available for all unpublished works, regardless of the nationality or
domicile of the author.
Published works are eligible for copyright protection in the United States if any one of the
following conditions is met:
•On the date of first publication, one or more of the authors is a national or
domiciliary of the United States, or is a national, domiciliary, or sovereign authority
of a treaty party,* or is a stateless person wherever that person may be domiciled; or
* A treaty party is a country or intergovernmental organization other than the United
States that is a party to an international agreement.
•The work is first published in the United States or in a foreign nation that, on the date
of first publication, is a treaty party. For purposes of this condition, a work that is
published in the United States or a treaty party within 30 days after publication in a
foreign nation that is not a treaty party shall be considered to be first published in the
United States or such treaty party, as the case may be; or
•The work is a sound recording that was first fixed in a treaty party; or
•The work is a pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work that is incorporated in a building
or other structure, or an architectural work that is embodied in a building and the
building or structure is located in the United States or a treaty party; or
•The work is first published by the United Nations or any of its specialized agencies,
or by the Organization of American States; or
•The work is a foreign work that was in the public domain in the United States prior to
1996 and its copyright was restored under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act
(URAA). Request Circular 38b, "Highlights of Copyright Amendments Contained in
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA-GATT)," for further information.
•The work comes within the scope of a Presidential proclamation.
WHAT WORKS ARE PROTECTED?
Copyright protects "original works of authorship" that are fixed in a tangible form of
expression. The fixation need not be directly perceptible so long as it may be communicated
with the aid of a machine or device. Copyrightable works include the following categories:
1. literary works;
2. musical works, including any accompanying words
3. dramatic works, including any accompanying music
4. pantomimes and choreographic works
5. pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
6. motion pictures and other audiovisual works
7. sound recordings
8. architectural works
These categories should be viewed broadly. For example, computer programs and most
"compilations" may be registered as "literary works"; maps and architectural plans may be
registered as "pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works."
WHAT IS NOT PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT?
Several categories of material are generally not eligible for federal copyright protection.
These include among others:
•Works that have not been fixed in a tangible form of expression (for example,
choreographic works that have not been notated or recorded, or improvisational
speeches or performances that have not been written or recorded)
•Titles, names, short phrases, and slogans; familiar symbols or designs; mere
variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, or coloring; mere listings of
ingredients or contents
•Ideas, procedures, methods, systems, processes, concepts, principles, discoveries, or
devices, as distinguished from a description, explanation, or illustration
•Works consisting entirely of information that is common property and containing no
original authorship (for example: standard calendars, height and weight charts, tape
measures and rulers, and lists or tables taken from public documents or other
common sources)
HOW TO SECURE A COPYRIGHT
Copyright Secured Automatically upon Creation
The way in which copyright protection is secured is frequently misunderstood. No
publication or registration or other action in the Copyright Office is required to secure
copyright. (See following Note.) There are, however, certain definite advantages to
registration. See "Copyright Registration."
Copyright is secured automatically when the work is created, and a work is "created" when
it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time. "Copies" are material objects from
which a work can be read or visually perceived either directly or with the aid of a machine
or device, such as books, manuscripts, sheet music, film, videotape, or microfilm.
"Phonorecords" are material objects embodying fixations of sounds (excluding, by statutory
definition, motion picture soundtracks), such as cassette tapes, CDs, or LPs. Thus, for
example, a song (the "work") can be fixed in sheet music (" copies") or in phonograph disks
(" phonorecords"), or both.
If a work is prepared over a period of time, the part of the work that is fixed on a particular
date constitutes the created work as of that date.
PUBLICATION
Publication is no longer the key to obtaining federal copyright as it was under the Copyright
Act of 1909. However, publication remains important to copyright owners.
The 1976 Copyright Act defines publication as follows:
"Publication" is the distribution of copies or phonorecords of a work to the public by sale or
other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending. The offering to distribute copies
or phonorecords to a group of persons for purposes of further distribution, public
performance, or public display constitutes publication. A public performance or display of a
work does not of itself constitute publication.
