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COPYRIGHT
OFFICE
PRACTICES
OFFICE
PRACTICES
2-149
Ch. 2.4
2.4.4
2.4.4
2.4.4
Preparation and Suitability for Oral Delivery.(cont'd)
I.
Preparation in the first instance for oral delivery.(cont'd)
d.
The mere fact that the claimant has read, or intends to read, his work orally to a few friends does not make it a "work prepared for oral delivery," if it is clear that the work was prepared in the first instance for publication.
Example:
Claimant states in a letter of transmittal that he has sent his work to various magazines.
II.
Suitability for oral delivery.
a.
To be registrable in Class C, a work must be complete enough for actual oral presentation in its present form, without substantial further development.
1.
An outline, synopsis, or description of the idea of a television or radio program, stage show, lecture series, etc., is not registrable in Class C, even if fairly detailed.
2.
Where the applicant deposits an outline or synopsis of a series of programs, together with one sample script, the applicant will be asked to detach the outline or synopsis and register the script alone, and will be cautioned that registration for the script will not protect the idea or plan, the future scripts in the series, or the series as a whole.
3.
A general outline of the ideas or information to be expounded in a speech, such as a list of topic words or sentences, or a group of brief notes, is not registrable in Class C. However, if a script is actually capable of oral delivery, the fact that it is in outline form will not preclude registration in Class C.
[1973]