Engage Your Creativity
When you write a story, create a work of art, compose or record music, or take a picture, you engage with copyright. Perhaps you’re fueled to create by reading, observing, or listening to other artists’ works, or maybe you are starting an entirely new conversation. Ready to learn more about how this automatic right affects your work and what it covers? Or how you can use the copyright-protected materials of others? In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Copyright Office, we’ve pulled together a variety of resources to help you engage YOUR creativity.
What is Copyright?
Learn about what copyright does—and does not—cover in our Circulars. These guides provide detailed, up-to-date information to explain copyright to the public. Below are just a few of our most popular ones. To search our library of Circulars by topic, go here, and be sure to check out our FAQ page for quick answers to commonly asked questions.
Copyright Basics
Protection eligibility, rights owners, claiming copyrights, and duration. Spanish version available.
Copyright Registration
Guidelines for how to submit a complete copyright claim and when registration takes effect.
Copyright Office Fees
The Office’s fee schedule, services, and payment. Spanish version available.
Works Not Protected by Copyright
What doesn’t qualify: ideas; methods; names, titles, and short phrases; typeface; and more.
What is Copyright Registration?
Learn about registering your copyright claims, including about some of our applications for a few common types of works. Want to learn more or ready to take the next step? Register your work here.
Registration At a Glance
The who, what, where, when, why, and how of copyright registration.
Visual Art
Information for visual arts applications.
Photography
Information for photography applications.
Music & Sound Recordings
Information for music and sound recordings. Music Modernization Act info here.
Literary Works
Information for literary works applications.
Featured Videos
Want more information? Our Learning Engine video series explains copyright principles and frequently asked questions about topics.
What is Copyright?
Learn about what copyright involves, including types of works subject to copyright protection.
Fair Use
Learn what to do when you find information on the internet you would like to use. For more on fair use, see our index.