Engage Your Creativity

When you write a story, create a work of art, compose or record music, or take a picture, you engage with copyright. Perhaps you’re fueled to create by reading, observing, or listening to other artists’ works, or maybe you are starting an entirely new conversation. Ready to learn more about how this automatic right affects your work and what it covers? Or how you can use the copyright-protected materials of others? We’ve pulled together a variety of resources to help you engage YOUR creativity.

What is Copyright?

Learn about what copyright does—and does not—cover in our Circulars. These guides provide detailed, up-to-date information to explain copyright to the public. Below are just a few of our most popular ones. You can search our library of Circulars by topic and be sure to check out our FAQ page for quick answers to commonly asked questions.

Protection eligibility, rights owners, claiming copyrights, and duration. Spanish version of Circular 1 available.

Guidelines for how to submit a complete copyright claim and when registration takes effect. Spanish version of Circular 2 available.

The Office’s fee schedule, services, and payment. Spanish version of Circular 4 available.

Works Not Protected by Copyright

What doesn’t qualify: ideas; methods; names, titles, and short phrases; typeface; and more. Spanish version of Circular 33 available.

Types of Work

Learn about registering your copyright claims, including about some of our applications for a few common types of works. Want to learn more or ready to take the next step? Visit our registration portal to register your work.