Frequently Asked Questions about Copyright

Also see our FAQs for online registration.

Copyright in General

• What is copyright?
• What does copyright protect?
• How is a copyright different from a patent or a trademark?
• When is my work protected?
• Do I have to register with your office to be protected?
• Why should I register my work if copyright protection is automatic?
• I’ve heard about a "poor man's copyright." What is it?
• Is my copyright good in other countries?

What Does Copyright Protect?

• What does copyright protect?
• Can I copyright my website?
• Can I copyright my domain name?
• How do I protect my recipe?
• Can I copyright the name of my band?
• How do I copyright a name, title, slogan or logo?
• How do I protect my idea?
• Does my work have to be published to be protected?
• Can I register a diary I found in my grandmother's attic?
• How do I protect my sighting of Elvis?
• Does copyright protect architecture?
• Can I get a star named after me and claim copyright to it?

Who Can Register?

• Can foreigners register their works in the United States?
• Can a minor claim copyright?
• Can I register a diary I found in my grandmother's attic?

Registering a Work

• How do I register my copyright?
• Where can I get application forms?
• Can I make copies of the application form?
• Can I file online?
• What is the registration fee?
• Do you take credit cards?
• Do I have to send in my work? Do I get it back?
• Will my deposit be damaged by security measures in place on Capitol Hill?
• May I register more than one work on the same application? Where do I list the titles?
• Do I have to use my real name on the form? Can I use a stage name or a pen name?
• Will my personal information be available to the public?
• How long does the registration process take?
• Can I submit my manuscript on a computer disk?
• Can I submit a CD-ROM of my work?
• Does my work have to be published to be protected?
• How much do I have to change in my own work to make a new claim of copyright?
• Do you have special mailing requirements?

Preregistration

• What is preregistration? What works can be preregistered?
• What classes of works are eligible for preregistration?
• Is preregistration a substitute for registration?
• Will I need to make a regular registration after my work is completed?
• When should I register my work if I have already preregistered it?
• How do I preregister?
• What is the effective date of my preregistration?
• How do I complete a preregistration application?
• You ask for a description in the preregistration application. What should it include?
• Will I receive a certificate for my preregistration?
• What is the fee for preregistration?
• What methods of payment are accepted for preregistration?
• What does ACH (payment) mean?
• Do I receive a password from the Copyright Office to log into the eCO website to preregister my work? Or do I create my own password?
• What are the password requirements that I should follow when I create my password?
• How do I change my password?
• What do I do if I forgot my password?

Which Form Should I Use?

• Which form should I use?
• What is the difference between Form PA and Form SR?
• I want to copyright my business name. Which form do I use?
• Which form do I use to register an automated database?
• Which form do I use to register a computer software application I am creating?
• ...is there a form to submit to change the address on my applications?

I've Mailed My Application, Fee, and Copy of My Work to the Copyright Office. Now What?

• How can I know when my submission for registration is received by the Copyright Office?
• How long does the registration process take, and when will I receive my certificate?
• I just received my certificate of registration. Why can't I find my work listed on your database?
• I've been getting solicitation letters from publishers. Is the Copyright Office selling my personal...

How Long Does Copyright Protection Last?

• How long does a copyright last?
• Do I have to renew my copyright?

Can I Use Someone Else's Work? Can Someone Else Use Mine?

• How do I get permission to use somebody else's work?
• How can I find out who owns a copyright?
• I found someone infringing a copyrighted work that I registered. Can the Copyright Office help me stop this?
• How can I obtain copies of someone else's work and/or registration certificate?
• How much of someone else's work can I use without getting permission?
• How much do I have to change in order to claim copyright in someone else's work?
• Somebody infringed my copyright. What can I do?
• Could I be sued for using somebody else's work? How about quotes or samples?
• Do you have a list of songs or movies in the public domain?
• I saw an image on the Library of Congress website that I would like to use. Do I need to...
• Is it legal to download works from peer-to-peer networks and if not, what is the penalty...
• Can a school show a movie without obtaining permission from the copyright owner?
• My local copying store will not make reproductions of old family photographs. What can I do?

Assignment/Transfer of Copyright Ownership

• Are copyrights transferable?
• Do you have any forms for transfer of copyrights?

Copyright and Digital Files

• Can I backup my computer software?
• Can I buy or sell backup copies of computer software?...
• Can I copyright my website?
• Can I copyright my domain name?
• Is it legal to download works from peer-to-peer networks and if not, what is the penalty...

Information about the Copyright Office

• What is your telephone number?
• What is your mailing address?
• What is your street address?
• What are your hours of operation?
• How do I get on your mailing or email list?

Services of the Copyright Office

• Are you the only place I can go to register a copyright?
• Can you provide me with copies of my application and my work?
• I lost my certificate. Can I get a new one?
• Can you tell me who owns a copyright?
• Is the Copyright Office open to the public?
• Does the Copyright Office give legal advice?
• How do I get my work published?
• How do I collect royalties?
• How do I get my work into the Library of Congress

Mandatory Deposit

• What is mandatory deposit?
• We are a foreign publisher. Do we need to submit our publication to comply...
• What is the difference between mandatory deposit and copyright registration?
• Where do I send my published works to comply with mandatory deposit?
• If I choose to register my copyright, should I use the same address that I use for...
• Is there an exception to mandatory deposits?
• If my publication does not have a copyright notice, do I still have to deposit?
• What is the difference between the mandatory deposit obligation and the CIP obligation?
• Will my Cataloging In Publication (CIP) copy fulfill my mandatory deposit obligation?
• If I send deposit copies of a sample issue of my serial publication to the Register of Copyrights...
• I have already deposited identifying material to register my computer software...

Newspapers on Microfilm

• Do I still need to submit a copy of the 35mm silver positive to apply for the copyright registration...
• Can we still register our copyright with the Copyright Office if the Library of Congress does not...
• What are the requirements for applying for the newspaper group registration?
• How do I register my daily newspaper through group registration?
• Since copyright protection exists when the work is created, is it necessary to apply...

Definitions

• Who is an author?
• What is a deposit?
• What is publication?
• What is a copyright notice? How do I put a copyright notice on my work?
• What is copyright infringement?
• What is peer-to-peer (P2P) networking?
• Where is the public domain?
• What is mandatory deposit?
• What is a work made for hire?
• What is a Library of Congress number?
• What is an ISBN number?
• What are some other commonly used terms?