Table of Contents
GENERAL INFORMATION
A multimedia work is a work, often instructional, which, excluding its container,
combines authorship in two or more media. The authorship may include:
• text
• artwork
• sculpture
• cinematography
• photography
• sounds
• music or
• choreography
The media may include two or more of the following:
• printed matter, such as a book, charts or posters, or sheet music;
• audiovisual material, such as a filmstrip, slides, videotape, or videodisk;
• a phonorecord, such as an audiodisk or audiotape; or
• a machine-readable copy, such as a computer-read disk, tape, or chip.
For the purpose of copyright registration, it is important to identify the
copyrightable elements contained in the multimedia work. Identifying the elements
will help you to determine which application form to use and what type of
material to deposit.
In any multimedia work, there may be several elements, usually including
a motion-picture element or other audiovisual element, or a sound recording
element.
An audiovisual element consists of a series of related pictorial images
intended to be shown by the use of projectors, viewers, or electronic equipment.
This element may be a filmstrip, slides, a film, a videotape, a videodisk,
or a CD-I (interactive compact disk).
A motion-picture element is an audiovisual element which consists
of a series of related images which, when shown in succession, impart an impression
of motion. This element may be in the form of film, videotape, videodisk,
or a CD-I.
A sound-recording element is a series of recorded sounds. Sounds accompanying
an audiovisual or motion picture element are not defined in the copyright
law as a “sound recording.”
HOW COPYRIGHT IS SECURED
Statutory copyright protection begins automatically when a work is created
in a fixed form such as a writing or recording. The Copyright Office, an office
of public record, registers claims to copyright and issues certificates of
registration; it does not “grant” or “issue” copyrights. (See Circular
1, “Copyright Basics,” for the benefits of registration.)
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
To register a claim to copyright in a work, send the following three elements
in the same envelope or package to:
Library of Congress
Copyright Office
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20559-6000
- A nonrefundable filing fee of $30* for each application;
- A nonreturnable deposit (copy) of the work for which registration is
being made; and
- A properly completed application form.
| *NOTE:
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. |
Single Unit Registration
All copyrightable elements of a multimedia kit may generally be registered
with a single application, deposit and fee, provided: 1) they are not
published, or if published, are published together as a single unit; and 2)
the copyright claimant is the same for each element.
Separate registrations for individual elements may be made by submitting
a separate application and filing fee for each. A separate registration is
required, however, for any element of a multimedia kit that is published separately
or claimed by someone other than the copyright claimant for the other elements.
FEE
The filing fee is $30* for each claim. Send a check or
money order payable to the Register of Copyrights. Do not send cash.
DEPOSIT REQUIREMENTS
The application must be accompanied by a deposit of the work to be registered.
The deposit requirement varies according to the type of work being registered,
and whether the work has been published (see page 4 for the definition of
publication). Copies or phonorecords deposited will not be returned.
Unpublished Works
Deposit one complete multimedia kit, containing all elements covered by the
registration. (All elements should bear the title of the work. If the work
contains color, the copy sent as a deposit should be in color.)
Published Works (Look below
for the definition of publication.)
For a multimedia kit first published in the United States, deposit one “complete
copy” of the best published edition. A “complete copy” includes all elements
in the unit of publication. (See Circular 7b, “Best
Edition,” for information on the best edition criteria.)
Effective Nov. 27, 1991, either one complete copy of the work as first published
or one complete copy of the best edition of the work is the required deposit
for works first published only in a country outside the United States.
Works Containing a Motion-Picture Element
If the multimedia kit contains a motion-picture element, deposit a description
of the motion picture in addition to the normal deposit requirements. The
Library of Congress prefers the most detailed description possible, such as
a shooting script, but will accept a synopsis or other general description.
(See Circular 45, "Copyright Registration for Motion Pictures.”)
Works Containing an Element Fixed or Published in
Machine-Readable Copies
When the multimedia kit contains authorship that is fixed or published only
in machine-readable form, such as a computer tape or disk, or a semiconductor
chip, deposit the appropriate identifying material for the machine-readable
copy.
APPLICATION FORMS
The appropriate form for registration depends on what elements make up the
multimedia kit. (The chart below describes typical multimedia
kits and shows the appropriate form and description of authorship in each
case.)