NOTE: Before 1978, federal copyright was generally secured by the act of
publication with notice of copyright, assuming compliance with all other relevant
statutory conditions. U. S. works in the public domain on January 1, 1978, (for
example, works published without satisfying all conditions for securing federal
copyright under the Copyright Act of 1909) remain in the public domain under the
1976 Copyright Act.
Certain foreign works originally published without notice had their copyrights
restored under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA). Request Circular
38b and see the "Notice of Copyright" section of this publication for further
information.
Federal copyright could also be secured before 1978 by the act of registration in
the case of certain unpublished works and works eligible for ad interim copyright.
The 1976 Copyright Act automatically extends to full term (section 304 sets the
term) copyright for all works, including those subject to ad interim copyright if ad
interim registration has been made on or before June 30, 1978.
A further discussion of the definition of "publication" can be found in the legislative history
of the 1976 Copyright Act. The legislative reports define "to the public" as distribution to
persons under no explicit or implicit restrictions with respect to disclosure of the contents.
The reports state that the definition makes it clear that the sale of phonorecords constitutes
publication of the underlying work, for example, the musical, dramatic, or literary work
embodied in a phonorecord. The reports also state that it is clear that any form of
dissemination in which the material object does not change hands, for example,
performances or displays on television, is not a publication no matter how many people are
exposed to the work. However, when copies or phonorecords are offered for sale or lease to
a group of wholesalers, broadcasters, or motion picture theaters, publication does take place
if the purpose is further distribution, public performance, or public display.
Publication is an important concept in the copyright law for several reasons:
•Works that are published in the United States are subject to mandatory deposit with
the Library of Congress. See discussion on "Mandatory Deposit for Works Published
in the United States."
•Publication of a work can affect the limitations on the exclusive rights of the
copyright owner that are set forth in sections 107 through 121 of the law.
•The year of publication may determine the duration of copyright protection for
anonymous and pseudonymous works (when the author's identity is not revealed in
the records of the Copyright Office) and for works made for hire.
•Deposit requirements for registration of published works differ from those for
registration of unpublished works. See discussion on "Registration Procedures."
•When a work is published, it may bear a notice of copyright to identify the year of
publication and the name of the copyright owner and to inform the public that the
work is protected by copyright. Copies of works published before March 1, 1989,
must bear the notice or risk loss of copyright protection. See discussion on "Notice of
Copyright" below.
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT
The use of a copyright notice is no longer required under U. S. law, although it is often
beneficial. Because prior law did contain such a requirement, however, the use of notice is
still relevant to the copyright status of older works.
Notice was required under the 1976 Copyright Act. This requirement was eliminated when
the United States adhered to the Berne Convention, effective March 1, 1989. Although
works published without notice before that date could have entered the public domain in the
United States, the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA) restores copyright in certain
foreign works originally published without notice. For further information about copyright
amendments in the URAA, request Circular 38b.
The Copyright Office does not take a position on whether copies of works first published
with notice before March 1, 1989, which are distributed on or after March 1, 1989, must
bear the copyright notice.
Use of the notice may be important because it informs the public that the work is protected
by copyright, identifies the copyright owner, and shows the year of first publication.
Furthermore, in the event that a work is infringed, if a proper notice of copyright appears on
the published copy or copies to which a defendant in a copyright infringement suit had
access, then no weight shall be given to such a defendant's interposition of a defense based
on innocent infringement in mitigation of actual or statutory damages, except as provided in
section 504(c)(2) of the copyright law. Innocent infringement occurs when the infringer did
not realize that the work was protected.
The use of the copyright notice is the responsibility of the copyright owner and does not
require advance permission from, or registration with, the Copyright Office.
Form of Notice for Visually Perceptible Copies
The notice for visually perceptible copies should contain all the following three elements:
1. The symbol © (the letter C in a circle), or the word "Copyright," or the abbreviation
"Copr."; and
2. The year of first publication of the work. In the case of compilations or derivative
works incorporating previously published material, the year date of first publication of the
compilation or derivative work is sufficient. The year date may be omitted where a pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work, with accompanying textual matter, if any, is reproduced in or on greeting cards, postcards, stationery, jewelry, dolls, toys, or any useful article; and
3. The name of the owner of copyright in the work, or an abbreviation by which the name
can be recognized, or a generally known alternative designation of the owner.
