Circular 11 Using the Single Application

CIRCULAR

The Single Application is a simplified online registration

option that allows a single author to register a claim in one

work that is solely owned by the same author and is not a

work made for hire. Certain types of works are not eligible

for the Single Application option, as they create a more

complex application that takes additional time to examine.

Accordingly, for most works, using the Standard Application

to register a copyright claim is most appropriate. The Single

Application registration option is available only for works

meeting the Copyright Office’s eligibility requirements.

For a

list of representative examples of eligible and ineligible works,

please see the table at the end of this circular.

:

The Copyright Oce will refuse registration of a

Applicants who mistakenly use the Single Application will

need to submit a new claim using the Standard Application

and pay the full standard ling fee for registration. Copyright

Oce fees are subject to change. For current fees, see Copy-

right Oce Fees (Circular 4), available on the Oce’s website

at www.copyright.gov or call the Oce at (202) 707-3000 or

1-877-476-0778 (toll free).

Single Application eligibility requirements:

• The claim must be submitted online using the Office’s

electronic registration system, using the application

labelled “One Work by One Author.”

• Only one work can be registered (for example, no col-

lections of individual works).

• The work must have been created by a single author

(for example, no joint works, works made for hire, or

derivative works based on another author’s work).

• All the material contained in the work and in the

deposit must be by the same individual.

The Single Application is a streamlined

option for registering simple claims in

one work (not made for hire) by a single

author who is also the sole owner of all

rights in the work. It is available only for

works meeting the Copyright Oce’s

eligibility requirements. This circular

is intended as a guide for determining

whether or not a work meets those

requirements.

Using the Single Application

Using the Single Application 2

• The author and the owner or claimant must be the same individual.

• The application must be submitted by the author/claimant, or an authorized third party who

lists him or herself as the correspondent.

The Single Application Distinguished from Other Registration Options

The Single Application is a registration option to facilitate registration of simple copyright claims.

Accordingly, the Single Application may not be used to register claims in architectural works, chore-

ography, websites, databases, collective works, or secure tests, which are more complex. In addition,

the Single Application is distinct from the registration option for units of publication and the group

registration options for certain categories of works, such as newspapers and newsletters. If you wish

to register multiple works using one application, filing fee, and deposit, please consult Multiple

Works (Circular 34).

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Most motion pictures, audiovisual works, and sound recordings are not eligible for the Single

Application.

The One Work Requirement

The Single Application may be used to register one work, generally containing one form of authorship.

If you want to register a single work that includes interdependent or inseparable elements of

authorship by the same author (such as an illustrated novel where you are the sole author and owner

of the text and illustrations), you may use the Single Application as long as the elements are con-

tained in the work deposited.

Some examples of works with multiple types of authorship that may be registered with the Single

Application include:

• A musical work where you are the sole author and owner of the lyrics and music

• A children’s book where you are the sole author and owner of the text and illustrations

Works with multiple types of authorship that may not be registered with the Single Application

include:

• A novel with excerpts from an upcoming work at the end, even if you are the sole author and

owner of both the novel and the excerpts

• A multipart work, such as a series of books or photographs

• A script and accompanying illustrations by a different person

• A sound recording track and liner notes

• A lyric sheet and a separate sound recording containing music without lyrics

The One Author Requirement

The work must have been created by one individual, and that person must be the copyright owner

or claimant. The work may not be a work made for hire or a joint work.

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Common examples of works with multiple authors—which must be registered using the Stan-

dard Application instead of the Single Application—include:

• A nonfiction monograph with an afterword or foreword written by another person

• A sound recording that includes beats or music purchased or licensed for use on the track

• A derivative work or adaptation of another author’s work

• A musical composition with different authors of the words and music

• A sound recording with multiple performers

• A recorded dramatic dialogue with two performers

• A comic book with text and illustrations by two authors

Example: Sam has created two short videos: one video captures an empty meadow with narra-

tion by Sam, and the other one captures a friend dancing to disco music. Sam may register the

first video using the Single Application, but he must use a Standard Application for the second

video.

Example: Alex has two sound recordings: one produced by Alex, in which she is the sole

performer of her own composition, and the other one produced by Alex, in which she is

accompanied by a friend, Jean. Alex may register the first sound recording using the Single

Application, but must use a Standard Application for the second sound recording.

Content Requirement

All material within the work and deposit must be created by the same individual in order to use the

Single Application. Common examples of works containing material created by other individuals

include:

• Works incorporating stock photographs, family photographs, clip art, or images found online

• A deposit consisting of a separate lyric sheet and a separate sound recording of music without

lyrics

• A video taken by one person featuring another person performing a song

Consistent Author and Claimant Requirement

The Single Application may only be used when the author is the only copyright owner or claimant

in the work. Because the author and claimant must be the same individual in order to use the Single

Application, the information provided in the “author” and “claimant” fields must be identical.

Example: Sue is the composer and lyricist in “My Song.” Prior to registration, she assigns the

exclusive right of publication to ABC Company. To register the work, she will need to use a

Standard Application.