Generally, select the application form on the following bases:
- Use Form PA if the work contains an audiovisual element, such as a filmstrip,
slides, film, or videotape, regardless of whether there are any sounds.
- Use Form SR if the work does not contain an audiovisual element, but
contains an audiotape or disk in which sound-recording authorship is claimed.
- Use Form TX if the work contains only text, such as a manual and a computer
program that produces a textual screen display. (See Circular
61 for further information.)
| Note: Regardless of the form used,
the application may include a claim in all accompanying authorship. See
chart below. |
How to Complete the Application
Instructions for completing each space of the application accompany the form.
The following points should be noted in particular.
Space 1:
Title. State the title of the work exactly as it appears on the multimedia
kit. If there are variances, give the one title that identifies the work as
a whole.
Nature of Work (Form PA). State “audiovisual work.”
Nature of Material Recorded (Form SR). Indicate the nature of material
on the phonorecord.
Space 2:
Name of Author. Name the author(s) of the copyrightable material being
claimed. Where the work is a new version, name the author(s) of the new material
claimed in space 6b. Ordinarily, the author is the person who actually created
the work. However, where the work or any contribution to it is a work made
for hire, the employer is considered the author.
Work Made for Hire. Give the appropriate answer to this question.
A work made for hire is either 1) a work prepared by an employee within the
scope of his or her employment, or 2) a work specially ordered for a certain
use, with an express written agreement that the work shall be considered a
work made for hire. Such uses include contributions to a collective work,
parts of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, and a supplementary work,
such as pictorial illustrations and instructional text. (See Circular
9, “Works Made for Hire,” for further information.)
Nature of Authorship. Describe the author’s copyrightable contribution
to the work, for example:
- If the author’s contribution is contained in photographic slides, audiotapes
and booklets, use Form PA and state “photography, recorded and printed text,
and sounds.”
- If the author’s contribution is contained in audiocassettes and books,
use Form SR and state “recorded and printed text and sound recording.”
- If the author’s contribution is contained in a computer program and manuals,
use Form TX and give “text of computer program and text of manuals.”
| Note: Do not include elements that are not
present in the deposit, or elements that are not protected by copyright,
such as concepts, ideas, or methods. |
Space 3:
Creation. Give the year in which authorship of the last element of
the multimedia kit was completed. If the work is a new version, give the date
of completion for the new version.
Publication. If the multimedia kit has been published (see this page
for the definition of publication), give the complete date (month, day, and
year) and nation of first publication. If this is a revised version, give
the date and nation of first publication of the revised version.
Space 4:
Claimant. Give the name and address of the copyright claimant. The
copyright claimant is the author or the person or organization that has obtained
all of the rights in the United States copyright.
Transfer. If the claimant is not the author, include a statement in
the transfer block in space 4, showing how the claimant acquired the copyright.
Examples of generally acceptable statements include: “by written agreement,”
“written assignment,” “written contract,” and “by will.” When the names in
spaces 2 and 4 are different, but they identify the same legal entity, the
relationship between the names should be explained in space 4. Examples are:
“Doe Publishing Company, solely owned by John Doe” or “John Doe doing business
as Doe Publishing Company.”
| Note: Do not attach copies of documents of
transfer of copyright to the application. (See Circular
12, “Recordation of Transfers and Other Documents,” for information
on how to record documents pertaining to copyright ownership.) |
Space 5:
Previous Registration. Answer “yes” to the first question only if
a certificate of copyright registration has been issued for this work, or
any part of it, or for a previous version of the work. If previous registration
has been made, check the appropriate box to show why another registration
is sought and give the requested information about the previous registration.
Answer “no” to the first question if no previous registration was completed,
and leave the rest of space 5 blank.
Space 6:
Complete this space only if the work being registered contains material that:
- was previously published; or
- was previously registered in the U.S. Copyright Office; or
- is in the public domain.
If this space is applicable to the work submitted, please complete both parts.
Preexisting Material (6a). Briefly describe the authorship that was
previously published or registered, or that is in the public domain. Examples
are: “previously published edition,” and “previously published text and photography.”
