Services of the Copyright Office
Are you the only place I can go to register a copyright?
Yes. Although copyright application forms may be available in
public libraries and some reference books, the U.S. Copyright
Office is the only office that can accept applications and issue
registrations.
Can you provide me with copies of my application and my work?
Contact the Certifications and Documents Section of the Copyright
Office at (202)707-6787 or see Circular
6, Access to and Copies of Copyright Records and Deposit,
for details.
I lost my certificate. Can I get a new one?
Yes, we can produce an additional certificate for a fee of $30.
See Circular
6, Access to and Copies of Copyright Records and Deposits,
for details on how to make a request.
Can you tell me who owns a copyright?
We can provide you with the information available in our records.
A search of registrations, renewals, and recorded transfers of
ownership made before 1978 requires a manual search of our files.
Upon request, our staff will search our records at the statutory
rate of $75 for each hour. There is no fee if you conduct a search
in person at the Copyright Office. Copyright registrations made
and documents recorded from 1978 to date are available for searching
online. For further information, see Circular
22, How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work,
and Circular 23, Copyright
Card Catalog and the Online File.
Is the Copyright Office open to the public?
Yes. Hours of service are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time,
Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. Activities available
in person include speaking with an information specialist, requesting
various services, and searching our card catalog.
Does the Copyright Office give legal advice?
No. The Copyright Office does not give legal opinions
concerning the rights of persons in cases of alleged infringement,
contracts, or the copyright status of any particular work other
than the information shown in the records of the Office.
How do I get my work published?
Publication occurs at the discretion and initiative of the copyright
owner. The Copyright Office has no role in the publication process.
How do I collect royalties?
The collection of royalties is usually a matter of private arrangements
between an author and publisher or other users of the author's
work. The Copyright Office plays no role in the execution of contractual
terms or business practices. There are copyright licensing organizations
and publications rights clearinghouses that distribute royalties
for their members.
How do I get my work into the Library of Congress?
Copies of works deposited for copyright registration or in fulfillment
of the mandatory deposit requirement are available to the Library
of Congress for its collections. The Library reserves the right
to select or reject any published work for its permanent collections
based on the research needs of Congress, the nation's scholars,
and of the nation's libraries. If you would like further information
on the Library's selection policies, you may contact: Library of
Congress, Collections
Policy Office, 101 Independence Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C.
20540.
Note: The Copyright Office offers introductory answers to frequently asked questions about
copyright, registration, and services of the Office. Links throughout the answers will guide
you to further information on our website or from other sources. For any other questions, please visit
our Contact Us page.
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