Overview of basic facts about copyright and copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office, covering works eligible for protection, rights of copyright owners, who can claim copyright, and copyright duration.

PDF (109 KB)

Guidelines for submitting a complete, accurate copyright claim, covering online and paper applications, filing fees, deposit copies, communicating with the Office, and determining when registration takes effect.

PDF (98 KB)

Introduction to copyright notice, covering the elements of notice, where notice is required and where it is optional, legal formalities, and advantages to including notice.

PDF (125 KB)

Details regarding the Office’s fee schedule, services, and acceptable methods of payment.

PDF (127 KB)

The U.S. Copyright Office maintains a system of deposit accounts for the convenience of frequent users of the Office’s services. This circular outlines the regulations for opening and using an account.

PDF (98 KB)

Basic information regarding renewal registration for works that first secured federal protection between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1977, covering incentives for renewal registration, ownership during the renewal term, and procedure for registering a renewal claim.

PDF (99 KB)

Discussion of the “best edition” requirements for works submitted for copyright registration or for the mandatory deposit provision in the copyright law.

PDF (121 KB)

Instructions for when you respond to a mandatory deposit notice by registering your work.

PDF (80 KB)

The copyright law’s “mandatory deposit” provision requires that two copies of the “best edition” of a copyrightable work published in the United States be sent to the Copyright Office within three months of publication. This circular covers general mandatory deposit requirements, special rules and exemptions, submission procedures, penalties, and special relief.

PDF (230 KB)

Policies and procedures for correcting or amplifying information in an existing copyright registration, including new online application process.

PDF (135 KB)

See

temporary procedures for special handling during COVID-19 pandemic.

Practices and procedures for special handling, a service to expedite claims for applicants with pending or prospective litigation, customs matters, or contract or publishing deadlines. PDF (116 KB)

Eligibility and guidelines for submitting a complete, accurate copyright claim using the Single Application.

PDF (95 KB)

Introductory information regarding recordation of transfers of copyright ownership and other documents pertaining to copyright. Note that some of the information in this Circular, in particular the requirements for recordation, have been superseded by the Copyright Office’s final rule on fees for recording documents with electronic title lists and interim rule on document recordation. For information regarding current practices, please visit the Office’s Recordation web page.

Information for calculating the fee to record documents and notices of termination with the Copyright Office.

PDF (104 KB)

Outline for how to make sure your intended use of a copyrighted work is lawful by obtaining permission or a license from the copyright owner.

PDF (95 KB)

Limitations on information and services provided by the Copyright Office. The Copyright Office cannot provide legal advice, enforce copyright, assist in the use of copyrighted works, compare works, or grant access to certain records.

PDF (94 KB)

Overview of how information you provide on your copyright application is available to the public and procedures for substituting and—in limited cases—removing information from the online record.

PDF (325 KB)

Overview of the time frames to respond to Copyright Office correspondence and introduces some of the consequences of failing to reply in a timely manner, including permanent closure of a registration application and delay in the effective date of registration or recordation.

PDF (98 KB)

Overview of administrative process for requesting reconsideration of a refused application.

PDF (102 KB)

Requirements and registration issues for group registration of unpublished works, including eligibility, registration procedure, and deposit requirements.

PDF (407 KB)

Introduction to “work made for hire,” covering the legal requirements for a work made for hire and who is considered the author and the copyright owner.

PDF (110 KB)

Introduces the role of pseudonyms in copyright law, including effect on duration and registration procedures

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Highlight of different types of works and subject matter that do not qualify for copyright protection, including ideas, methods, and systems; names, titles, and short phrases; typeface, fonts, and lettering; blank forms; and familiar symbols and designs.

PDF (91 KB)

Introduction to the Office’s practices and procedures for the limited cases when multiple works can be registered on one application, including collective works, group registrations, unpublished collections, and works packaged as a single unit.

PDF (98 KB)

Brief overview of the international conventions, treaties, and other bilateral instruments that the United States has concluded with other countries, and it details the participation of other countries in these same instruments.

PDF (361 KB)

Requirements and registration issues involving architectural works, including authorship, completing the application, and submitting a deposit.

PDF (93 KB)

Requirements and registration issues involving photographs, including publication and group registration.

PDF (84 KB)

Requirements and registration issues involving musical compositions, including completing the application, submitting a deposit, and registering multiple unpublished musical compositions.

PDF (133 KB)

Requirements and registration issues involving choreography and pantomime, including works published before January 1, 1978, fixation, works not protected as choreography or pantomime, compilations, and derivative works.

PDF (97 KB)

Requirements and registration issues involving sound recordings, including the distinction between sound recordings and other works, completing the application, deposit requirements, registering multiple sound recordings, and the scope of copyright protection in sound recordings.

PDF (199 KB)

Requirements and registration issues for group registration of musical works on an album, including eligibility, registration procedure, and deposit requirements.

PDF (119 KB)

Requirements and registration issues involving computer programs, including HTML, deposits and trade secrets, derivative computer programs, CD-ROMs, computer screen displays, user manuals, video games, and object code.

PDF (103 KB)

Requirements and procedures for registration of a single serial issue.

PDF (181 KB)

Requirements and registration issues involving newspapers, including group registration eligibility, registration procedure, and deposit requirements.

PDF (87 KB)

Requirements and registration issues involving group registration of serials.

PDF (99 KB)

Requirements and registration issues involving contributions to periodicals, such as articles, artwork, poetry, or photographs.

PDF (133 KB)

Requirements and registration issues involving secure tests and secure test items, including eligibility for secure test and test item procedures, scope of registration, and overview of registration process.

PDF (150 KB)

Requirements and registration issues involving websites and website content, including authorship, copyrightable content, publication, and deposit requirements for website content.

PDF (104 KB)

Requirements and registration issues for group registration of short online literary works, including eligibility, registration procedure, and deposit requirements.

PDF (98 KB)

On October 11, 2018, the Orrin G. Hatch–Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act (MMA) was signed into law. Among other things, it makes significant changes to the section 115 compulsory license. The Office will be updating Circulars to account for the new law. Please visit the Office’s MMA

homepage for more information.

Instructions for wire royalty payments.

PDF (122 KB)

Instructions for ACH credit royalty payments.

PDF (110 KB)

Instructions for Pay.gov royalty payments.

PDF (107 KB)

Overview of the Licensing Division of the U.S. Copyright Office .

PDF (76 KB)

Details regarding the Office’s fee schedule, services, and acceptable methods of payment for the Licensing Division.

PDF 73 KB)