How to Copyright Your Book with the US Copyright Office
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- Want your book to be government official? Here is a step-by-step process that shows how to copyright your book.
Partial Transcription:
Want to copyright your book? I’m about to show you how - without paying an attorney. And yes, it is very easy, so you don’t have to worry about messing something up.
Before we get into that, you should know that you don’t have to have your book officially copyrighted by the U.S. government. You own the copyright to your book as soon as you start writing. Type out a series of words with your computer, and they belong to you. Thanks to our modern digital world, you have a record of when you created your manuscript and when you last saved it. This gives you claim to your copyright.
Because of this, some writers never file their books with the U.S. Copyright Office. They see it as unnecessary.
But some authors are uneasy about this. They want the security of an official government copyright.
If this sounds like you, here’s how to do it.
First, head over to copyright.gov.
Click on registration and then Register Your Work: Registration Portal
Scroll down and click on Log in to the Electronic Copyright Office Registration System
Click okay
If you’re a new user, you’ll need to create a new account. That option is to the left, on the bottom of the grey box.
I’m already a user, so I will simply log in.
From here, you’ll see Register a Work on the left side. Click on Standard Application. This is most common. If your book is just a book, this is most likely what you need.
Now, you’ll see this is to register one work - that’s your book. To do so, you’ll need to do three things, which is shows at the bottom.
Provide all required information on the application form
Pay the required fee (which is $45)
Upload or mail in a copy of your work
If you want to see tutorials or learn more about any of these steps, click on the links they provide.
Otherwise, click Start Registration at the top of the screen.
Now, you simply go through the steps, hit continue when you’re done with one step, and Save for Later if you need to pause.
First is the type of work. Because you wrote a book, your Type of Work is a literary work.
Click the box and continue.
Next, click New to enter the title of your book.
You’ll want to choose Title of work being registered, then enter the name of your book. Once you do that, hit save at the top.
Hit continue.
And that’s it! Once you finish, you’ll get an email from the Copyright Office. It will sound like you’ve not uploaded any files. Don’t worry. You have. Wait a bit longer - an hour or so usually does it - and you’ll get another email from the Copyright Office, stating that they received your uploaded documents.
Oh God bless you this just helped me so much. There are so many videos about copyrights for books but none of them really walk you through step by step. Thank you for holding my hand through it.
Glad to be of service!
Thank you very much. This helped a lot.
Glad to be of service!
Thank you so much you were such a great help !!!
Glad it helped!
Thank you very much! It was very helpful! God bless!
Glad to be of service!
Love it brother!... Straight to the point
Glad to be of service!
I'm a bit rusty in this and they changed a few things. This was clear and straight to the point. Thanks!
Glad to be of service!
Thank you SO MUCH!!!!!!! This step by step guide was SO HELPFUL!!!
Glad to be of service! Happy publishing!
Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu so muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch
Extremely simple and helpful. Thank you, so much.
Thank you, this was perfect!
Glad to be of service!
Thank you
You're welcome!
Thank you!!!!!!!!
Glad to be of service!
Great - thanks for your v clear explanation :-) Btw, you said one should file AFTER publication not before. What if I submit BEFORE book is published, and then up date at publishing date? Is that too messy?
Too messy is relative. hahaha... I'm sure it can be worked out. That said, even if you do it before publishing, I strongly recommending having all your ducks in a row so no update is necessary.
Thank you for this video. Do you have a video explaining how I can update a book I registered in 2019? I registered the name of the book and submitted a PDF at the time. Do I have to start this process all over again and re pay for everything I have already done?
Hi, thank you for this step by step video! I appreciate you making everything simple and straight to the point! Quick question.. how long does it take to receive the official copyright certificate??
Glad you liked the video! And it can take quite a while to get your certificate in the mail. Expect at least six months. They're pretty busy! But have no fear - it will eventually get to you.
@@argylefoxpublishing8281 thank you for this information! I understand that the certificate itself may take up to 6 months. However once I submit my book for copyright how long for the official approval? Or is the certificate the official approval? I guess my question is how long does it take to have it officially registered with the US copyright office?
@@bbbggg7392 Great question. I would take the certificate as approval. However, there's good news! It is copyrighted as soon as you write it. You don't technically need the copyright. Additionally, from www.copyright.gov/circs/circ01.pdf: You do not have to receive your certificate of registration before you publish or produce your work. Nor do you need permission from the Copyright Office to place a copyright notice on your work. But the Copyright Office must approve or refuse your application before you can file a lawsuit for copyright infringement, except in cases involving a non-U.S. work. Hope this helps!
@@argylefoxpublishing8281 this was definitely helpful! Thank you!
