To
administer the U.S. 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; to process
deposits submitted in compliance with the mandatory deposit provision
of the copyright law; to record and publish facts of copyright and
certain bibliographic data pertaining to each registered work; to
furnish information to the public about the procedures for making
registration and the practices of the Office; to record transfers
of copyright ownership or other documents pertaining to a copyright;
to provide reports on copyright facts found in the records of the
Copyright Office; to provide certified copies of office records;
and to promulgate copyright regulations. 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 distribution of digital audio recording equipment
and media; to examine and record documents relating to compulsory
and statutory licenses and obligations and to administer, assist,
and review the actions and decisions of the Copyright Arbitration
Royalty Panels.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Dissemination of Technical Information. Place Cursor Here for Definition
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 $75 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.
Fees provided by law for registration of claims to copyright are
$30 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.
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is excluded from
coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: 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
Procedure: 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 necessary to obtain statutory remuneration 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.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
Denials of registration may be appealed to the Examining Division
by letter. A second appeal, also by letter, may be made to a Board
of Appeals.
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 during the 28th year of
the original term. The filing fee for renewals is $60. This fee
applies to all renewal applications filed on or after July 1,
2002. 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.
Obligations:
(93 percent salaries and expenses; 7 percent materials) FY 02
$37,239,000; FY 03 est $46,877,000; and FY 04 est $46,877,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable.
In fiscal year 2002, a total of 521,041 registrations were made.
The estimated registrations for fiscal year 2003 are 570,000, and
for fiscal year 2004 are 570,000. In fiscal year 2002, the Office
recorded 10,506 documents relating to copyright. The Office estimates
13,000 document recordations in fiscal year 2003 and in fiscal year
2004. In fiscal year 2002, the Office transferred $31,302,048 worth
of materials to the Library's collections. The Office estimates
transferring materials valued at $32,500,000 in fiscal year 2003
and $33,500,000 in fiscal year 2004. In fiscal year 2002, use of
the Office's Website increased by 8 percent over the prior year.
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., SE., Washington,
DC 20559- 6000.
