Copyright Registration Toolkit Explanatory Text

Intellectual Property Toolkit Landing Page

Illustrated desk with examples of common items representing the four types of intellectual property: copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. Icons identify the type of intellectual property each item represents.

  • Items protectable by copyright include a cat sculpture, books, a painting, the text of a blog post, photographs, and music playing on a speaker.
  • Items protectable by patents include a plant, its vase, a concept map, and a printer.
  • Items protectable by trademarks include a website logo and a logo on a water bottle label.
  • Items protectable by trade secrets include documents containing data marked “confidential” and a combination lock on the desk drawer containing folders marked “confidential.”

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Illustrated desk with examples of common items representing the four types of intellectual property: copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. Icons identify the type of intellectual property each item represents.

  • Items protectable by copyright include a cat sculpture, books, a painting, the text of a blog post, photographs, and music playing on a speaker.
  • Items protectable by patents include a plant, its vase, a concept map, and a printer.
  • Items protectable by trademarks include a website logo and a logo on a water bottle label.
  • Items protectable by trade secrets include documents containing data marked “confidential” and a combination lock on the desk drawer containing folders marked “confidential.”

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Figure highlighting three categories of copyright duration for works created on or after January 1, 1978.

  • In general, copyright protects a work from the moment it is created and for the life of the author plus seventy years after the author’s death. It then enters the public domain in the United States.
  • For joint works, which have multiple authors, copyright protects a work from the moment it is created and for the life of the authors plus seventy years after the last surviving author’s death. It then enters the public domain in the United States.
  • For works made for hire and anonymous and pseudonymous works, copyright protects the work for 95 years after it is published or for 120 years after it is created, whichever comes first. It then enters the public domain in the United States. For more information on works made for hire and pseudonymous works, see the resources listed below.
  • An asterisk denotes that, generally, a copyright-protected work enters the public domain in the United States when its full copyright term has expired.

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Flowchart detailing the application submission process for registering a copyright with the Copyright Office.

  • There are two ways to submit your application:
    • If you submit an online application using the Electronic Copyright Office (eCO) Registration System, processing times are typically faster.
    • If you submit a paper application obtained by printing or requesting it from the Office, processing times are typically longer.
    • You may request special handling to expedite the examination process for an additional fee. If your request is approved, the Office will attempt to examine your completed application within five business days after approving the request.
  • After submitting your application, the Office will begin the examination process, which has three possible outcomes.
    • If the Office determines your work is copyrightable and you provided a sufficient application, fee, and deposit copy or copies, then the Office will approve your registration.
      • Once approved, the Office will mail the official certificate to you.
    • If the Office determines the work is copyrightable but you provided an insufficient application, fee, or deposit copy or copies, then you will be given forty-five days to respond to any correspondence from the Office.
      • If you reply to the correspondence and resolve the issues, then the Office will approve your registration.
        • Once approved, the Office will mail the official certificate to you.
      • If you reply, but the issues remain unresolved, then the Office will administratively close your application.
      • If you do not reply, then the Office will administratively close your application.
    • If the Office determines the work is not copyrightable, then the Office will refuse your registration.
      • If you choose, you can request reconsideration of the refusal decision. See the flowchart on the next page for more information on the voluntary appeals process.

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Flowchart detailing the voluntary appeals process for registration applications the Copyright Office has refused.

  • When the Office refuses your registration, you have three months from the date on the refusal letter to appeal, if you choose.
  • You appeal by submitting a first request for reconsideration.
  • Within four months, an impartial attorney in the Office’s Registration Program will take a fresh look and make a decision.
    • If the Office decides the work is copyrightable and the legal and formal registration requirements have been met, the Office will approve your registration.
    • If the Office decides the work is not copyrightable or the legal and formal registration requirements have not been met, the Office will refuse your registration.
  • If your registration is refused a second time, you have three months from the date on the notice upholding the refusal to appeal.
  • You appeal by submitting a second request for reconsideration.
  • The Review Board will take a fresh look and consider your second request for reconsideration.
    • If the Review Board decides the work is copyrightable and the legal and formal registration requirements have been met, the Office will approve your registration.
    • If the Review Board decides the work is not copyrightable or the legal and formal registration requirements have not been met, the Office will refuse your registration.
  • If the Review Board refuses your registration again, it is the final agency action.

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Table detailing the eligibility requirements, fees, and forms for the Single and Standard Applications for registering a single work.

  • The Single Application is for one work by one individual author who is the sole owner of the work. This application cannot be used for works with joint authors, works made for hire, collective works or compilations, or for works with material created or owned by someone else. The fee for this application is $45. The application form can only be submitted online through the Office’s registration system (eCO).
  • The Standard Application is for any type of work, including works by one individual author or two or more joint authors, works made for hire, collective works and compilations, and works with material attributed to others. This application form can be submitted online through eCO or on a paper form. The fee for this application is $65 if submitted online or $125 if submitted on a paper form.
  • An asterisk denotes that, for most works, using the Standard Application is appropriate. The eligibility requirements are stricter for the Single Application. View Circular 11 to learn more.