Blank forms and similar works designed to record rather than to convey information
cannot be protected by copyright.
In order to be protected by copyright, a work must contain at least a certain
minimum amount of original literary, pictorial, or musical expression. Copyright
does not extend to names, titles, and short phrases or clauses such as column
headings or simple checklists. The format, arrangement, or typography of a
work is not protected. Furthermore, copyright protection does not extend to
works consisting entirely of information that is common property containing
no original authorship, for example: standard calendars, height and weight
charts, tape measures and rulers, schedules of sporting events, and lists
or tables taken from public documents or other common sources.
Only the actual expression of the author can be protected by copyright.
The ideas, plans, methods, or systems described or embodied in a work are
not protected by copyright. Thus, there is no way to secure copyright protection
for the idea or principle behind a blank form or similar work or for any of
the methods or systems involved in it.
An original literary or pictorial work is subject to copyright registration
even though it is published in conjunction with a blank form or other material
not protected by copyright, provided that the requirements of the copyright
law have been met. However, copyright in such a case would extend protection
only to the original literary or pictorial expression used by the author,
as distinguished from the blank form or other unprotected aspects of the work.
For example: copyright protection for original photographs or an original
compilation of terms or phrases published in conjunction with a blank form
would extend only to the original photographs or compilation of terms or phrases
and not to the blank form.
Rev: February 1999
This electronic version has been altered slightly from the original printed
text for presentation on the World Wide Web. For a copy of the original
circular, consult the PDF
version or write to Copyright Office, 101 Independence Avenue S.E., Washington,
D.C. 20559-6000.
