Copyright Office Fees

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U.S. Copyright Office Circulars › U.S. Copyright Office, Circular 4

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Text

CIRCULAR

The Register of Copyrights has authority under section 708

of the Copyright Act to set fees for specified services provided

by the Copyright Office.1 These services included registering

claims to copyright, recording documents, and searching

fees for other services based on the cost of providing them.

To adjust fees, the Register must prepare a study for Congress

proposing a new fee schedule. The proposed new fees take

effect 120 days after delivery of the report unless Congress

enacts a law disapproving the proposed fee schedule.

The Copyright Office charges the fees specified below for

the services described. A fee list appears at the end of the cir-

cular, excluding Licensing Division service fees, which appear

in a separate circular, see Copyright Office Licensing Division

Service Fees (Circular 76). “Payment of Fees” below provides

information about payment methods.

The Copyright Office charges a fee to register copyright

claims based on the method you use to apply and the type

of work you are registering. An application for copyright

registration contains three essential elements: a completed

application form, a nonrefundable filing fee, and a non-

returnable deposit—that is, a copy or copies of the work

being registered and “deposited” with the Copyright Office.

Generally, you should prepare a separate application, filing

fee, and deposit for each work you submit. In certain situa-

tions, multiple works can be registered with one application.

For more information about registering multiple works, see

Multiple Works (Circular 34).

Electronic Registration

Electronic registration is the preferred way to register basic

claims for literary works; visual arts works; performing arts

works, including motion pictures; sound recordings; and

The Register of Copyrights sets fees

for the Office’s services

n be registered with one application.

For more information about registering multiple works, see

Multiple Works (Circular 34).

Electronic Registration

Electronic registration is the preferred way to register basic

claims for literary works; visual arts works; performing arts

works, including motion pictures; sound recordings; and

The Register of Copyrights sets fees

for the Office’s services. This circular

provides details about the Office’s fee

schedule, its services, and acceptable

methods of payment. Topics covered

include

• Registering a copyright claim

• Recording a copyright-related

document

• Searching the Office’s records

• Obtaining copies of records

• Preregistering

• Requesting expedited service

• Requesting reconsideration of a

refused claim

• Securing full-term retention of a

deposit

single serial issues. Electronic registration is also required for group registration of serials. Benefits

of electronic registration include faster processing times, status tracking, online payment, and the

option to upload certain categories of works or to send a physical copy of a work. The standard

filing fee for electronic registration is $65 for basic claims. However, the filing fee is $45 if you reg-

ister one work, not made for hire, and you are the only author and claimant. To access electronic

registration, go to the Copyright Office’s website at www.copyright.gov. For information about

works made for hire, see Works Made for Hire (Circular 30).

Registration Applications That Must Be Completed Online

You must complete certain applications through the Office’s electronic registration system

ster one work, not made for hire, and you are the only author and claimant. To access electronic

registration, go to the Copyright Office’s website at www.copyright.gov. For information about

works made for hire, see Works Made for Hire (Circular 30).

Registration Applications That Must Be Completed Online

You must complete certain applications through the Office’s electronic registration system. These

include applications for group registration of contributions to periodicals (GRCP), published photo-

graphs (GRPPH), unpublished photographs (GRUPH), unpublished works (GRUW), serials (GRSE),

newsletters (GRNL), and newspapers; applications to register an architectural work; and applications

to supplement or amplify an existing registration (Supplementary Registration). Supplementary reg-

istrations to amplify or correct a GATT registration, renewal registration, or group registration for a

nonphotographic database must be completed by paper.

Registration with Paper Forms

You can also register using fill-in forms TX (literary works); VA (visual arts works); PA (performing

arts works, including motion pictures); SR (sound recordings); and SE (single serial issues). Form CON

is a continuation sheet available for applications that require more space than the standard fill-in

forms. Complete the form for the type of work you are registering, print it out, sign it, and mail it

with a check or money order and your deposit. You can also request blank forms by postal mail. The

fee for a basic registration using one of these forms is $125 payable by check or money order. Fees for

other registrations submitted by paper may be found below. Credit cards are not accepted for filings

on these forms unless the forms are hand-delivered to the Public Information Office. To access

forms, go to the Copyright Office website and select Forms under the Law and Guidance tab

l. The

fee for a basic registration using one of these forms is $125 payable by check or money order. Fees for

other registrations submitted by paper may be found below. Credit cards are not accepted for filings

on these forms unless the forms are hand-delivered to the Public Information Office. To access

forms, go to the Copyright Office website and select Forms under the Law and Guidance tab.

