is simple if you know what to do.
You will need to fill out the
appropriate form, supply a deposit copy
or copies of your work, as applicable, and
pay the $30 registration fee.
Click below on the type of work you wish to register.
You will be directed to the appropriate form to use,
and to further instructions from the Copyright Office
with regard to your particular type of work.
( Note, you will need to download a free copy of
Adobe Acrobat Reader
before you can read or print your form.)
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architectural works computer programs dance dolls or toys dramatic works drawing film font graphic artwork jewelry literary works (non-dramatic) multimedia work painting photograph poetry screenplay sculpture song or musical composition sound recording treatment for film, tv or video |
 w o r k s o fWorks of visual art such as paintings, sculptures, photographs, graphics, architectural works (to the extent protectible) and jewelry are registered using a Form VA from the Copyright Office. If you do not have copyright forms handy, you can download a form VA with instructions from the Copyright Office website. Don't forget to download a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader first. Fill out your form VA and prepare your deposit copy(ies) in accordance with the instructions provided. If you need further assistance, you can refer to the publication Copyright Registration for Works of Visual Art, regarding registering works of visual art. If you are seeking to register an architectural work, please refer to the Copyright Office Publication Copyright Claims in Architectural Works, as there are significant restrictions on registering these types of works. If you require assistance determining your deposit requirement, please see Deposit Requirements for Works of Visual Art for a complete list of deposit requirements for particular types of works. After you have completed all of the foregoing, you are ready to mail in your application and fee, as set forth below. Or, return to index. |
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a w o r d a b o u tIf you are seeking to register a font, you will run into problems, as fonts are specifically excluded from protection under the Copyright Act. The historical reason for this is that Congress wanted to prevent any one person from monopolizing letterforms. However, this law was enacted long before the proliferation of type as an artform per se. Now, especially with computer typography, type can be as artistic and invidualized as any other type of graphic work. Thus, if your font contains sufficient elements of creative expression you might try registering your alphabet as a work of visual art, just as you would any other graphic work. This won't protect your work specifically as a typeface, but may offer you some protection in the event of infringement if your work is sufficiently original. Return to index? |
w o r k s o f p e rWorks of performing art such as films, musical works,* dramatic works and dance are registered using a Form PA from the Copyright Office. If you do not have copyright forms, you can download a form PA with instructions from the Copyright Office website. Note, you will need to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader before you can read or print out your form. *Also note if you are the copyright claimant of both a song (composition) and the sound recording of that song, you may wish to register the sound recording and underlying composition under one registration. Please refer to the copyright office publication Copyright Registration for Musical Compositions and Sound Recordings for information. Fill out your form PA in accordance with the simple instructions provided. If you stil l have questions, you may want to refer to one of the following publications from the Copyright Office website: Copyright Registration for Musical Compositions or Copyright Registration for Motion Pictures, as applicable. Finally, mail in your application and fee, as set forth below. Or, return to index. |
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 s o u n d r e c o r d i n g sSound recordings, such as recordings of music, drama, or lectures, are registered using a Form SR from the Copyright Office. If you do not have copyright forms, download a form SR with instructions from the Copyright Office website. Don't forget to download a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader first. (Note that federal copyright protection for sound recordings did not exist before February 15, 1972. For works created/fixed before that time, common law protection may be available.) Next, fill out the form SR in accordance with the simple instructions provided. If you require further information, you may want to refer to the copyright office publication Copyright Registration for Sound Recordings After you have completed all of the foregoing, you are ready to mail in your application and fee, as set forth below. Or, return to index. |
 Non-dramatic literary works are literary works that are not meant to be performed. These include works of fiction and non-fiction, poetry, textbooks, advertising copy, directories and computer programs. Non-dramatic literary works are registered using a Form TX from the Copyright Office. (For literary works that are to be performed, such as screenplays and musical compositions, use a Form PA). If you do not have copyright forms handy, you can download a form TX with instructions from the Copyright Office website. Don't forget to download a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader first. . Next, fill out the Form TX and prepare your deposit materials in accordance with the simple instructions provided. There is some additional information available from the copyright office on Copyright Registration for Computer Programs. You might want to read this if you are registering a computer program, as the deposit requirements for these types of works can get a little tricky when you are dealing with a trade secret. After you have completed all of the foregoing, you are ready to mail in your application and fee, as set forth below. Return to index? |
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Multimedia works are works that encompass elements from different media, such as audiovisual elements, motion picture elements and sound recording elements. For the purpose of registering multimedia works, it is necessary to identify which types of elements are prevalent in the work, as this will determine the type of registration form should be used. For detailed instructions on registering multimedia works, including instructions regarding which type of form is appropriate for your work, please refer to the copyright office publication: Copyright Registration for Multimedia Works. Then, return to the appropriate section above for your form. Return to index? |
After you have completed your application and prepared your deposit
copy(ies), simply send a check or money order for $30 (per registration) payable
to the Register of Copyrights to:
Register of Copyrights
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20559-6000
Note that it will, in all likelihood, take several months
for the Copyright Office to process your application,
and you will not receive a confirmation of receipt.
However, a copyright registration is effective on the date the
Copyright Office has received all of the required elements
in acceptable form.with your completed application
What you need to deposit is dependent on the nature of your work.
If you do require special handling for some reason
(e.g., pending litigation), you can pay an extra $330 fee and get
your application expedited. In my experience it usually takes
about two weeks to get your work registered using expedited filing.
For more information, see Copyright Office Circular 10.
Good luck in all of your endeavors!
If you have additional questions, please post them to the
lawboard and I will try to answer as many as possible.
index
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form va
.
form pa
.
form sr
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form tx
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