Using the Single Application 4

Registration Procedure for the Single Application

After you (or an authorized third party) log into the Copyright Office’s electronic registration

system and click on “Register One Work by One Author,” you will be asked to confirm the following

information:

1. You are registering one work (such as one poem, one song, or one photograph).

2. The work was created by one individual.

3. All of the material contained within the work was created by the same individual.

4. The author and the owner/claimant of the work is the same person, and that person owns all

of the rights in the work.

5. The work is not a work made for hire.

If you are unable to confirm all of the above information, you should return to the main menu

and select a different form. The Standard Application is the most commonly used application, and it

allows you to enter multiple titles, authors, and claimants.

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If your application is submitted by an authorized third party, the third party must list himself

or herself as the correspondent in the application.

Uploading Multiple Files for One Work

To complete an application, you must submit a copy of your work. The Office recommends that,

when possible, you upload digital files through the electronic registration system rather than submit-

ting a physical copy through the mail. In general, works that are eligible for the Single Application

should be uploaded in one digital file, such as one .doc file, one .avi file, one .mp3 file, or one .jpg file.

If you intend to upload more than one file, it is highly unlikely that your claim meets the require-

ments for the Single Application. As discussed above, this application is limited to one work (i.e., one

item), and it cannot be used for one upload that contains multiple works (i.e., two or more items).

Applicants should upload multiple files only in limited cases, such as when you must upload “iden-

tifying material” containing multiple representations of the same work (in such limited cases, a .zip

file may be uploaded).

Example: Jack, the author and claimant, wishes to use a Single Application to register his

sculpture. To submit a deposit to the Office, he must submit identifying material, such as pho-

tographs, that adequately represent the authorship claimed in the sculpture. He may submit

multiple photographs to sufficiently show all of the sculpture’s copyrightable elements.

Consequences of Mistakenly Using the Single Application

If you attempt to use the Single Application to register a work that does not meet all of the eligibility

requirements, the Copyright Office will refuse to register your claim, and you will need to refile

using a Standard Application. This will result in a delayed effective date of registration, additional

filing fee, and submission of a new deposit. The Office will review Single Applications to determine

Using the Single Application 5

if they meet all the eligibility requirements. Please note that the Office will make the final determi-

nation on whether or not a work is eligible for registration using the Single Application.

Application Tips

Mistakes in applications lead to delays in registration, so it is important to complete the application

accurately. Instructions for completing an online application appear in the “help” text that accompa-

nies the application. Here are some tips regarding common points of confusion.

Anonymous and Pseudonymous Works

The author and claimant must be the same person in order to use the Single Application. When

submitting an anonymous work or a pseudonymous work, be careful not to inadvertently include

the author’s real name in the application, as it will become part of the public record and cannot be

changed once the Office has issued a registration.

The appearance of an author’s real name in the public record may affect the term of copyright

protection. For works created on or after January 1, 1978, the copyright in a pseudonymous or anon-

ymous work expires 95 years from the year of publication or 120 years from the year of creation,

whichever is shorter. However, if the legal name of the author is identified in the records of the

When you complete a Single Application for an anonymous work, you may check the box indi-

cating that the author did not put his or her real name on the work. The system will automatically

add the term “Anonymous” to the name of the author and claimant.

When you complete a Single Application for a pseudonymous work, you may check the box indi-

cating that the author used his or her pseudonym on the work instead of providing his or her real

name. The system will instruct you to enter the pseudonym on the application instead of providing

the author’s real name.

Only check the “Anonymous” box if the author’s name does not appear on the deposit copy of

the work. If you select “Anonymous,” even though the work contains the author’s real name, the

Office may communicate with you about the discrepancy, leading to a delay in registration.

Authorship Statement

To register a work with the Single Application, the applicant must select, from a dropdown box list-

ing works typically registered with the Single Application, the type of new copyrightable authorship

that the author created. Instead of identifying the individual elements of the work, applicants are

asked to assert a claim in the work as a whole. For example, if the author created a poem or a paint-

ing, the applicant should select “one poem” or “one painting” from the dropdown box.

Example: Andy, the author and claimant, wishes to use a Single Application to register his

children’s book. Andy created both the text and artwork appearing in the book. To describe

this work, Andy should select the option for “one short story.”

Example: Andrea, the author and claimant, wishes to use a Single Application to register her

logo. Andrea created the logo by herself. To describe this work, Andrea should select the option

for “one logo.”

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Example: Sam, the author and claimant, wishes to use a Single Application to register his video

of an empty field. Sam created both the motion picture of the field and the accompanying

narration. To describe this work, Sam should select the option for “one audiovisual work by

one author.”

Example: Samantha, the author and claimant, wishes to use a Single Application to register the

sound recording of her performing her original composition. Samantha was solely responsible

for producing the sound recording as well as performing and writing the music and lyrics. To

describe this work, Samantha should select the option for “sound recording and musical work

(with or without lyrics) by same author.”

Limitation of Claim

If the work contains an appreciable amount of material that the author created and previously pub-

lished or registered, you must exclude that material from the claim. To do so, on the “Limitation of

Claim” screens, describe in your own words the material that was previously published or previously

registered. The Office will assume that you intend to register all other copyrightable aspects of the

work.

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A Single Application cannot be used if the work contains material co-created or co-owned by

two or more people. If you intend to use the Limitation of Claim screen to exclude another person’s

work from the claim, you likely need to use a Standard Application rather than the Single Application.

Work