Registration Applications That Must Be Completed on Paper

You must complete certain applications on paper and mail them to the Copyright Office with

the appropriate fee and deposit. These include applications to register vessel designs (Form

D-VH); mask works (Form MW); renewal of copyright claims (Form RE); and works in which the U.S.

some types of group submissions also require paper applications, including automated database

updates that consist mostly of content other than photographs (Form TX).

Recordation of Documents

The Copyright Office charges a fee to record documents pertaining to a copyright, such as a transfer

of copyright, a will, a license, or a notice of termination. The fee to record a document of any length

including no more than one work, which is identified by a title and/or registration number, is $125.

Additional works and alternate identifiers (additional titles and registration numbers) are another

$60 for each group of ten or fewer additional works and alternate identifiers referenced in the same

document. When a document is accompanied by an electronic title sheet, additional works and

alternate identifiers are subject to a reduced fee scale, as shown below. For information on current

recordation practices see www.copyright.gov/recordation.

titles and registration numbers) are another

$60 for each group of ten or fewer additional works and alternate identifiers referenced in the same

document. When a document is accompanied by an electronic title sheet, additional works and

alternate identifiers are subject to a reduced fee scale, as shown below. For information on current

recordation practices see www.copyright.gov/recordation.

Searches of Copyright Office Records

The Copyright Office charges a fee when its staff searches the Office’s records for information about

works. Upon request, the Office will estimate the total cost of a search. The fee for a search estimate

is $200, which is applicable to the search fee. The hourly search fee, including the preparation of an

official search report, is $200 with a two-hour minimum.

For general search requests, complete the search estimate form online, call the Records Research

and Certification Section at (202) 707-6787, or send an email to copycerts@copyright.gov. For litiga-

tion search requests, call (202) 707-6787 or send an e-mail to coplitigationsupport@copyright.gov

(domestic litigation) or copinternationalsupport@copyright.gov (international litigation). The Office

will not search to determine whether a work similar to a work of interest has already been registered.

Such searches are not necessary under copyright law.

note: You can search the Copyright Office’s online database for records created between January 1,

1978, and the present. You can also visit the Copyright Reading Room, located in Room LM-463 of the

James Madison Memorial Building of the Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE,

Washington DC 20559, to search Copyright Office catalogs, pre-1978 records, and other records.

See How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work (Circular 22) for details

ords created between January 1,

1978, and the present. You can also visit the Copyright Reading Room, located in Room LM-463 of the

James Madison Memorial Building of the Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE,

Washington DC 20559, to search Copyright Office catalogs, pre-1978 records, and other records.

See How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work (Circular 22) for details.

Copies of Copyright Office Records

The Copyright Office charges a fee for locating or retrieving records, providing additional certifi-

cates of registration, or certifying copyright records. The hourly fee to locate or retrieve nonelec-

tronic records is $200 per hour with a one-hour minimum. The fee to retrieve electronic records

is $200 per hour with a half-hour minimum; billing occurs thereafter in quarter-hour increments.

Additional certificates of registration are $55 each. The charge for certifying a record is $200 per

hour. The certification fee is in addition to fees for other applicable services, such as fees for searches

or photocopies. To request copies of Copyright Office records, call the Records Research and Certifi-

cation Section at (202) 707-6787 or send an email to copycerts@copyright.gov. Under certain limited

conditions, copies of copyright deposits may be provided. For more information, see Obtaining

Access to and Copies of Copyright Office Records and Deposits (Circular 6).

Preregistration

The Copyright Office charges a fee for preregistration. Unpublished works that are being prepared for

commercial distribution and that fall within certain classes of works may be eligible. The fee is $200.