Example: © 2002 John Doe
The "C in a circle" notice is used only on "visually perceptible copies." Certain kinds of
works--for example, musical, dramatic, and literary works--may be fixed not in "copies" but by means of sound in an audio recording. Since audio recordings such as audio tapes and phonograph disks are "phonorecords" and not "copies," the "C in a circle" notice is not used to indicate protection of the underlying musical, dramatic, or literary work that is recorded.
Form of Notice for Phonorecords of Sound Recordings*
* Sound recordings are defined in the law as "works that result from the fixation of a series
of musical, spoken, or other sounds, but not including the sounds accompanying a motion
picture or other audiovisual work." Common examples include recordings of music, drama,
or lectures. A sound recording is not the same as a phonorecord. A phonorecord is the
physical object in which works of authorship are embodied. The word "phonorecord"
includes cassette tapes, CDs, LPs, 45 r. p. m. disks, as well as other formats.
The notice for phonorecords embodying a sound recording should contain all the following
three elements:
1. The symbol (the letter P in a circle); and
2. The year of first publication of the sound recording; and
3. The name of the owner of copyright in the sound recording, or an abbreviation by which
the name can be recognized, or a generally known alternative designation of the owner. If
the producer of the sound recording is named on the phonorecord label or container and if
no other name appears in conjunction with the notice, the producer's name shall be
considered a part of the notice.
Example: 2002 A. B. C. Records Inc.
NOTE: Since questions may arise from the use of variant forms of the notice, you
may wish to seek legal advice before using any form of the notice other than those
given here.
Position of Notice
The copyright notice should be affixed to copies or phonorecords in such a way as to "give
reasonable notice of the claim of copyright." The three elements of the notice should
ordinarily appear together on the copies or phonorecords or on the phonorecord label or
container. The Copyright Office has issued regulations concerning the form and position of
the copyright notice in the Code of Federal Regulations (37 CFR Section 201.20). For more
information, request Circular 3, "Copyright Notice."
Publications Incorporating U. S. Government Works
Works by the U. S. Government are not eligible for U. S. copyright protection. For works
published on and after March 1, 1989, the previous notice requirement for works consisting
primarily of one or more U. S. Government works has been eliminated. However, use of a
notice on such a work will defeat a claim of innocent infringement as previously described
provided the notice also includes a statement that identifies either those portions of the work
in which copyright is claimed or those portions that constitute U. S. Government material.
Example: © 2002 Jane Brown. Copyright claimed in Chapters 7-10, exclusive of U. S.
Government maps
Copies of works published before March 1, 1989, that consist primarily of one or more
works of the U. S. Government should have a notice and the identifying statement.
Unpublished Works
The author or copyright owner may wish to place a copyright notice on any unpublished
copies or phonorecords that leave his or her control.
Example: Unpublished work © 2002 Jane Doe
Omission of the Notice and Errors in Notice
The 1976 Copyright Act attempted to ameliorate the strict consequences of failure to
include notice under prior law. It contained provisions that set out specific corrective steps
to cure omissions or certain errors in notice. Under these provisions, an applicant had 5
years after publication to cure omission of notice or certain errors. Although these
provisions are technically still in the law, their impact has been limited by the amendment
making notice optional for all works published on and after March 1, 1989. For further
information, request Circular 3, "Copyright Notice."
HOW LONG COPYRIGHT PROTECTION ENDURES
Works Originally Created on or after January 1, 1978
A work that is created (fixed in tangible form for the first time) on or after January 1, 1978,
is automatically protected from the moment of its creation and is ordinarily given a term
enduring for the author's life plus an additional 70 years after the author's death. In the case
of "a joint work prepared by two or more authors who did not work for hire," the term lasts
for 70 years after the last surviving author's death. For works made for hire, and for
anonymous and pseudonymous works (unless the author's identity is revealed in Copyright
Office records), the duration of copyright will be 95 years from publication or 120 years
from creation, whichever is shorter.
