U.S. Copyright Office
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Delivery of Mail to the U.S. Copyright Office

Please be aware that all mail (U.S. Postal Service and private carrier) sent to the U.S. Copyright Office is being screened off-site prior to arrival on Capitol Hill. This process can add 3 to 5 days to the delivery time for all mail sent to the Copyright Office.

The effective date of registration of a work is still the day all the required elements in acceptable form are received, but relief from this may be available under interim regulations on mail disruption (37 CFR 201.8). If you are submitting a Special Handling request, please use the special-handling address listed in Circular 10.

To avoid damage to your deposit from Library security measures, please package the following items in boxes rather than envelopes for mailing to the Copyright Office:

• electronic media such as audiocassettes, videocassettes, CDs, and DVDs
• microform
• photographs
• slick advertisements, color photocopies, and other print items that are rubber- and vegetable-based

Also please note that CDs packaged in standard full-sized jewel boxes are more likely to survive the mail irradiation process than those packaged in slim-line cases.

Procedure for Courier Deliveries

On December 29, 2003, the Library of Congress implemented new security measures for deliveries made by commercial couriers and messengers. The Library no longer accepts on-site deliveries from these sources.

Place

Couriers must deliver materials for the Copyright Office to:

Congressional Courier Acceptance Site (CCAS)
2nd and D Streets, N.E.
Washington, D.C.

Short-term parking for cars and bicycles is available.

Time

Deliveries will be accepted at the CCAS Monday through Friday between 8:30 and 4:00 p.m. and will generally go to the Copyright Office by the next business day.

Date of Receipt

Couriers will no longer receive a receipt from the Copyright Office but will instead receive one dated by the CCAS. The Copyright Office will consider the date of receipt at CCAS as the date of receipt in the Copyright Office.

Size of Deliveries

  • A courier may deliver up to 10 items at a time.
  • Packages accepted at the CCAS may not exceed 4" x 14" x 18" in size.
  • Larger packages will not be accepted by the CCAS. The courier will be directed to deliver these packages to the off-site mail processing center.
Please note that this new mail procedure applies ONLY to couriers attempting to make deliveries to the Copyright Office. It does not apply to Copyright Office customers submitting their work through the postal mail or through private carriers (such as FedEx or UPS).

Submission of Works for Mandatory Deposit

If you received a mandatory notice from the Copyright Acquisitions Division requiring deposit within 90 days of receipt of the notice, please note that delays in the mail will be taken into account in enforcing the 90-day requirement.