Table of Contents
NAMES, TITLES, AND SHORT PHRASES NOT PROTECTED
BY COPYRIGHT
Names, titles, and short phrases or expressions are not subject to copyright
protection. Even if a name, title, or short phrase is novel or distinctive
or if it lends itself to a play on words, it cannot be protected by copyright.
The Copyright Office cannot register claims to exclusive rights in brief combinations
of words such as:
- Names of products or services
- Names of businesses, organizations, or groups (including the name of
a group of performers)
- Names of pseudonyms of individuals (including pen name or stage name)
- Titles of works
- Catchwords, catchphrases, mottoes, slogans, or short advertising expressions
- Mere listings of ingredients, as in recipes, labels, or formulas. When
a recipe or formula is accompanied by explanation or directions, the text
directions may be copyrightable, but the recipe or formula itself remains
uncopyrightable.
SUBJECT MATTER OF COPYRIGHT
Copyright protection under the copyright code (title 17, section 102, U.S.
Code) extends only to “original works of authorship.” The statute
states clearly that ideas and concepts cannot be protected by copyright. To
be protected by copyright, a work must contain at least a certain minimum
amount of authorship in the form of original literary, musical, pictorial,
or graphic expression. Names, titles, and other short phrases do not meet
these requirements.
COPYRIGHT OFFICE RECORDS LISTED ALPHABETICALLY BY
TITLE
The titles of registered works are filed alphabetically and appear in that
order in the indexes and catalogs of the Copyright Office.
However, the presence of a title in the Copyright Office registration records
does not mean that the title itself is copyrighted or subject to copyright
protection. In many cases, our records show the same or closely similar titles
for entirely different works.
Copyright Office files may be examined through LOCIS (Library of Congress
Information System). Access to LOCIS requires Telnet support. If your online
service provider supports Telnet, you can connect to LOCIS through the Copyright
Office Website or directly by using Telnet.
www.copyright.gov
Telnet: locis.loc.gov
If your online service provider does not support Telnet, address your concerns
directly to the provider.
PROTECTION UNDER TRADEMARK OR UNFAIR COMPETITION
LAWS
Some brand names, trade names, slogans, and phrases may be entitled to protection
under the general rules of law relating to unfair competition, or they may
be entitled to protection and registration under the provisions of state or
federal trademark laws. The federal trademark statute covers trademarks and
service marks—those words, phrases, symbols, or designs that identify
the source of the goods or services of one party and distinguish them from
those of others. The Copyright Office has no role in these matters.
For questions on trademarks or for information on registering a federal trademark,
write to:
Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
Washington, D.C. 20231
Or call the Patent and Trademark help line at (800) PTO-9199 or (703) 308-HELP
(TTY: (703) 305-7785). For the Trademark Assistance Center, call (703) 308-9000.
Internet information is available at www.uspto.gov
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
To request Copyright Office circulars and application forms, write to:
Library of Congress
Copyright Office
Publications Section, LM-455
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20559-6000
Or, if you know which forms and circulars you want, request them 24 hours
a day from the Forms and Publications Hotline at (202) 707-9100. Leave a recorded
message.
Selected circulars and other information (but not application forms) are
available from Fax-on-Demand at (202) 707-2600.
Circulars, announcements, recent regulations, and copyright registration
forms are available via the Copyright Office Website at www.copyright.gov.
For general information about copyright, call the Copyright Public Information
Office at (202) 707-3000. The TTY number is (202) 707-6737. Information specialists
are on duty from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday,
except federal holidays. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day.
Rev: February 2000
This electronic version has been altered slightly from the original printed
text for presentation on the World Wide Web. For a copy of the original
circular, consult the PDF
version or write to Copyright Office, 101 Independence Avenue S.E., Washington,
D.C. 20559-6000.
