Copyright-Preliminary Instructions are instructions issued by the United States Copyright Office that provide guidance on the process of registering a copyright. The Copyright Office provides three types of Copyright-Preliminary Instructions: (1) Copyright Basics, (2) Electronic Copyright Registration, and (3) Paper Copyright Registration. Copyright Basics explains what copyright is, how to protect works, and what the benefits of copyright registration are. Electronic Copyright Registration provides information on the online process of registering a copyright, including how to register a single work, multiple works, and how to pay the registration fee. Paper Copyright Registration provides information on the paper-based process of registering a copyright, including how to download the application form, where to send the form and fee, and the processing times.