Exploring U.S. Copyright Registration: A Detailed Guide on Types and Fees

U.S. Copyright Registration, What you need to know

With the rapid development of the global economy and the advent of the digital age, the protection of intellectual property has become increasingly important. In today's article, we will delve into the types of copyright registration in the U.S., the definition of the copyright holder, the duration of copyright protection, the information required for registration, and the official fees. This will unveil the intricacies of the U.S. copyright system and provide you with critical insights for making business decisions related to patent applications and copyright protection.

Types of Works Eligible of U.S. Copyright:

Copyright is a form of intellectual property. Once an author’s work is fixed in a tangible form of expression, it becomes protected.
Copyright law covers a wide range of creative works, including paintings, photographs, illustrations, musical compositions, sound recordings, computer programs, books, poems, blog posts, films, architectural works, and dramatic works.

Certain materials are not considered creative, such as titles, names, short phrases and slogans; familiar symbols or designs; mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, or coloring; and simple ingredient or content listings. 

It is always important to remember that copyright protects the expression of ideas, not the ideas, procedures, methods, systems, processes, concepts, principles, or discoveries themselves.
 

Definition of Copyright Owner in the United States:

Everyone is a copyright owner, as long as you create an original work and fix it in a tangible form, for example, by taking a photograph, writing a poem or a blog post, or recording a new song. You are the author and rights holder of that work.

In addition to individual creators, companies, organizations, and other entities can also be copyright owners. Under the “work made for hire” doctrine, copyright ownership belongs to the employer when an employee creates a work within the scope of employment. This principle also applies to certain types of commissioned works involving independent contractors.

Copyright ownership may also be acquired through contracts (such as an assignment agreement), wills, bequests, or other forms of transfer.
 

Term: 

The term of copyright protection depends on when the work was created. According to current law, for works created on or after January 1, 1978, the copyright lasts for the lifetime of the author plus seventy years after the author’s death. 

For joint works, the term extends seventy years after the death of the last surviving author.

For works made for hire, anonymous, or pseudonymous works, the term is 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation—whichever expires first. 

Works created before 1978 are subject to different terms of protection. 

A copyright notice usually contains the symbol ©, the name of the copyright owner, and the year of first publication, for example: “© Jane Doe, 2019.” Even if a work has not been formally registered, the copyright symbol may still be used.
 

Information Required for U.S. Copyright Registration: 

U.S. Copyright Registration Fees