Preregistration forms must be filed electronically. The Office does not accept preregistration filings

on paper, in person, or by regular mail. For more information, see chapter 1600 of the Compendium.

ht Office charges a fee for preregistration. Unpublished works that are being prepared for

commercial distribution and that fall within certain classes of works may be eligible. The fee is $200.

Preregistration forms must be filed electronically. The Office does not accept preregistration filings

on paper, in person, or by regular mail. For more information, see chapter 1600 of the Compendium.

Expedited Services and Special Handling

The Copyright Office charges a fee for expedited registration and recordation services, called “special

handling.” Special handling is available if you have a compelling need related to pending or prospec-

tive litigation, customs matters, or contract or publishing deadlines. To request special handling, you

must provide a signed statement explaining why you need it, and you must include a certification that

the details of your request are correct to the best of your knowledge.

The fee for special handling of qualified applications for registration is $800 per claim. There is an

additional fee of $50 for each (non-special-handling) claim using the same deposit. The fee for expe-

dited recordation of documents is $550. Special handling fees are not refundable.

The Copyright Office may provide other services on an expedited basis under certain circum-

stances and with prior approval. For example, the Office may provide expedited searches or copies of

and chapter 2400, section 2411, of the Compendium.

Requests for Reconsideration (Appeals)

The Copyright Office charges a fee to reconsider a refusal to register a copyright claim. If the Office

refuses to register your claim to copyright, it will notify you in writing

edited searches or copies of

and chapter 2400, section 2411, of the Compendium.

Requests for Reconsideration (Appeals)

The Copyright Office charges a fee to reconsider a refusal to register a copyright claim. If the Office

refuses to register your claim to copyright, it will notify you in writing. After such notification, you

can seek reconsideration of the refusal by sending a letter requesting reconsideration and setting

forth your objections to the refusal not later than three months after the date that appears on the

Office’s written refusal. The cost of a first request for reconsideration is $350 per claim. If registra-

tion is again refused, a second request for reconsideration can be submitted. The cost of a second

reconsideration is $700 per claim. The Copyright Office’s decision in response to the second request

for reconsideration constitutes final agency action. For more information, see chapter 1700 of the

Compendium.

Full-Term Retention

The Copyright Office charges a fee for full-term retention of copyright deposits. The Office’s policy

is to retain published copyright deposits that have not been selected by the Library for its collections

for 20 years and all unpublished deposits for 120 years. If you want to ensure that the Copyright

Office’s decision retains your published deposit for the full length of the copyright term, you must

pay a fee of $540 to cover processing and storage costs for a physical deposit and a fee of $220 to

cover processing and storage costs for an electronic deposit. Send requests for full-term retention to

U.S. Copyright Office

Attn: Director of the Office of Public Records and Repositories

101 Independence Avenue SE

Washington DC 20559-6000

For more information, see chapter 2400, section 2410, of the Compendium.

40 to cover processing and storage costs for a physical deposit and a fee of $220 to

cover processing and storage costs for an electronic deposit. Send requests for full-term retention to

U.S. Copyright Office

Attn: Director of the Office of Public Records and Repositories

101 Independence Avenue SE

Washington DC 20559-6000

For more information, see chapter 2400, section 2410, of the Compendium.

Payment Processing Service Charges

The Copyright Office charges a fee of $285 for an overdraft of a deposit account; $500 for a dishon-

ored replenishment check for a deposit account; and $115 for an uncollectible or nonnegotiable check.

Other Claims and Services

Fees for other types of services and claims, such as processing secure tests and providing deposit

receipts, appear in the fee list at the end of this circular. See section 203.6 of Title 37 of the Code

of Federal Regulations for a list of fees for requests related to the Freedom of Information Act. For

detailed information about these and other services, visit the Copyright Office website.

Payment of Fees

Depending on the service you receive and the method of its delivery, you can pay by credit card;

deposit account; Automated Clearing House (ACH) debit; currency; or check, money order, or bank

draft payable to the U.S. Copyright Office. The Copyright Office accepts American Express, Discover,

MasterCard, and Visa.2

note: Currency is accepted only when a service is provided in person in the Public Information

Office. The Copyright Office does not accept currency by mail and cannot assume any responsibility

for the loss of currency sent in payment of copyright fees.

