Get From The Copyright Office - Copyright

Applying for registration with the U.S. Copyright Office requires an application, a filing fee, and a copy of the work. Depending on the type of work, there are several different online application options, including the following: Standard Application for registering an individual sound recording or musical work.

Can you provide me with copies of my application and my work? Contact the Records Research and Certification Division of the Copyright Office at 1 (877) 476-0778 (toll-free) or see Circular 6, Obtaining Access to and Copies of Copyright Records and Deposits, for details.

The United States is a party to the Berne Convention, an international copyright union adopted by 165 countries. Under the Berne Convention, all party countries must recognize the copyright of works of authors from every other Berne Convention country.

Copyright exists automatically in an original work of authorship once it is fixed in a tangible medium, but a copyright owner can take steps to enhance the protections of copyright, the most important of which is registering the work.

The Copyright Office administers the national copyright system and provides advice on copyright law to congress, federal agencies, the courts and the public.

Copyright is a type of intellectual property that protects original works of authorship as soon as an author fixes the work in a tangible form of expression.

As part of the Library of Congress since 1870, and recognized by Congress as a separate department of the Library since 1897, the Copyright Office registers copyright claims, records information about copyright ownership, provides information to the public, and assists Congress and other parts of the government on a ...

Although registration with the Copyright Office is not required to secure protection, it does provide a number of benefits: Registration establishes a public record of the copyright claim. Registration is necessary before an infringement suit may be filed in court (for works of U.S. origin).