Intellectual Property FAQs

• Q: Do I Have To Renew My Copyright?
  A: No. Works created on or after January 1, 1978, are not subject to renewal registration (see Circular 15). As to works published or registered prior to January 1, 1978, … More
• Q: Can I Submit My Manuscript On A Computer Disk?
  A: No. There are many different software formats and the Copyright Office does not have the equipment to accommodate all of them. Therefore, the Copyright Office still … More
• Q: Can I Submit A Cd-Rom Of My Work?
  A: Yes, you may. The deposit requirement consists of the best edition of the CD­ROM package of any work, including the accompanying operating software, instruction … More
• Q: Can I Register A Diary I Found In My Grandmother's Attic?
  A: You can register copyright in the diary only if you are the transferee (by will, by inheritance). Copyright is the right of the author of the work or the author`s … More
• Q: Are There Any Special Mailing Requirements?
  A: The only requirement is that all three elements, the application, the copy or copies of the work, and the $30 filing fee, be sent in the same package. Many people send … More
• Q: Can Foreigners Register Their Works In The U.S.?
  A: Any work that is protected by U.S. copyright law can be registered. This includes many works of foreign origin. All works that are unpublished, regardless of the … More
• Q: Can A Minor Claim Copyright?
  A: Minors may claim copyright, and the Copyright Office does issue registrations to minors, but state laws may regulate the business dealings involving copyrights owned … More
• Q: When Will I Get My Certificate?
  A: The time the Copyright Office requires to process an application varies; depending on the amount of material the Office is receiving. You may generally expect a … More
• Q: What Does A Copyright Protect?
  A: Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works such as poetry, novels, … More
• Q: When Is My Work Protected?
  A: Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form so that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or …
• Q: Can I Receive Copies Of My Application And My Work?
  A: Contact the Certifications and Documents Section of the Copyright Office (202) 707­6787.