Works Originally Created before January 1, 1978, But Not Published or Registered by That Date
These works have been automatically brought under the statute and are now given federal
copyright protection. The duration of copyright in these works will generally be computed
in the same way as for works created on or after January 1, 1978: the life-plus-70 or 95/120-
year terms will apply to them as well. The law provides that in no case will the term of
copyright for works in this category expire before December 31, 2002, and for works
published on or before December 31, 2002, the term of copyright will not expire before
December 31, 2047.
Works Originally Created and Published or Registered before January 1, 1978
Under the law in effect before 1978, copyright was secured either on the date a work was
published with a copyright notice or on the date of registration if the work was registered in
unpublished form. In either case, the copyright endured for a first term of 28 years from the
date it was secured. During the last (28th) year of the first term, the copyright was eligible
for renewal. The Copyright Act of 1976 extended the renewal term from 28 to 47 years for
copyrights that were subsisting on January 1, 1978, or for pre-1978 copyrights restored
under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA), making these works eligible for a total
term of protection of 75 years. Public Law 105-298, enacted on October 27, 1998, further
extended the renewal term of copyrights still subsisting on that date by an additional 20
years, providing for a renewal term of 67 years and a total term of protection of 95 years.
Public Law 102-307, enacted on June 26, 1992, amended the 1976 Copyright Act to provide
for automatic renewal of the term of copyrights secured between January 1, 1964, and
December 31, 1977. Although the renewal term is automatically provided, the Copyright
Office does not issue a renewal certificate for these works unless a renewal application and
fee are received and registered in the Copyright Office.
Public Law 102-307 makes renewal registration optional. Thus, filing for renewal
registration is no longer required in order to extend the original 28-year copyright term to
the full 95 years. However, some benefits accrue from making a renewal registration during
the 28th year of the original term.
For more detailed information on renewal of copyright and the copyright term, request
Circular 15, "Renewal of Copyright"; Circular 15a, "Duration of Copyright"; and Circular
15t, "Extension of Copyright Terms."
TRANSFER OF COPYRIGHT
Any or all of the copyright owner's exclusive rights or any subdivision of those rights may
be transferred, but the transfer of exclusive rights is not valid unless that transfer is in
writing and signed by the owner of the rights conveyed or such owner's duly authorized
agent. Transfer of a right on a nonexclusive basis does not require a written agreement.
A copyright may also be conveyed by operation of law and may be bequeathed by will or
pass as personal property by the applicable laws of intestate succession.
Copyright is a personal property right, and it is subject to the various state laws and
regulations that govern the ownership, inheritance, or transfer of personal property as well
as terms of contracts or conduct of business. For information about relevant state laws,
consult an attorney.
Transfers of copyright are normally made by contract. The Copyright Office does not have
any forms for such transfers. The law does provide for the recordation in the Copyright
Office of transfers of copyright ownership. Although recordation is not required to make a
valid transfer between the parties, it does provide certain legal advantages and may be
required to validate the transfer as against third parties. For information on recordation of
transfers and other documents related to copyright, request Circular 12, "Recordation of
Transfers and Other Documents."
Termination of Transfers
Under the previous law, the copyright in a work reverted to the author, if living, or if the
author was not living, to other specified beneficiaries, provided a renewal claim was
registered in the 28th year of the original term.* The present law drops the renewal feature
except for works already in the first term of statutory protection when the present law took
effect. Instead, the present law permits termination of a grant of rights after 35 years under
certain conditions by serving written notice on the transferee within specified time limits.
*The copyright in works eligible for renewal on or after June 26, 1992, will vest in the name
of the renewal claimant on the effective date of any renewal registration made during the
28th year of the original term. Otherwise, the renewal copyright will vest in the party
entitled to claim renewal as of December 31st of the 28th year.
