U.S. Copyright Office
Library of Congress
Home About News Publications Forms Law Licensing Registration Search Records

U.S. Copyright Office Forms

Primary Registration Method

Registration with Electronic Copyright Office (eCO)

To file a claim to copyright in your work, we recommend you use the Copyright Office online system.

Before using the service, we recommend you first read eCO Acceptable File Types, eCO Tips, eCO FAQs, or eCO Tutorial (PowerPoint) eCO Tutorial (PDF).

Advantages include:

  • Lower filing fee of $35 for a basic claim (for online filings only)
  • Fastest processing time
  • Online status tracking
  • Secure payment by credit or debit card, electronic check, or Copyright Office deposit account
  • The ability to upload certain categories of deposits directly into eCO as electronic files

Processing Time: The time the Copyright Office requires to process an application varies, depending on the number of applications the Office is receiving and clearing at the time of submission and the extent of questions associated with the application. Current Processing Times

Login to eCO: eCO

Alternate Registration Method

Registration with Paper Forms

The fee for a basic registration using one of these forms is $65 payable by check or money order. Form CON (continuation sheet for applications) is also still available in paper. Paper forms are also available by postal mail upon request. See below for Group Registrations.

Literary

Visual Arts

Performing Arts

Sound Recordings

Single Serials

Continuation Sheet

  • Form CON — Continuation Sheet used in conjunction with forms above when more space is necessary.

Types of Applications that Must Be Completed on Paper

Certain applications must be completed on paper and mailed to the Copyright Office with the appropriate fee and deposit. Those application forms appear below.

Copyright Office application forms are available in PDF format and should be viewed with the latest, free Adobe Acrobat Reader program. For best results, fill in the form on-screen and then print it. To save completed forms, you must use the full version of Adobe Acrobat.

Forms submitted to the Copyright Office must be clear, legible, and on good quality 8.5-inch by 11-inch white paper. The office produces completed registration certificates by scanning the submitted applications. Thus, poorly printed applications will result in poor quality registration certificates.

Notice: Please be aware that when you register your claim to a copyright in a work with the U.S. Copyright Office, you are making a public record. All the information you provide on your copyright registration is available to the public and will be available on the Internet.

Important Printing Instructions

Print forms head to head (top of page 2 is directly behind the top of page 1).

  • Use BOTH SIDES of a single sheet of paper. (Note: Short Forms are one-sided.)
  • Dot-matrix printer copies are not acceptable.
  • Inkjet printer copies require enlarging if you use the Shrink to Fit Page option.
  • To achieve best results, use a Laser Printer.

For more information, read Printing Solutions for PDF forms.

Group Registration Forms

Literary
 

# Form GR/CP w/instructions — For groups of literary works published as contributions to periodicals (Read more)

Performing Arts
  # Form GR/CP w/instructions — For groups of performing arts works published as contributions to periodicals (Read more)
Visual Arts
  # Form GR/CP w/instructions — For groups of visual art works works published as contributions to periodicals (Read more)
# Form GR/PPh/CON — For groups of published photographs (Read more)
Serials
  # Form SE/Group — For groups of serial publications, such as newspapers, magazines, newsletters, journals, etc. (Read more)
# Form G/DN — For groups of daily newspapers or newsletters (Read more)
CONTINUATION SHEET
  # Form CON — Continuation Sheet used in conjunction with forms above when more space is necessary.
 
Mask works — For 3-dimensional patterns fixed on a semiconductor chip (not for theatrical facial masks)

Form MW w/instructions
Form MW/CON — Continuation sheet to be used only in conjunction with MW application form

Preregistration — For certain works that have had a history of prerelease infringement
# Electronic Form PRE
Recordation — For use when submitting transfers and other documents

Document Cover Sheet

Renewal — For renewal of claims of copyright

# Form RE
# Form RE/CON — Continuation form to be used only in conjunction with RE application form
# Addendum to Form RE — For all works published between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1977, that were not registered during their first 28-year term. Must accompany form RE.

URAA — For restored works

Form GATT
Form GATT/CON — Continuation form to be used only in conjunction with GATT application form

Correct an error or amplify the information given in a registration

Form CA (Read more)
Form CA w/instructions
CA continuation sheet — Form CON

Cable Statement of Account Forms — for semiannual accounting periods beginning January 1, 2012

SA1-2 Short Form — For use by cable television systems whose semiannual
gross receipts are less than $527,600
SA3 Long Form — For use by cable television systems whose semiannual
gross receipts are $527,600 or more
Old Cable Statement of Account Forms

Satellite Statement of Account Form — for semiannual accounting periods beginning January 1, 2012

Satellite SOA Form

Digital Audio Recording ProductsStatement of Account Forms
# Quarterly Statement of Account Form
# Annual Statement of Account Form

Initial Notice of Distribution of Digital Audio Recording Devices or Media

# Form
Notice of Use Form

M-269 Form — Notice of Use of Sound Recordings under Statutory License

Licensing Electronic Funds Transfer Form - For use by statutory licensees to receive refund payments via electronic funds transfer

EFT Form

Vessel Hull Design Forms — For further information, see Registration of Designs of Vessel Hulls

Form D-VH Non Fill-in version — for registration of vessel hull designs
Form D-VH w/instructions Non Fill-in version — for registration of vessel hull designs
Form D-VH/CON Non Fill-in version — continuation sheet and for multiple designs
button Form DC — application to correct a design registration
button Form DVH-ID — recordation of distinctive identification of owner of vessel hull designs