New Material Added (6b). Briefly describe all the new copyrightable
authorship that is the basis of the present registration. An example is: “some
new text, new photography.” (The statement used in 6b may be used in space
2 to describe the author’s contribution.)
Space 8 (Forms PA and SR) or Space 10 (Form TX):
The application must bear the original signature of a person who is authorized
to file the claim and should be dated. For a published work, the application
must be certified on or after the date of first publication.
PUBLICATION
Under the 1976 Copyright Act, publication is the distribution 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.
The following acts do not constitute publication: performing or displaying
the work, preparing copies or phonorecords for publication, or sending the
work to the Copyright Office for registration.
The definition of publication as stated in the previous two paragraphs applies
only to works published under the copyright law that took effect January 1,
1978. For information about works published prior to that date, call or write
the Copyright Office.
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT
Before March 1, 1989, the use of copyright notice was mandatory on all published
works, and any work first published before that date should have carried a
notice. For works first published on and after March 1, 1989, use of the copyright
notice is optional. For more information about copyright notice, see Circular
3, “Copyright Notice.”
EFFECTIVE DATE OF REGISTRATION
A copyright registration is effective on the date the Copyright Office
receives all the required elements in acceptable form, regardless of how
long it then takes to process the application and mail the certificate of
registration. The time the Copyright Office requires to process an application
varies, depending on the amount of material the Office is receiving.
If you apply for copyright registration, you will not receive an acknowledgment
that your application has been received (the Office receives more than 600,000
applications annually), but you can expect:
- A letter or a telephone call from a Copyright Office staff member if
further information is needed or
- A certificate of registration indicating that the work has been registered,
or if the application cannot be accepted, a letter explaining why it has
been rejected.
If you want to know the date that the Copyright Office receives your material,
send it by registered or certified mail and request a return receipt.
A GUIDE TO WHICH APPLICATION FORM TO USE
The following are examples of typical multimedia deposits showing the appropriate
form and authorship statements for registration. The fact situations pertaining
to a particular claim will determine the correct way to complete the form.
| Form to Use |
Nature of Deposit |
Suggested Nature of Authorship Statement |
| PA |
Slides and booklet |
(1) Entire work or (2) Text and photography |
| PA |
Slides (or filmstrips),
booklet, and audiocassettes |
(1) Entire work or (2) Text
as printed and recorded; photography, and sounds |
| PA |
Videocassette, manual with text
and pictorial illustrations |
(1) Entire work or (2) Cinematography,
text, and illustrations |
| PA |
Filmstrip, pamphlets, poster,
and music soundsheet |
(1) Entire work or (2) Photography, text,
artwork, lyrics, music, and sounds |
| PA |
Manuals, container with artwork, and identifying
materials (computer program listing, videotape) for machine-readable diskette
which produces pictorial screen display |
Printed text and artwork, text
of computer program, and audiovisual work |
| PA |
Manual, interactive compact disk, and
identifying material for computer program on machine-readable diskette
(or cassette) |
Printed text, photographs,
and text of computer program |
| SR |
Audiocassettes and manual |
Do Not Use “Entire Work” on Form SR. Text as
printed and recorded, and sound recording |
| SR |
Music soundsheets,
booklets, and posters |
Text, artwork,
lyrics, music, and sound recording |
| SR |
Audiocassettes, manual and identifying material
for computer program on machine-readable diskette (or cassette) |
Text of manual and computer program, recorded
text, and sound recording |
| TX |
Manuals and identifying
material for computer program on machine-readable diskette (or cassette)
which produces textual screen display |
Text of manuals and computer
program |
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To speak to an information specialist, call (202) 707-3000 (TTY: 707-6737),
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., eastern time, excluding federal
holidays. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day. Order forms and
other publications from:
Library of Congress
Copyright Office
Publications Section, LM-455
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20559-6000
or call the Forms and Publications Hotline 24 hours a day at (202) 707-9100.
Most circulars (but not forms) are available via fax. Call (202) 707-2600
from a touchtone phone and follow the prompts. Access and download circulars,
forms, and other information from the Copyright Office Website at www.copyright.gov
Rev: July 2002
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.