Electronic Services

You can pay by credit card, debit card, or ACH debit for services provided electronically, includ-

ing electronic registration of copyright claims. To administer payment for electronic services, the

to federal government agencies

ss of currency sent in payment of copyright fees.

Electronic Services

You can pay by credit card, debit card, or ACH debit for services provided electronically, includ-

ing electronic registration of copyright claims. To administer payment for electronic services, the

to federal government agencies. You can also pay for electronic services by debit card or Copyright

Office deposit account (see below).

Services by Mail

If you send a service request by postal mail, the only acceptable methods of payment are check

or money order payable to the U.S. Copyright Office or a Copyright Office deposit account (see

below). If a check received in payment of a registration or recordation filing fee is returned to the

is received, and a service charge of $30 will be applied.

Services by Phone or in Person

You can pay for some services by credit card when you request them by phone. Call the Records

Research and Certification Section at (202) 707-6787 to use a credit card to pay for additional

certificates of registration; copies of documents and deposits; certifications; search and retrieval of

deposits; expedited processing; or estimating the cost of searching Copyright Office records.

The Public Information Office accepts credit cards, currency, checks, and money orders in pay-

ment of Copyright Office services requested by walk-in visitors. In addition, you can charge fees for

on-site use of Copyright Office printers and photocopiers.

posits; certifications; search and retrieval of

deposits; expedited processing; or estimating the cost of searching Copyright Office records.

The Public Information Office accepts credit cards, currency, checks, and money orders in pay-

ment of Copyright Office services requested by walk-in visitors. In addition, you can charge fees for

on-site use of Copyright Office printers and photocopiers.

Deposit Accounts

An individual or organization can establish a deposit account, make advance deposits into that

account, and charge copyright fees against the balance in the account instead of sending separate

payments with applications and other requests for services. For more information, see How to Open

and Maintain a Copyright Office Deposit Account (Circular 5).

Foreign Checks and Money Orders

All foreign checks or money orders must be redeemable without a service or exchange fee through a

U.S. institution, payable in U.S. dollars, and imprinted with American Banking Association routing

numbers. Postal money orders and international money orders that are negotiable only at a post

office are not acceptable.

Refunds

Payments more than $50 in excess of the required fee will be refunded automatically, but refunds of

$50 or less will be made only upon written request.

To cover administrative and processing costs, fees received in conjunction with certain services

typically will not be refunded, even when the services cannot be provided. For example, the Copy-

right Office will not refund filing fees received for basic, supplementary, or renewal registration; for

preregistration; or for special handling, whether or not copyright registration or preregistration is

ultimately made.

Before making any refund of fees received for nonregistration services, the Copyright Office will

deduct an administrative processing fee in an amount equivalent to one hour of the requested ser-

vice or the minimum fee for the service

pplementary, or renewal registration; for

preregistration; or for special handling, whether or not copyright registration or preregistration is

ultimately made.

Before making any refund of fees received for nonregistration services, the Copyright Office will

deduct an administrative processing fee in an amount equivalent to one hour of the requested ser-

vice or the minimum fee for the service.

Public Information Office

Visit the Copyright Office’s Public Information Office between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., eastern time,

Monday through Friday, to secure the services described in this circular that are available in person.

U.S. Copyright Office

James Madison Memorial Building

101 Independence Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20559

To secure services available by phone, call (202) 707-3000 or 1-877-476-0778 (toll free).

– Fees in effect as of March 20, 2020

– For Licensing Division fees, request Circular 76

– All forms available at www.copyright.gov

Basic Registrations

Each registration must include properly completed

application form, nonrefundable filing fee, and

nonreturnable deposit.

