Who can register a copyright? |
Any work protected by US Copyright Law may be registered with the US Copyright Office. Therefore, even works of foreign origin may be so registered. All unpublished works, published works in the US and published works in other countries with whom the United States has a copyright treaty may be registered with the US Copyright Office. |
Our copyright attorney files copyright applications to register basic copyright claims electronically using the Electronic Copyright Office (ECO) system to avail of the lower rate of $35 per copyright application. This includes (a) any single work or (b) a collection of unpublished works by the same author and owned by the same claimant, or (c) multiple published works contained in the same unit of publication and owned by the same claimant. |
“A basic claim includes literary works, visual arts works, performing arts works, sound recordings, motion pictures, and single serial issues.” – U.S Copyright Office |
Our copyright attorney will require an electronic file of the work to be registered for the following types of work |
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Unpublished works; and |
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Works published only electronically; |
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And will require hard copies of all other types of work to be registered. |
Once the work has been registered, it will be publicly displayed on the US Copyright Office database and anyone may view these public records. A certificate of registration of the copyright may be received within 4 months of filing the copyright application. The date of registration, however, is the date of filing the copyright application. |
Since January 1, 1978, the term of a copyright is said to last for the life of the author plus 70 years. For an anonymous work, a pseudonymous work, or a work made for hire, the copyright endures for a term of 95 years from the year of its first publication or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first. Works created after January 1, 1978 are not subject to renewal. |