@@bbbggg7392 Glad to be of service! Happy publishing!
I see that is says an assortment of poetry can’t be registered in the single application, where would I go to copyright my poetry book then?
I hope you still see comments on this video, this was really helpful but I have a question. If I register after my book is published, do I have to send in a physical copy or is the digital submission ok? I noticed you just submitted this one digitally but on that page there was something near the top about digtial submissions only being allowed if it met certain criteria. Mine will be on Kindle and paperback. I'd seen somewhere previously that digital submissions were only allowed if the book had only been published in ebook form but if it was in print you had to mail them a physical copy. But I'm not sure if that advice was accurate or not. Again, I really hope you see this lol! This video was so helpful.
A digital submission should be fine. However, if you are copyrighting two versions (paperback and ebook), you need two ISBNs and two copyrights - one for paperback, one for ebook. You can't copyright both versions together.
AndreaJSeverson wrote, “If I register after my book is published, do I have to send in a physical copy or is the digital submission ok? I noticed you just submitted this one digitally but on that page there was something near the top about digtial submissions only being allowed if it met certain criteria. I'd seen somewhere previously that digital submissions were only allowed if the book had only been published in ebook form but if it was in print you had to mail them a physical copy.”
If your literary materials were FIRST-published in the US either as a PHYSICAL (hard or soft) book OR simultaneously with an eBook, you’ll likely have to submit two copies of your physical book (its best edition) when registering (your physical materials/books may be acquired by the Library of Congress).
Search the Internet for the following two US Copyright Office (USCO) informational *Circulars* about registering published literary works:
1) *US Copyright Office Circular 7B (Best Edition)*
The long title is “Best Edition of Published Copyrighted Works for the Collections of the Library of Congress.”
2) *US Copyright Office Circular 7D*
The long title is “Mandatory Deposit of Copies or Phonorecords for the Library of Congress Best Edition of Published Copyrighted Works for the Collections of the Library of Congress.”
If you’re still unsure, call the US Copyright Office via 1 (877) 476-0778.
Mailing physical copies to the USCO can be extra work + you’ll have to pay for s/h. For next time, consider registering your books as UN-published to avoid “the mandatory deposit requirement.”
FYI: To save money on copyright registration filing fees, you can “group-register” from two to ten UN-published literary works in one $85 “Group Registration for Unpublished Works” (GRUW) on-line application. You can NOT include any published works + you must have authored all your un-published work + you’re the copyright claimant to all the un-published works. There are also other requirements to qualify to use the GRUW application. Write back for more information on using the GRUW application.
Great video!
Am I supposed to just create a copy right page that goes in my book??
Yes. There are a ton of templates online. Just grab one you like and go for it!
@@argylefoxpublishing8281 Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
@@mindofgold3168 Glad to be of service! Happy publishing!
Hello, I am creating an account and wanted to know if the information on the registration side will be made public once I submit work or if I am to create another name for each work within the site itself? Making sure to use my legal name, personal address and phone for registration/profile and create a fake author name and use my business address/number for work submitted for copyright. How does it work? Ty
What happens if you click "not published yet", what are the implications, if any? Asking, as I'd like to have my copyright page ready to go before I upload to Amazon, as a self published author. Thank you in advance!
Hi. Thanks for your video. If I wrote a book under a pseudonym? What can I do?
Register it accordingly. At 3:03, you'll see a box to click if you wrote under a pseudonym. Click that and follow the directions!
Hi in the material excluded box do I have to but in the business names that I used in my fiction book? Also can I still use novel if it's a fiction book?
I'm not sure what you mean by your first question, but I suggest using the same business name throughout. And yes - a novel is a fiction book! Here's to success!
This is really helpful. Is there a way for me to check if my books are copyrighted, aside from waiting for confirmation emails?
Great question! Unfortunately, we don't know. If you find the answer, please post it here. Thanks!
@LinsonJPanakkal wrote, “Is there a way for me to check if my books are copyrighted *[registered]*, aside from waiting for confirmation emails?”
Yes; you can search the US Copyright Office’s on-line Public Catalog (database).
Search the Internet via the following text to get the link: “US Copyright Office webvoyager public catalog”
Enter your name (last name, first name) to see if the US Copyright Office has processed and registered your work.
You can also call the US Copyright Office for assistance.
Thank you!@@cnlicnli
What do I do if I uploaded the unedited version by accident. Finished the application and a few days later realized the mistake. Can I uploaded the edited version
Great question. Try clicking around to see if you can upload the correct version. If not, contact the Copyright office via email or phone. I suspect they can help you out. All the best
is this the same process for worksheets?