Registrations online

$45

Single Application (single author, same

claimant, one work, not for hire)

$65

Standard Application (all other filings)

Registrations on paper

$125

Paper filing on Form TX, Form VA,

Form PA, Form SE, and Form SR

Renewal Registrations

For works published or registered before January 1, 1978

$ 125

Form RE

$ 100

Addendum to Form RE (in addition to fee

for claim)

Group Registrations

To register a group of related claims, where appropriate

$ 35

Serials, per issue, with minimum two issues

(online application only)

$ 95

Newspapers or newsletters (online

application only)

$ 85

Contributions to periodicals (online

application only)

$55

Published photographs or unpublished

photographs (online application only)

$ 85

Group of unpublished works (online

application only)

$250

Group of updates for a photographic

database (o

rials, per issue, with minimum two issues

(online application only)

$ 95

Newspapers or newsletters (online

application only)

$ 85

Contributions to periodicals (online

application only)

$55

Published photographs or unpublished

photographs (online application only)

$ 85

Group of unpublished works (online

application only)

$250

Group of updates for a photographic

database (online or paper application)

$ 500

Group of updates for a nonphotographic

database (paper application only)

Supplementary Registrations

$100

Electronic filing (to correct or amplify a

completed registration)

$150

Paper filing for correction or amplification

of renewal registrations, GATT registrations,

and group registrations for non-

photographic databases (Form CA)

$100

Form DC (to correct a design registration)

Preregistration

$200

Preregistration of certain unpublished

works

Other Registrations

$ 500

Form D-VH (vessel designs)

$100

Form GATT

$ 150

Form MW (mask works)

Optional Services Related to Registration

Special Handling

To expedite registration processing of qualiﬁed claims

$ 800

Special handling fee (per claim)

$ 50

Additional fee for each (non-special-

handling) claim using the same deposit

Other fees associated with registration

$ 540

Full-term retention of published copyright

deposit (physical deposit)

$ 220

Full-term retention of published copyright

deposit (electronic deposit)

$ 250

Secure test examining (per staff member

per hour)

$ 50

Handling extra copy for certification

$ 150

Voluntary cancellation of registration

$ 40

Matching unidentified deposit to deposit

ticket claim (per half hour)

Requests for Reconsideration (Appeals)

For claims previously refused registration

$ 350

First request (per claim)

$ 700

Second request (per claim)

deposit)

$ 250

Secure test examining (per staff member

per hour)

$ 50

Handling extra copy for certification

$ 150

Voluntary cancellation of registration

$ 40

Matching unidentified deposit to deposit

ticket claim (per half hour)

Requests for Reconsideration (Appeals)

For claims previously refused registration

$ 350

First request (per claim)

$ 700

Second request (per claim)

Other Copyright Service Fees

Recordation of Documents

To make public record of assignment of rights or other

document relating to disposition of copyrighted work

$ 125

Recordation of document, including notice

of intention to enforce (base fee includes 1

work identified by 1 title and/or registration

number) (paper filing)

$ 95

Recordation of document, including notice

of intention to enforce (base fee includes 1

work identified by 1 title and/or registration

number) (electronic filing)

$ 95

Additional transfer (per transfer) (for

documents recorded under 17 U.S.C. 205)

$ 60

Additional works and alternate identifiers

(per group of 10 or fewer additional works

and alternate identifiers)

When document is accompanied by electronic title list:

$60 1 to 50 additional works and alternate

identifiers

$225

51 to 500 additional works and alternate

identifiers

$390

501 to 1,000 additional works and alternate

identifiers

$555

1,001 to 10,000 additional works and

alternate identifiers

$5,550

10,001 or more additional works and

alternate identifiers

Correction of online public catalog data

due to erroneous electronic title submission

(per title)

Other fees associated with recordation:

$550 Special handling fee for recordation of a

document

$75

Schedule of pre-1972 sound recordings, or

supplemental schedule of pre-1972 sound

recordings (single sound recording)

$10

Additional sound recordings (per group of

1 to 100 sound recordings)

$75

Removal of pre-1972 sound recording from

Office’s database of indexed schedules

(single

ees associated with recordation:

$550 Special handling fee for recordation of a

document

$75

Schedule of pre-1972 sound recordings, or

supplemental schedule of pre-1972 sound

recordings (single sound recording)

$10

Additional sound recordings (per group of

1 to 100 sound recordings)

$75

Removal of pre-1972 sound recording from

Office’s database of indexed schedules

(single sound recording)

