Copyright Office Adopts “Mailbox” Rule for Appeals to Refusals to Register
Issue No. 633 - September 9, 2016


The U.S. Copyright Office is changing the deadline for submitting requests to reconsider refusals to register a copyright claim. Previously, a reconsideration request had to be received by the Office, via mail, no later than three months after the Office issued its decision to refuse registration. This rule has created some uncertainty, as it can be difficult to predict when a request will physically be received by the Office, particularly given security-screening-related delays in the processing of mail. Accordingly, to provide greater certainty to applicants, the amended rule provides that reconsideration requests only need to be postmarked (via the U.S. Postal Service) or dispatched (via commercial carrier, courier, or messenger) no later than three months after a refusal is issued.


The Final Rule is available here.