Which Form Should I Use?
What Form Do I Fill Out to Register My Copyright?
Online registration through the
electronic Copyright Office (eCO) is the preferred
way to register basic claims. The next best
option for registering basic claims is the new fill-in Form CO. Using
2-D barcode scanning technology, the Office can process these forms
much faster and more efficiently than paper forms completed manually.
Complete Form CO on your personal computer, print it out, and mail
it along with a check or money order and your deposit. Do not save
your filled-out Form CO and reuse it for another registration. The
2-D barcode it contains is unique for each work that you register.
name=whichform>Paper versions of Form TX (literary
works); Form VA (visual arts works); Form PA (performing arts works,
including motion pictures); Form SR (sound recordings); and Form
SE (single serials) are still available but not on the Copyright
Office website. However, staff will send them to you by postal mail
upon request. Remember that online registration through eCO and fill-in
Form CO can be used for these types of applications.
How do I copyright my business name? Which form do I use?
Names, titles, short phrases, and slogans are not copyrightable. You
may have protection under the federal trademark laws. Contact the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, 800-786-9199,
for more information.
How do I register an automated database?
See Circular 65, Copyright
Registration for Automated Databases, for information on registering
a database.
How do I register a computer software application I am creating?
See Circular 61, Copyright
Registration for Computer Programs for information on registering
a computer software application.
I have several copyrights on file with the Copyright Office, and
have moved since submitting those applications. Is there a form to
submit to change the address on my applications?
Although there is no statutory requirement to notify the Copyright Office
of a change of address, you may wish to have our records reflect such
information. There are several ways to do this: 1) You may file a document
listing all your registered works by title and registration number, along
with your new address. Your current address will then be included in
our records and be available to those who search the documents file.
However, the original registration records are not changed. See Circular
12, Recordation of Transfers and Other Documents, for more
information. 2) You may file a supplementary registration Form CA to
amend a completed registration to indicate the new address. If you have
multiple registrations, filing a Form CA only on the most recent registration
will effectively get your new address on record. See Circular 8, Supplementary
Copyright Registration, for more information. 3) Finally, filing
a registration for a new work in the future will also effectively get
your new address on record. For more information on fees, please
refer to Circular 4.
Note: The Copyright Office offers
introductory answers to frequently asked questions about copyright,
registration, and services of the Office. Links throughout the
answers will guide you to further information on our website
or from other sources. For any other questions, please visit
our Contact Us page. |
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