Copyright Service
copyright law, to examine and decide the acceptability of all applications, deposit copies, and other materials presented for registration of original and renewal copyright claims; and preregistration of certain unpublished works; to process deposits submitted
To examine cable system and satellite carrier statements of account and collect compulsory license royalties for distribution to copyright owners; to examine quarterly and annual statements of account and receive royalties on behalf of copyright owners pursuant to the statutory obligation provided for the manufacture and distribution of digital audio recording equipment and media; to examine and record documents relating to compulsory and statutory licenses and obligations and to assist the Copyright Royalty Board and review the legal underpinnings of its decisions.
Program Accomplishments
In FY 07, it made 525,146 registrations. The estimated registrations for FY 08 are 510,000. In FY 07, the Office recorded 11,534 documents relating to copyrights. The Office estimates 12,000 document recordations in FY 08. In FY 07, the value of such transfers was more than $45 million. The value of transferred material for FY 08 is estimated at $45 million.
Uses and Use Restrictions
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Anyone may request information about the copyright law, the Copyright Office regulations, the method of securing copyright, and procedures for registering claims and recording documents.
This information is free of charge.
Reports on copyright facts found in the records of the Copyright Office may be obtained for a statutory search fee of $150 an hour or fraction thereof; however, any member of the public may use, without charge, the Copyright Card Catalog and the online catalog of registrations made since 1978 in the Copyright Office.
The Office has established a single statutory fee for registration of claims to copyright for most categories of work with the exception of group registration of serials and daily newspapers, which have separate fee schedules.
Fees provided by law for registration of claims to copyright are $45 ($35 for online submissions starting in FY 2008) for most categories with the exception of group registration of serials and daily newspapers, which have separate fee schedules.
There are also separate schedules of statutory fees for recordation of transfers of copyright ownership, certified copies of records, etc.
The latest fee information can be obtained by contacting the Copyright Office or checking the Copyright Office Website at www.copyright.gov.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Information is supplied to anyone on request.
Registration may be made by creators of the work, their assignees, or their exclusive licensees, and others designated by law, or by their agents.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Information supplied to anyone, on request. Registration may be made by authors, their assignees, or their exclusive licensees, and others designated by law, or by their agents.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Walk-in service or written requests for information. Applications for registration are on forms provided by the Copyright Office. Application forms are also available on the Copyright Office Forms Hotline at (202) 707-9100 24 hours a day, and at the Copyright Office Website at www.copyright.gov.
Award Procedures
Not applicable.
Deadlines
The owner of a copyright or the right of first publication in a work published in the United States has a legal obligation to deposit in the Copyright Office two complete copies or phonorecords for the use of the Library of Congress. Copyright registration under the 1976 Copyright Act is generally voluntary, although copyright owners are required to register their claim in order to obtain certain legal remedies; registration can be made at any time during the copyright term; however, prompt registration is advisable to preserve the ability to obtain statutory damages and attorney's fees for copyright infringement. Cable systems, satellite carriers, importers, and manufacturers of digital audio recording products have deadlines for filing statements of account and royalty fees.
Authorization
Public Law 102-307, 17 U.S.C. 101-710, as amended.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Not applicable.
Appeals
Request for Reconsideration: Denials of registration may be appealed to the Registration and Recordation Program by letter. A second appeal, also by letter, may be made to a Review Board.
Renewals
Renewals: The copyright law was amended to extend automatically the term of copyrights secured between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1977, to a further term of 47 years and made renewal optional. The term of copyright in works published or copyrighted between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1977, is 95 years. There is no need to make the renewal filing in order to extend the original 28 year copyright term to the full 95 years. However, some benefits accrue to making a renewal registration. Note: It is no longer possible to do a renewal during the 24th year. The filing fee for renewals is $75. This fee applies to all renewal applications filed on or after July 1, 2007. For more information, contact the Renewals Section at (202) 707 8180.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Not applicable.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
None.
Audits
None.
Records
None.
Financial Information
Account Identification
03-0102-0-1-376.
Obigations
Obligations: (82 percent salaries and expenses; 12 percent materials) FY 06 $51,676,000; FY 07 $48,650,670; FY 08 est $51,562,000; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Applications, copies of regulations, and printed informational circulars are available from the Copyright Office at the mailing address given below.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Register of Copyrights, Copyright Office, James Madison Memorial Building, Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Telephone: (202) 707-3000. Mailing address: Library of Congress, Copyright Office, 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington, DC 20559-6000.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
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Spotlight
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