U.S. Copyright Office Forms
Primary Registration Method
Registration with Electronic Copyright Office (eCO)
To file a claim to copyright in your
work, we recommend you use the Copyright Office online system.
Advantages include:
- Lower filing fee of $35 for a basic claim (for online filings
only)
- Fastest processing time
- Online status tracking
- Secure payment by credit or debit card, electronic check, or Copyright
Office deposit account
- The ability to upload certain categories of deposits directly into
eCO as electronic files
Before filing online, please see eCO
Tips, eCO FAQs, or eCO
Tutorial.
Login to eCO: |
![eCO](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20081126192455im_/http://www.copyright.gov/images/ID_Web_eCO-2.png) |
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Alternate Registration Methods
1) Registration with Fill-In Form CO
The next best option for registering basic claims is the new fill-in Form CO, which replaces Forms TX, VA, PA, SE, and SR. Using 2-D barcode scanning technology, the Office can process these forms much faster and more efficiently than paper forms completed manually. Simply complete Form CO on your personal computer, print it out, and mail it along with a check or money order and your deposit. The fee for a basic registration on Form CO is $45.
Note: Form CO cannot be used for group registrations. Click here for group registration forms.
Copyright Office application forms are available in PDF format and should
be viewed with the latest, free Adobe
Acrobat Reader program.
Form
CO
Form
CO Instructions
Note: Your form will not be acceptable without the 2-D barcodes showing.
![Sample 2-D barcode](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20081126192455im_/http://www.copyright.gov/images/formco_barcode.jpg)
2) Registration with Paper Forms
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. The fee for
a basic registration using one of these forms is $45 payable by check or
money order. Form CON (continuation sheet for applications) is also still
available in paper. These paper forms are not accessible 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 (see above) can be used for the categories of works applicable to Forms
TX, VA, PA, SR, and SE. See below for Group Registrations.
Types of Applications that Must Be Completed on Paper
Certain applications must be completed on paper and mailed to the Copyright
Office with the appropriate fee and deposit. Those application forms appear
below.
Copyright Office application forms are available in PDF format and should
be viewed with the latest, free Adobe
Acrobat Reader program. For best results, fill in the form on-screen
and then print it. To save completed forms, you must use the full
version of Adobe Acrobat.
Forms submitted to the Copyright Office must be clear, legible, and on
good quality 8.5-inch by 11-inch white paper. The office produces completed
registration certificates by scanning the submitted applications. Thus, poorly
printed applications will result in poor quality registration certificates.
Notice: Please be aware that when
you register your claim to a copyright in a work with the U.S. Copyright
Office, you are making a public record. All the information you provide
on your copyright registration is available to the public and will be
available on the Internet. |
Important Printing Instructions
Print forms head to head (top of page 2 is directly behind the top of page
1).
- Use BOTH SIDES of a single sheet of paper. (Note: Short Forms
are one-sided.)
- Dot-matrix printer copies are not acceptable.
- Inkjet printer copies require enlarging if you use the Shrink to Fit
Page option.
- To achieve best results, use a Laser Printer.
For more information, read Printing Solutions for PDF
forms.
Preregistration — For certain works that have
had a history of prerelease infringement |
Electronic Form PRE |
Licensing Electronic Funds Transfer Form - For use by statutory licensees to receive refund payments via electronic funds transfer |
EFT Form
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