$50

Notice of noncommercial use of pre-1972

sound recording

$50

Opt-out notice of noncommercial use of

pre-1972 sound recording

Searches of Records

For searching copyright records and preparing official

report

$ 200

Estimate of search fee (credited to search fee)

$200

Search report (per hour, 2 hour minimum)

$500

Expedited report (per hour, 1 hour

minimum)

$200

Certification of search report (per hour)

Retrievals and Copies of Records

Retrieval of in-process or completed Copyright Office

records

$200

Estimate of retrieval fee (credited to

retrieval fee)

$200

Retrieval of paper records (per hour,

1 hour minimum)

$200

Retrieval of digital records (per hour, half

hour minimum, quarter-hour increments)

$ 55

Additional certificate of registration

$ 200

Certification of records, including search

reports (per hour)

$ 500

Surcharge for expedited retrievals,

certification, and copying (per hour, 1 hour

minimum)

$ 100

Litigation statement (Form LS)

$ 12

Copying of Copyright Office records by

staff (all media)

Removal of Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

$ 100

Initial request (per registration record)

$ 60

Reconsideration of denied request (flat fee)

Miscellaneous Fees

$ 30

Receipt for deposit without registration

(section 407 deposit)

$ 6

Designation of agent under section

512(c)(2) to receive notification of

claimed infringement or amendment or

resubmission of agent

$ 50

Notice to libraries and archives

(each additional title $ 20)

$45

Service charge for Federal Express mailing

Service charge for delivery o

t fee)

Miscellaneous Fees

$ 30

Receipt for deposit without registration

(section 407 deposit)

$ 6

Designation of agent under section

512(c)(2) to receive notification of

claimed infringement or amendment or

resubmission of agent

$ 50

Notice to libraries and archives

(each additional title $ 20)

$45

Service charge for Federal Express mailing

Service charge for delivery of documents via

fax (per page, seven pages maximum)

Payment Processing Service Charges

$285

Overdraft of deposit account

$500

Dishonored replenishment check for

deposit account

$ 115

Uncollectible or nonnegotiable check

For current fees, check the Copyright Ofﬁce website

at www.copyright.gov, write the Copyright Ofﬁce, or

call (202) 707-3000 or 1-877-476-0778 (toll free).

notes

1. This circular is intended as an overview of copyright office fees. The authoritative source for U.S.

regulations are codified in Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Copyright Office practices and

procedures are summarized in the third edition of the Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices,

cited as the Compendium. The copyright law, regulations, and the Compendium are available on the

2. The Copyright Office also accepts credit card payments for filings under the Uruguay Round

Agreements Act (URAA). These filings include notices of intent (NIEs) to enforce a restored copy-

right under the URAA and claims to copyright made on Form GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs

and Trade). Debit cards are not accepted. See Copyright Restoration Under the URAA (Circular 38B),

and Form GATT for details about filing claims under the URAA.

r the Uruguay Round

Agreements Act (URAA). These filings include notices of intent (NIEs) to enforce a restored copy-

right under the URAA and claims to copyright made on Form GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs

and Trade). Debit cards are not accepted. See Copyright Restoration Under the URAA (Circular 38B),

and Form GATT for details about filing claims under the URAA.

1 U. S. Copyright Office · Library of Congress · 101 Independence Avenue SE · Washington, DC 20559 · copyright.gov

CIRCULAR 4

REVISED: 11/2024

PRINT: 00/0000 — 0,000

For Further Information

By Internet

The copyright law, the Compendium, electronic registration, application forms, regulations,

and related materials are available on the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov.

By Email

To send an email inquiry, click the Contact Us link on the Copyright Office website.

By Telephone

For general information, call the Copyright Public Information Office at (202) 707-3000 or

1-877-476-0778 (toll free). Staff members are on duty from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, eastern time,

Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. To request application forms or circulars by

postal mail, call (202) 707-9100 or 1-877-476-0778 and leave a recorded message.

By Regular Mail

Write to

Library of Congress

U.S. Copyright Office

Outreach and Education Section

101 Independence Avenue, SE #6304

Washington, DC 20559-6304

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.