Not sure. We've never attempted to copyright worksheets. Are you making them available for resell? If so, copyright may be helpful. If you're just using them within a single school or other organization, you may not need copyright. Sorry we can't be of more help!
hi.. i want to copyright before. I need to give my work to an illustrator. so maybe you can go over a work that hasn't been published. and 2. my worked is based on someone elses work like everything i could find on christopher columbus, i used wiki, and many other books. what would i write to describe that it wasn't just one work that o copied. I just retold the history, basically. help please.
Great questions. 1) Don't be afraid to give your work to an illustrator. You will want to copyright the entire book after illustration - pictures and all. If the illustrator rips you off, you have proof you wrote it, because you wrote it on a computer and have a digital trail of communication with the artist. 2) No need to give anyone credit unless you're giving info about CC that is only available in one source. I suspect you're using what is generally considered general knowledge, so you should have no problems there. Happy publishing!
Hey quick question: Should we really copyright our book covers? What if we use a graphic designer?
Sorry just seeing this. Guessing you already got your answer. All the best
@theescorpioo1004 wrote, “Should we really copyright *[register]* our book covers? What if we use a graphic designer?”
You should have a written contract with your graphic designer that identifies who owns your book cover’s copyright.
If you’re including the book cover in your application but you don’t own the book cover’s copyright (the graphic designer only granted you a license), you would “disclaim” the book’s cover in your $65 *“Standard Application”.*
If you own the copyright to the cover and all other creative components of your book, you can register it all via the $45 Single Application (also known as “One Work by One Author”).
If you’re registering an eBook, and you don’t own the rights to the book cover, you would not have to include the cover in your registration file deposit (use the Single Application).
@@cnlicnli perfect perfect! Ty!
This did not help me. I don’t want to publish my book before I get a copywritten.
@monabatir1303 wrote, “I don’t want to publish my book before I get a copywritten [registered copyright].
Good News: You can register any of your UN-published books before you actually publish, list, sell, license, or share them with the public.
The day the US Copyright Office (USCO) *“RECEIVES”* your completed copyright registration application + an uploaded digital copy of your deposited work (the book you’re registering) + the filing fee payment, and assuming there are no errors in your application, is the date your work has been officially *REGISTERED* with the USCO, though it may take a few weeks or a couple of months to receive your *“Certificate of Registration”* in the mail. Your book is officially registered upon the USCO RECEIVING all of the above three components, and not when you receive your Certificate in the mail.
Use the $45 *“Single Application” (also known as “One Work by One Author”)* to register ONE UN-published or published book. To qualify for the Single Application, you must be the sole author (no joint authorships) and you must be the copyright claimant (owner) of your book. As well, your book can NOT be a-work-for-hire project (no corporation or LLC creation), and your book can NOT include any third-party creative media (including, but not limited to, Creative Commons, Public Domain, licensed content, or AI). You MUST have created the ENTIRE book yourself to qualify for the Single Application! Otherwise, use the $65 *“Standard Application”* to register your one book.
To save money on copyright registration filing fees, you can group-register from two to ten UN-published literary works via the $85 *“Group Registration of Unpublished Works” (GRUW)* on-line registration application. All works must be created by the same author or joint authors, and all of the authors must be named as copyright claimants.
My book is not published. I want to file now. If I do and later update my book with the copyright office will I have to pay twice? Is there a fee for updating?
Likely, yes. Please contact the Copyright office to find out. Sorry we don't have the answer.
@KJ-zr2ko wrote, “If I do and later update my book with the copyright office will I have to pay twice? Is there a fee for updating?”
If your changes are minor, then you may not have to submit an updated registration, as your original registration could be sufficient.
If you made material changes/updates to your un-/published registered book (aka a derivative work). Use the $65 *“Standard Application”* to identify new or deleted materials in your book.
Also, enter the following text in CZcams’s search box to watch a US Copyright Office video tutorial on how to fill out a Standard Application: *“Standard Application: Tutorial (2018)”*
How much time it will take ?
As of March 2024: Assuming there are NO errors or issues with your on-line copyright registration application and/or your uploaded “deposit” (aka, the work you’re registering) and you’ve included the correct filing fee, it can take, *on average,* 1.4 months to process your application (the processing range runs from about one-month to approx. 2.7-months). And it may take another week or so to receive your copyright “Certificate of Registration” in the mail.
If the Copyright Office contacts you via email with questions and you don’t quickly reply, your registration approval can be significantly delayed.
does it apply to a comic book as well?
I would think it does. You may need to choose comic book somewhere along the line though.
@user-fb6sk1fi9t wrote, “does it apply to a comic book as well?”
Yes. Registering comic books would fall under a literary work.