Musical Compositions Deposit Requirements

Submit a deposit of the work being registered. The deposit requirement varies according to the type of work for which registration is sought. Deposits cannot be returned.

Unpublished Works

Deposit one complete copy (lead sheet or sheet music) or phonorecord (disk or tape). "Complete" means that the deposit includes everything that is to be covered by the registration.

Copies should be legible, and both words and music on a phonorecord (disk or tape) should be clear and audible. All deposits should bear the title of the work.

Copies of a group of works registered as a collection should be assembled in orderly form and fastened together or placed in a folder. The title of a collection should appear on copies and disk or tape.

Published Works

For a musical work first published in the United States on or after Jan. 1, 1978, the deposit generally is two complete copies of the best edition.

Only one deposit is required for musical works that are:

• published only on phonorecords (tapes or disks), unless the claim includes the sound recording, in which case, two phonorecords are required as the deposit; or
• published by rental, lease, or lending (Where there is a score and individual parts, only the score is required.); or
• published as a single contribution to a collective work, for example, a hymn from a hymnal.

If first published in the United States before Jan. 1, 1978, the deposit is two complete copies of the best edition of the work as first published.

If first published outside the United States before March 1, 1989, the deposit is one complete copy or phonorecord of the work as first published.

For a musical work first published outside the United States on or after March 1, 1989, the deposit is either one complete copy or phonorecord of the work as first published or the best edition of the work.

For separate registration of a musical composition published only in a motion picture soundtrack, the deposit is:

1. One copy of the motion picture, or
2. Identifying material consisting of
   • a reproduction of the musical work, and
   • a sheet of paper containing the title of the motion picture and any credits or copyright notice for the musical work, if any.