How do I register my work with the U.S. Copyright Office?

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1. Be sure that your work is eligible. The following shows who is eligible to register their copyright with the U.S. Copyright office:
   • On the date of first publication, one or more of the authors is a national or domiciliary of the United States, or is a national, domiciliary, or sovereign authority of a treaty party or is a stateless person wherever that person may be domiciled.
   • The work is first published in the United States or in a foreign nation that, on the date of first publication, is a treaty party. For purposes of this condition, a work that is published in the United States or a treaty party within 30 days after publication in a foreign nation that is not a treaty party shall be considered to be first published in the United States or such treaty party, as the case may be.
   • The work is first published by the United Nations or any of its specialized agencies, or by the Organization of American States.
   • The work is a foreign work that was in the public domain in the United States prior to 1996 and its copyright was restored under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA)
   • The work comes within the scope of a Presidential proclamation.
2. Download and print the proper form from the U.S. Copyright website (www.copyright.gov).
   • Literary works: Form TX http://www.copyright.gov/forms/formtx.pdf
   • Performing Arts: Form PA (You will need this form if your work is a stage or screen play) http://www.copyright.gov/forms/formpa.pdf
   • Visual Arts: Form VA http://www.copyright.gov/forms/formva.pdf
   
   Send the completed application, the filing fee of $45.00 USD and 2 copies of your work to:
   Library of Congress
   
   
   Copyright Office
   
   
   101 Independence Ave SE
   
   
   Washington, DC 20559-6000
   
   
   
3. Your registration with the copyright office takes effect the moment your application, fee, and 2 copies of your work arrive at the office. The copyright office will send a certificate of registration to your mailing address in approximately 4 months.
   
   If you need further information, please visit the United States Copyright website at www.copyright.gov.