How To Register Serials and Periodicals with the Copyright Office
A copyright is granted by the Library of Congress for all original artistic works. Use these steps to register a copyright for a serial or periodical work.
Step 1 Determine if it is a serial or periodical.
Different types of works require different steps. A serial work is issued or intended to be issued in successive parts and usually bears volume designations and are intended to be continued works.
Step 2 – Choose the correct Copyright Office form to use.
With serials and periodicals you may register one issue at a time or you may register multiple issues with one filing.
To register one issue use Form SE.
You may use Short Form SE if:
1. The work is in a collective work.
2. The work is an all-new collective work or issue.
3. The author must be a citizen or domiciliary of the United States.
4. The work must be a work made for hire.
5. The author and copyright claimant must be the same person or organization.
6. The work must be first published in the United States.
If you need more space than what is allocated on Form SE or Short Form SE use Form CON.
Form SE/Group may be used if all of the following are met:
1. The claim to copyright is in the collective work.
2. The works are all new collective works or issues.
3. Each issue is a work made for hire.
4. The author and claimant are the same person or organization for all the issues.
5. The serial is published at intervals of 1 week or longer.
6. All issues in the group are published within a 3-month period.
7. Each issue was created no more than 1 year prior to its date of publication.
8. All issues in the group were published within the same calendar year.
9. At least two issues are included on each group application.
Form G/DN may be used by a daily newspaper that meets the following conditions:
The claim includes all issue dates within the calendar month within the same year.
The applicant submits a complete month’s issues in microfilm form, unless specifically exempted.
Each issue essentially is an all-new collective work.
The work is a "work made for hire."
The author and claimant are the same person or organization.
The application is filed within 3 months after the last publication date included in the group.
A group of newsletter issues may be registered on Form G/DN if:
The work is a "work made for hire," and the author and claimant are the same person or organization.
Each issue is an essentially all-new collective work or all-new issue that has not been published before.
The application is filed within 3 months after the last publication date included in the group.
The claim includes two or more issues within a single calendar month within the same year.
All issues in the group have been first published on or after July 1, 1999.
The applicant submits one complete copy of each issue in the group with the application.
Step 3 – Determine what your fee is.
Make the fee payable to “Register of Copyrights”.
Single issue: $45
Group registration: $25 per issue (minimum $50)
Group registration of newspapers or newsletters: $70
Step 4 – Determine what type of copy you must submit.
Every application must be accompanied by a copy of the work that is being registered.
For Single Issues submit two copies, or one copy if the issue is unpublished or if the issue was first published outside of the United States.
For a Group of Issues you must supply the Library of Congress with two complimentary subscriptions and one copy of each issue listed on the application.
For a Group of Newspapers or Newsletters you must submit either a microfilm of all of the previous month’s issues or for online only publications a CD/DVD containing an entire issue or a printed version of the issue.
Step 5 – Mail the package.
Mail the application, fee and copies to:
Library of Congress
Copyright Office
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20559-6000
Step 6 – Wait for your Certificate
Your copyright becomes effective once the Copyright Office receives your completed package. Within 6 months you should receive a Certificate of Registration.
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How to Register a Literary Work with the Copyright Office
A copyright is granted by the Library of Congress for all original artistic works. Use these steps to register a copyright for a literary work. Works do … More