For works already under statutory copyright protection before 1978, the present law
provides a similar right of termination covering the newly added years that extended the
former maximum term of the copyright from 56 to 95 years. For further information, request
Circulars 15a and 15t.
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
There is no such thing as an "international copyright" that will automatically protect an
author's writings throughout the entire world. Protection against unauthorized use in a
particular country depends, basically, on the national laws of that country. However, most
countries do offer protection to foreign works under certain conditions, and these conditions
have been greatly simplified by international copyright treaties and conventions. For further
information and a list of countries that maintain copyright relations with the United States,
request Circular 38a, "International Copyright Relations of the United States."
COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION
In general, copyright registration is a legal formality intended to make a public record of the
basic facts of a particular copyright. However, registration is not a condition of copyright
protection. Even though registration is not a requirement for protection, the copyright law
provides several inducements or advantages to encourage copyright owners to make
registration. Among these advantages are the following:
•Registration establishes a public record of the copyright claim.
•Before an infringement suit may be filed in court, registration is necessary for works
of U. S. origin.
•If made before or within 5 years of publication, registration will establish prima facie
evidence in court of the validity of the copyright and of the facts stated in the
certificate.
•If registration is made within 3 months after publication of the work or prior to an
infringement of the work, statutory damages and attorney's fees will be available to
the copyright owner in court actions. Otherwise, only an award of actual damages
and profits is available to the copyright owner.
•Registration allows the owner of the copyright to record the registration with the U.
S. Customs Service for protection against the importation of infringing copies. For
additional information, request Publication No. 563 "How to Protect Your
Intellectual Property Right," from: U.S. Customs Service, P.O. Box 7404,
Washington, D.C. 20044. See the U.S. Customs Service Website at
www.customs.gov for online publications.
Registration may be made at any time within the life of the copyright. Unlike the law before
1978, when a work has been registered in unpublished form, it is not necessary to make
another registration when the work becomes published, although the copyright owner may
register the published edition, if desired.
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
Original Registration
To register a work, send the following three elements in the same envelope or package to:
Library of Congress
Copyright Office
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20559-6000
1. A properly completed application form.
2. A nonrefundable filing fee of $30 for each application.
NOTE: Copyright Office fees are subject to change. For current fees, please
check the Copyright Office Website at www.copyright.gov, write the Copyright
Office, or call (202) 707-3000.
3.
4.A nonreturnable deposit of the work being registered. The deposit requirements vary
in particular situations. The general requirements follow. Also note the information
under "Special Deposit Requirements."
•If the work was first published in the United States on or after January 1, 1978, two
complete copies or phonorecords of the best edition.
•If the work was first published in the United States before January 1, 1978, two
complete copies or phonorecords of the work as first published.
•If the work was first published outside the United States, one complete copy or
phonorecord of the work as first published.
•If sending multiple works, all applications, deposits, and fees should be sent in the
same package. If possible, applications should be attached to the appropriate deposit.
Whenever possible, number each package (e. g., 1 of 3, 2 of 4) to facilitate
processing.
What Happens if the Three Elements Are Not Received Together
Applications and fees received without appropriate copies, phonorecords, or identifying
material will not be processed and ordinarily will be returned. Unpublished deposits without
applications or fees ordinarily will be returned, also. In most cases, published deposits
received without applications and fees can be immediately transferred to the collections of
the Library of Congress. This practice is in accordance with section 408 of the law, which
provides that the published deposit required for the collections of the Library of Congress
may be used for registration only if the deposit is "accompanied by the prescribed
application and fee...."
After the deposit is received and transferred to another service unit of the Library for its
collections or other disposition, it is no longer available to the Copyright Office. If you wish
to register the work, you must deposit additional copies or phonorecords with your
application and fee.
Renewal Registration
To register a renewal, send:
1. A properly completed application Form RE and, if necessary, Form RE Addendum,
and
2. A nonrefundable filing fee of $60 without Addendum; $90 with Addendum for each
application. (See Note above.) Each Addendum form must be accompanied by a
deposit representing the work being reviewed. See Circular 15, "Renewal of
Copyright."
