A published or unpublished book or manuscript may be submitted for registration in the Copyright Office. Form TX should be used to apply for copyright registration for textual works, with or without illustrations. Form TX is appropriate for registration of nondramatic literary works including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, contributions to collective works, compilations, directories, catalogs, dissertations, theses, reports, speeches, bound or loose-leaf volumes, pamphlets, brochures, and single pages containing text.

There is no specific requirement as to the printing, binding, format, or paper size and quality of unpublished manuscript material. Typewritten, photocopied, and legibly handwritten manuscripts, preferably in ink, are all acceptable for deposit. However, since deposit material represents the entire copyrightable content of a work submitted for registration, copies deposited in a format which would facilitate handling and long-term storage (e.g., stapled, bound, clipped, etc.) would be greatly appreciated by the Copyright Office.

To register a book or manuscript, send the following three elements in the same envelope or package to the Library of Congress, Copyright Office, Register of Copyrights, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20559-6000:

1. A completed application Form TX;
2. A nonrefundable filing fee (Current Fees)
3. A nonreturnable deposit of the work. The deposit requirements depend on whether the work has been published at the time of registration:

• If the work is unpublished, one complete copy or phonorecord.
• If the work was first published in the United States on or after January 1, 1978, two complete copies or phonorecords of the best edition.
• If the work was first published in the United States before January 1, 1978, two complete copies or phonorecords as first published.
• If the work was first published outside the United States, one complete copy or phonorecord of the work as first published.
• If the work is a contribution to a collective work, and published after January 1, 1978, one complete copy or phonorecord of the best edition of the collective work or a photocopy of the contribution itself as it was published in the collective work.

Copyright protects an author’s expression in literary, artistic, or musical form. Copyright protection does not extend to any idea, system, method, device, name, or title.

FL-109, Revised July 2006