U.S. Copyright Office Forms

Primary Registration Method Registration with Electronic Copyright Office (eCO) To file a claim to copyright in your work, we recommend you use the Copyright Office online system. Before using the service, we recommend you first read eCO Acceptable File Types, eCO Tips, eCO FAQs, or eCO Tutorial (PowerPoint) eCO Tutorial (PDF). Advantages include: Lower filing fee of $35 for a basic claim (for online filings only) Fastest processing time Online status tracking Secure payment by credit or debit card, electronic check, or Copyright Office deposit account The ability to upload certain categories of deposits directly into eCO as electronic files Processing Time: The time the Copyright Office requires to process an application varies, depending on the number of applications the Office is receiving and clearing at the time of submission and the extent of questions associated with the application. Current Processing Times Login to eCO:

Alternate Registration Methods

1) Registration with Paper Forms

The fee for a basic registration using one of these forms is $65 payable by check or money order. Form CON (continuation sheet for applications) is also still available in paper. Paper forms are also available by postal mail upon request. See below for Group Registrations.

Literary

• Form TX
• Short Form TX

Visual Arts

• Form VA
• Short Form VA

Performing Arts

• Form PA
• Short Form PA

Sound Recordings

• Form SR

Single Serials

• Form SE
• Short Form SE

Continuation Sheet

• Form CON — Continuation Sheet used in conjunction with forms above when more space is necessary.

Form CO is being discontinued. It will only be available until June 20, 2012. Completed Form COs must be received in the Copyright Office by July 2, 2012, to be accepted. Consequences of late receipt include delay in establishing an effective date of registration and in processing your claim, as you will be required to send an additional form and fee.

2) Registration with Fill-In Form CO

Form CO, which replaces Forms TX, VA, PA, SE, and SR. Simply complete Form CO on your personal computer, print it out, and mail it along with a check or money order and a copy(ies) or your work. The fee for a basic registration on Form CO is $50.
Note: Form CO cannot be used for group registrations. Click here for group registration forms.

Copyright Office application forms are available in PDF format and must be viewed with version 8 or higher of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader program.

Form CO
Form CO Instructions
Form CO FAQ

Important Note: Please inspect your printed form to confirm that 2-D barcodes like the one below appear on each page. The barcodes must appear clearly and be free of any distortions, smudges, or fading. If such problems appear and cannot be corrected after checking your printer, do not submit the form.

Types of Applications that Must Be Completed on Paper

Certain applications must be completed on paper and mailed to the Copyright Office with the appropriate fee and deposit. Those application forms appear below.

Copyright Office application forms are available in PDF format and should be viewed with the latest, free Adobe Acrobat Reader program. For best results, fill in the form on-screen and then print it. To save completed forms, you must use the full version of Adobe Acrobat.

Forms submitted to the Copyright Office must be clear, legible, and on good quality 8.5-inch by 11-inch white paper. The office produces completed registration certificates by scanning the submitted applications. Thus, poorly printed applications will result in poor quality registration certificates.

Important Printing Instructions

Print forms head to head (top of page 2 is directly behind the top of page 1).

• Use BOTH SIDES of a single sheet of paper. (Note: Short Forms are one-sided.)
• Dot-matrix printer copies are not acceptable.
• Inkjet printer copies require enlarging if you use the Shrink to Fit Page option.
• To achieve best results, use a Laser Printer.

For more information, read Printing Solutions for PDF forms.

Group Registration Forms Literary   Form GR/CP w/instructions — For groups of literary works published as contributions to periodicals (Read more) For group registration of databases, see FL 110, Group Registration for Automated Databases Performing Arts   Form GR/CP w/instructions — For groups of performing arts works published as contributions to periodicals (Read more) Visual Arts   Form GR/CP w/instructions — For groups of visual art works works published as contributions to periodicals (Read more) Form GR/PPh/CON — For groups of published photographs (Read more) Serials   Form SE/Group — For groups of serial publications, such as newspapers, magazines, newsletters, journals, etc. (Read more) Form G/DN — For groups of daily newspapers or newsletters (Read more) CONTINUATION SHEET   Form CON — Continuation Sheet used in conjunction with forms above when more space is necessary.

Mask works — For 3-dimensional patterns fixed on a semiconductor chip (not for theatrical facial masks)

Form MW w/instructions Form MW/CON — Continuation sheet to be used only in conjunction with MW application form