NOTE: Complete the application form using black ink pen or type. You may
photocopy blank application forms. However, photocopied forms submitted to the
Copyright Office must be clear, legible, on a good grade of 8-1/2-inch by 11-inch
white paper suitable for automatic feeding through a photocopier. The forms
should be printed, preferably in black ink, head-to-head so that when you turn the
sheet over, the top of page 2 is directly behind the top of page 1. Forms not
meeting these requirements may be returned resulting in delayed
registration.
Special Deposit Requirements
Special deposit requirements exist for many types of works. The following are prominent
examples of exceptions to the general deposit requirements:
•If the work is a motion picture, the deposit requirement is one complete copy of the
unpublished or published motion picture and a separate written description of its
contents, such as a continuity, press book, or synopsis.
•If the work is a literary, dramatic, or musical work published only in a
phonorecord, the deposit requirement is one complete phonorecord.
•If the work is an unpublished or published computer program, the deposit
requirement is one visually perceptible copy in source code of the first 25 and last
25 pages of the program. For a program of fewer than 50 pages, the deposit is a copy
of the entire program. For more information on computer program registration,
including deposits for revised programs and provisions for trade secrets, request
Circular 61, "Copyright Registration for Computer Programs."
•If the work is in a CD-ROM format, the deposit requirement is one complete copy of
the material, that is, the CD-ROM, the operating software, and any manual(s)
accompanying it. If registration is sought for the computer program on the CD-ROM,
the deposit should also include a printout of the first 25 and last 25 pages of source
code for the program.
In the case of works reproduced in three-dimensional copies, identifying material such as
photographs or drawings is ordinarily required. Other examples of special deposit
requirements (but by no means an exhaustive list) include many works of the visual arts
such as greeting cards, toys, fabrics, oversized materials (request Circular 40a, "Deposit
Requirements for Registration of Claims to Copyright in Visual Arts Material"); video
games and other machine-readable audiovisual works (request Circular 61); automated
databases (request Circular 65, "Copyright Registration for Automated Databases"); and
contributions to collective works. For information about deposit requirements for group
registration of serials, request Circular 62, "Copyright Registration for Serials."
If you are unsure of the deposit requirement for your work, write or call the Copyright
Office and describe the work you wish to register.
Unpublished Collections
Under the following conditions, a work may be registered in unpublished form as a
"collection," with one application form and one fee:
•The elements of the collection are assembled in an orderly form;
•The combined elements bear a single title identifying the collection as a whole;
•The copyright claimant in all the elements and in the collection as a whole is the
same; and
•All the elements are by the same author, or, if they are by different authors, at least
one of the authors has contributed copyrightable authorship to each element.
An unpublished collection is not indexed under the individual titles of the contents but
under the title of the collection.
NOTE: A Library of Congress Control Number is different from a copyright
registration number. The Cataloging in Publication (CIP) Division of the Library
of Congress is responsible for assigning LC Control Numbers and is operationally
separate from the Copyright Office. A book may be registered in or deposited with
the Copyright Office but not necessarily cataloged and added to the Library's
collections. For information about obtaining an LC Control Number, see the
following homepage: http://pcn.loc.gov. For information on International Standard
Book Numbering (ISBN), write to: ISBN, R. R. Bowker, 630 Central Ave., New
Providence, NJ 07974. Call (877) 310-7333. For further information and to apply
online, see www.isbn.org. For information on International Standard Serial
Numbering (ISSN), write to: Library of Congress, National Serials Data Program,
Serial Record Division, Washington, D.C. 20540-4160. Call (202) 707-6452. Or
obtain information from www.loc.gov/issn.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF REGISTRATION
A copyright registration is effective on the date the Copyright Office receives all the
required elements in acceptable form, regardless of how long it then takes to process the
application and mail the certificate of registration. The time the Copyright Office requires to
process an application varies, depending on the amount of material the Office is receiving.
If you apply for copyright registration, you will not receive an acknowledgment that your
application has been received (the Office receives more than 600,000 applications annually),
but you can expect:
•A letter or a telephone call from a Copyright Office staff member if further
information is needed or
•A certificate of registration indicating that the work has been registered, or if the
application cannot be accepted, a letter explaining why it has been rejected.
