Highlights of Copyright Amendments in URAA · 5
Who May Claim Copyright
A claim in a restored work may be registered only in the name of the owner(s) of the U.S. copyright on the date that the application is submitted, that is, in the name of the owner(s) of all U.S. rights in that work. A licensee or other owner of only certain exclusive rights in a work is not permitted to register a claim in a restored work in his or her name.
How to Obtain GATT Registration Forms
Special GATT registration forms must be used for registration of works restored under the URAA. Use Form GATT for claims to copyright in restored works and restored works published under a single series title.
There are several ways to obtain forms.
- Request a limited number of free application forms by writing to:
Library of Congress
Copyright Office
Publications Section
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20559-6000
- Call the Forms and Publications Hotline at (202) 707-9100 at any time and leave a recorded message.
- Download forms from the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov. Forms should be printed head-to-head on a single piece of 8½ x 11" white paper so that when you turn the paper over, the top of page 2 is directly behind the top of page 1. The Copyright Office requires downloaded applications on a single sheet of paper. Therefore, you should consider reinserting the first page back into the printer so that the back page will be printed onto it.
- Fill in the forms on the Copyright Office website. Go to www.copyright.gov/forms and follow the instructions. The fill-in forms allow you to enter information while the form is displayed on the screen by an Adobe Acrobat Reader product. You may then print the completed form and mail it to the Copyright Office. Fill-in forms provide a clean, sharp printout for your records and for filing with the Copyright Office.
- Photocopy forms legibly on a single sheet of good quality 8½ x 11" white paper following the instructions for downloaded forms.
Publication
When determining publication information regarding restored works for which registration is sought, the following guidelines are offered:
- For works published on or after January 1, 1978: Publication is the distribution anywhere in the world of copies or phonorecords of a work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending. The offering to distribute copies or phonorecords to a group of persons for purposes of further distribution, public performance, or public display constitutes publication. A public performance or display of a work does not of itself constitute publication. (17 USC 101)
- For works published before January 1, 1978: Publication may be defined as the act of making one or more copies of a work available to the general public, usually by the sale, placing on sale, or the public distribution of one or more copies or sound recordings without express or implied restrictions as to future use. Recordings of musical compositions were not considered copies of the recorded music before January 1, 1978. A distribution of a recording before that date would publish the sound recording but not the music contained on the recording.
Registration Instructions
Instructions for completing the application forms and information on deposit preferences are included on the forms supplied by the Copyright Office. Applications, deposit copies, and fees should be submitted in one package.
Registration Fees
The basic registration fee is also applicable to a series of works published during a calendar year under a single title in episodes, installments, or issues. Copyright Office fees are subject to change. For current fees, please check the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov, write the Copyright Office, or call (202) 707-3000.
Address
Applications to register restored works should be sent to the following address:
Library of Congress
Copyright Office
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20559-6000
