Copyright Guidelines

Works are copyrighted upon creation in a fixed, tangible form. Registration has some advantages but is not required. If a work is published by a mainline book publisher or a journal, the publisher may take care of registration for the author.

• If registration is made within three months after publication or before any infringements are made, statutory damages and attorney fees may be granted in a successful suit. Without such registration, only compensatory damages may be granted.
• If registration is made within five years of publication, it is considered prima facie evidence in a court of law.
• For more information on the advantages of registering copyright, see page 7 of Copyright Basics published by the U.S. Copyright Office.

What to do before you begin the registration process

• Disable your browser's pop-up-blocker
• Disable any 3rd party toolbars (e.g. Google or Yahoo toolbar)
• Set your security and privacy settings to medium
• Make sure you have your files in an acceptable file format if you want to electronically upload your files - check acceptable file formats

Fill out the registration form

• Go to https://www.copyright.gov
• Click on Register a Copyright
  • Note that this page has links to many pages with useful information including tutorials for using the registration system
• Log into the eCO (electronic Copyright Office) system
  • If you don't have an account, click on the login then click on the link "If you are a new user, click here to register" at the bottom of the login box
• Follow the instructions

Note that the average processing time for copyright registrations filed electronically is 9 months.

Pay the registration fee using pay.gov

Deposit an electronic or paper copy of your work

• If you want to ship a hard copy, click on "Create Shipping Slip"
  • Click on the blue "Shipping Slip" link to view and print out a shipping slip
• If you want to upload a copy of your work, click on "Select files to upload" button
  • Browse to find the file(s) you want to upload then click the "Start Upload" button

For more information:

eCO Tutorial (Standard Application)

eCO Tutorial (Single Work)

eCO Tutorial on Uploading Works

Check the status of your application

You must file in paper for the following formats:

• Vessel hull designs
• Mask works
• Correcting errors or amplifying information in a previous registration
• Works restoring copyright under the 1994 Uruguay Round Agreements Act
• Renewal of copyright claims
• Groups of items

Get the appropriate form

Mail the form, the fee, and the deposit copies to:

  Library of Congress
  U.S. Copyright Office
  101 Independence Avenue SE
  Washington, DC 20559