Requests to have certificates available for pickup in the Public Information Office or to have certificates sent by Federal Express or another mail service cannot be honored.
If you want to know the date that the Copyright Office receives your material, send it by
registered or certified mail and request a return receipt.
CORRECTIONS AND AMPLIFICATIONS OF EXISTING REGISTRATIONS
To correct an error in a copyright registration or to amplify the information given in a
registration, file a supplementary registration form--Form CA-- with the Copyright Office.
The filing fee is $100. (See Note above.) The information in a supplementary registration
augments but does not supersede that contained in the earlier registration. Note also that a
supplementary registration is not a substitute for an original registration, for a renewal
registration, or for recording a transfer of ownership. For further information about
supplementary registration, request Circular 8, "Supplementary Copyright Registration."
MANDATORY DEPOSIT FOR WORKS PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES
Although a copyright registration is not required, the Copyright Act establishes a mandatory
deposit requirement for works published in the United States. See the definition of
"publication." In general, the owner of copyright or the owner of the exclusive right of
publication in the work has a legal obligation to deposit in the Copyright Office, within 3
months of publication in the United States, two copies (or in the case of sound recordings,
two phonorecords) for the use of the Library of Congress. Failure to make the deposit can
result in fines and other penalties but does not affect copyright protection.
Certain categories of works are exempt entirely from the mandatory deposit requirements,
and the obligation is reduced for certain other categories. For further information about
mandatory deposit, request Circular 7d, "Mandatory Deposit of Copies or Phonorecords for
the Library of Congress."
USE OF MANDATORY DEPOSIT TO SATISFY REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS
For works published in the United States, the copyright law contains a provision under
which a single deposit can be made to satisfy both the deposit requirements for the Library
and the registration requirements. In order to have this dual effect, the copies or
phonorecords must be accompanied by the prescribed application form and filing fee.
WHO MAY FILE AN APPLICATION FORM?
The following persons are legally entitled to submit an application form:
•The author. This is either the person who actually created the work or, if the work
was made for hire, the employer or other person for whom the work was prepared.
•The copyright claimant. The copyright claimant is defined in Copyright Office
regulations as either the author of the work or a person or organization that has
obtained ownership of all the rights under the copyright initially belonging to the
author. This category includes a person or organization who has obtained by contract
the right to claim legal title to the copyright in an application for copyright
registration.
•The owner of exclusive right(s). Under the law, any of the exclusive rights that
make up a copyright and any subdivision of them can be transferred and owned
separately, even though the transfer may be limited in time or place of effect. The
term "copyright owner" with respect to any one of the exclusive rights contained in a
copyright refers to the owner of that particular right. Any owner of an exclusive right
may apply for registration of a claim in the work.
•The duly authorized agent of such author, other copyright claimant, or owner of
exclusive right(s). Any person authorized to act on behalf of the author, other
copyright claimant, or owner of exclusive rights may apply for registration.
There is no requirement that applications be prepared or filed by an attorney.
APPLICATION FORMS
For Original Registration
Form PA:
for published and unpublished works of the performing arts
(musical and dramatic works, pantomimes and choreographic
works, motion pictures and other audiovisual works)
Form SE: for serials, works issued or intended to be issued in successive
parts bearing numerical or chronological designations and
intended to be continued indefinitely (periodicals, newspapers,
magazines, newsletters, annuals, journals, etc.)
Form SR: for published and unpublished sound recordings
Form TX: for published and unpublished nondramatic literary works
Form VA: for published and unpublished works of the visual arts
(pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works, including
architectural works)
Form G/DN: a specialized form to register a complete month's issues of a
daily newspaper when certain conditions are met
Short Form/SE
and Form
SE/GROUP:
specialized SE forms for use when certain requirements are met
Short Forms TX,
PA, and VA:
short versions of applications for original registration. For
further information about using the short forms, request
publication SL-7.
Form GATT and
Form
GATT/GRP:
specialized forms to register a claim in a work or group of
related works in which U. S. copyright was restored under the
1994 Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA). For further
information, request Circular 38b.
For Renewal Registration
Form RE: for claims to renew copyright in works copyrighted under the law
in effect through December 31, 1977 (1909 Copyright Act) and
registered during the initial 28-year copyright term
Form RE
Addendum:
accompanies Form RE for claims to renew copyright in works
copyrighted under the 1909 Copyright Act but never registered
during their initial 28-year copyright term
For Corrections and Amplifications
Form
CA:
for supplementary registration to correct or amplify information given
in the Copyright Office record of an earlier registration
For a Group of Contributions to Periodicals
Form
GR/CP:
an adjunct application to be used for registration of a group of
contributions to periodicals in addition to an application Form TX, PA,
or VA
How to Obtain Application Forms
See "For Further Information."
You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader ® installed on your computer to view and print the
forms accessed on the Internet. Adobe Acrobat Reader may be downloaded free from
Adobe Systems Incorporated through links from the same Internet site from which the forms
are available.
Print forms head to head (top of page 2 is directly behind the top of page 1) on a single
piece of good quality, 8-1/2-inch by 11-inch white paper. To achieve the best quality copies
of the application forms, use a laser printer.
FILL-IN FORMS AVAILABLE
All Copyright Office forms are available on the Copyright Office Website in fill-in version.
Go to www.copyright.gov/forms and follow the instructions. The fill-in forms allow you to
enter information while the form is displayed on the screen by an Adobe Acrobat Reader
product. You may then print the completed form and mail it to the Copyright Office. Fill-in
forms provide a clean, sharp printout for your records and for filing with the Copyright
Office.
FEES
All remittances should be in the form of drafts, that is, checks, money orders, or bank drafts,
payable to: Register of Copyrights. Do not send cash. Drafts must be redeemable without
service or exchange fee through a U. S. institution, must be payable in U. S. dollars, and
must be imprinted with American Banking Association routing numbers. International
Money Orders and Postal Money Orders that are negotiable only at a post office are not
acceptable.
If a check received in payment of the filing fee is returned to the Copyright Office as
uncollectible, the Copyright Office will cancel the registration and will notify the remitter.
The filing fee for processing an original, supplementary, or renewal claim is nonrefundable,
whether or not copyright registration is ultimately made.
Do not send cash. The Copyright Office cannot assume any responsibility for the loss of
currency sent in payment of copyright fees. For further information, request Circular 4,
"Copyright Fees."
Certain Fees and Services May Be Charged to a Credit Card
Some fees may be charged by telephone and in person in the office. Others may only be
charged in person in the office. Credit card payments are generally authorized only for
services that do not require filing of applications or other materials. An exception is made
for fees related to items that are hand-carried into the Public Information Office.
Certifications and Documents Section: These fees may be charged in person in the office
or by phone: additional certificates; copies of documents and deposits; searching, locating
and retrieving deposits; certifications; and expedited processing.
Public Information Office: These fees may only be charged in person in the office, not by
phone: standard registration request forms; special handling requests for all standard
registration requests; requests for services provided by the Certifications and Documents
Section when the request is accompanied by a request for special handling; search requests
for which a fee estimate has been provided; additional fee for each claim using the same
deposit; full term retention fees; appeal fees; Secure Test processing fee; short fee payments
when accompanied by a Remittance Due Notice; in-process retrieval fees; and online
service providers fees.
Reference and Bibliography Section: Requests for searches on a regular or expedited
basis can be charged to a credit card by phone.
Records Maintenance Unit: Computer time on COINS, printing from the Optical Disk,
and photocopying can be charged in person in the office.
Fiscal Control Section: Deposit Accounts maintained by the Fiscal Control Section may be
replenished by credit card. See Circular 5, "How to Open and Maintain a Deposit Account
in the Copyright Office."
NIE recordations and claims filed on Forms GATT and GATT/GRP may be paid by credit
card if the card number is included in a separate letter that accompanies the form.
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