Chapter 700 - 2017 vs. 2021 Redlines

Chapter(700((:((8( 01/28/2021(

COMPENDIUM

!Chap ter!700!

Literary(Works(

701 What This Chapter Covers

This%Chapter%discusses%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office’s%practices%and%procedures%for%the%

examination%and%registration%of%literary%works.%For%information%and%instructions%on%

completing%an%application%to%register%a%literary%work%(or%any%other%type%of%work),%see%the%

following%Chapters:%

• For%a%general%overview%of%the%registration%process,%see%Chapter%200.

• For%a%discussion%of%copyrightable%subject%matter,%see%Chapter%300

• For

%guidance%in%determining%who%may%file%the%application%and%who%may%be%named%as

the%copyright%claimant,%see%Chapter%400.

• For%guidance%in%identifying%the%work%that%will%be%submitted%for%registration,%

see

Chapter%500.

• For%instructions%on%completing%the%application,%see%Chapter%600.

• For%guidance%on%the%filing%fee,%see%Chapter%1400.

• For%guidance%on%submitting%the%deposit%copy(ies),%see%Chapter%1500.

702 The Literary Division

The%Literary%Division%(“LIT”)%of%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office%handles%applications%to%register%

literary%works.%The%registration%specialists%in%this%division%specialize%in%the%examination%

and%registration%of%these%types%of%works,%including%serials,%databases,%and%computer%

programs.%

703 What Is a Literary Work?

The%Copyright%Act%defines%a%literary%work%as%“works,%other%than%audiovisual%works,%

expressed%in%words,%numbers,%or%other%verbal%or%numerical%symbols%or%indicia,%

regardless%of%the%nature%of%the%material%objects,%such%as%books,%periodicals,%manuscripts,%

phonorecords,periodicals,%manuscripts,%phonorecords,%film,%tapes,%disks,%or%cards,%in%

which%they%are%embodied.”%17%U.S.C.%§%101.%%%

A%literary%work%is%a%nondramatic%work%that%explains,%describes,%or%narrates%a%particular%

subject,%theme,%or%idea%through%the%use%of%narrative,%descriptive,%or%explanatory%text,%

rather%than%dialog%or%dramatic%action.%Generally,%nondramatic%literary%works%are%

intended%to%be%read;%they%are%not%inten ded%to%be%performed%before%an%audience.%

Examples%of%nondramatic%literary%works%include%the%following%types%of%works:%

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• Fiction%

• Nonfiction%

• Poetry%

• Directories%

• Catalogs%

• Textbooks%

• Reference%works%

• Advertising%copy%

• Compilations%of%information%

• Computer%programs%

• Databases%

See#37%C.F.R.%§%202.3(b)(1)(i);%H.R.

!REP.!NO.!94-1476,!at%54%(1976),%reprinted#in%1976%

U.S.C.C.A.N.%5659,%5667.%

704 Literary Works Distinguished from Works of the Performing Arts

Textual%works%that%are%intended%to%be%performed%before%an%audience%and%textual%works%

that%are%intended%to%be%used%in%a%sound%recording,%motion%picture,%or%other%audiovisual%

work%are%considered%works%of%the%performing%arts,%rather%than%nondramatic%literary%

works.%For%a%definition%and%discussion%of%works%of%the%performing%arts,%see%Chapter%800.%%

Examples:#

• Julia%Babcock%is%the%author%of%a%novel%titled%The#Sisters.#Cynthia%

Cisneros%is%the%author%of%a%Spanish-language%play%titled%Las#

Hermanas,%which%is%based%on%Julia’s%novel.%Anne%Kennedy%wrote%an%

article%about%the%play%that%was%published%in%a%local%newspaper.%

Julia’s%novel%and%Anne’s%article%could%be%registered%as%nondramatic%

literary%works,%while%Cynthia’s%play%could%be%registered%as%a%work%of%

the%performing%arts.%

• Leonard%Edgemoor%is%the%author%of%the%novel%Get#Lucky,%which%was%

published%by%the%Mystery%Press%in%a%print%and%ebook%edition.%The%

Mystery%Press%also%published%a%recording%of%an%actor%reciting%the%text%

of%the%novel.%Leonard’s%novel%could%be%registered%as%a%nondramatic%

literary%work,%w hile%the %recor ding%o f%the%no vel%cou ld%be%r egiste red%as %

either%a%literary%work%or%a%work%of%the%performing%arts.%

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• Mary%Bentham%was%selected%as%the%valedictorian%of%her%graduating%

class.%In%honor%of%this%occasion%she%recited%her%original%poem%at%the%

graduation%ceremony.%Mary’s%poem%could%be%registered%as%either%a%

nondramatic%literary%work%or%a%work%of%the%performing%arts.%

705 Fixation of Literary Works

A%literary%work%may%be%registered%with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office%if%it%has%been%“fixed%in%

any%tangible%medium%of%expression,%now%known%or%later%developed,%from%which%[it]%can%

be%perceived,%reproduced,%or%otherwise%communicated.”%17%U.S.C.%§%102(a).17%U.S.C.%§%

102(a).%A%literary%work%is%considered%“fixed%in%a%tangible%medium%of%expression”%when%it%

has%been%embodied%“in%a%copy%or%phonorecord,%by%or%under%the%authority%of%the%author”%

that%“is%sufficiently%permanent%or%stab le%to%permit%[the%work]%to%be%perceived,%

reproduced,%or%otherwise%communicated%for%a%period%of%more%than%a%transitory%

duration.”%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“fixed”).%%

There%are%countless%ways%that%a%literary%work%may%be%fixed%in%a%tangible%medium%of%

expression.%Most%literary%works%are%fixed%by%their%very%nature,%such%as%a%poem%written%

on%paper,%a%short%story%saved%in%a%computer%file,%an%article%printed%in%a%periodical,%or%a%

novel%embodied%in%an%audio%recording.%However,%some%copies%or%phonorecords%may%not%

be%sufficiently%permanent%or%stable%to%warrant%registration.%The%registration%specialist%

may%communicate%with%the%applicant%or%may%refuse%registration%if%the%work%is%fixed%in%a%

medium%that%only%exists%for%a%transitory%period%of%time,%a%medium%that%is%constantly%

changing,%or%a%medium%that%does%not%allow%the%specific%words,%numbers,%or%other%verbal%

or%numerical%symbols%or%indicia%that%constitute%the%literary%work%to%be%perceived,%

reproduced,%or%otherwise%communicated%in%a%consistent%and%uniform%manner.%

706 Copyrightable Authorship in Literary Works

A%literary%work%may%be%registered%with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office%if%it%contains%a%certain%

minimum%amount%of%literary%expression%that%originated%with%the%author%of%that%work.%%

When%a%registration%specialist%examines%a%literary%work,%he%or%she%determines%whether%

the%work%contains%a%sufficie nt%amount%of%original%authorship%“expressed%in%words,%

numbers,%or%other%verbal%or%numerical%symbols%or%indicia.”%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%

“literary%works”).%In%making%this%deter mination,%specialists%apply%the%legal%standards %set%

forth%in%the%Copyright%Act,%the%Office’s%regulations,%the%Compendium,%and%the%relevant%

caselaw.%However,%specialists%do%not%look%for%any%particular%style%of%literary%authorship,%

and%they%do%not%judge%the%“literary%merit%or%qualitative%value”%of%the%work.%H.R.

!REP.!NO.!

94-1476,!at%54%(1976),%reprinted#in%1976%U.S.C.C.A.N.%at%5667;%S.!REP.!NO.%94-473,%at%53%

(1975).%%

For%a%general%discussion%of%these%legal%standards,%see%Chapter%300,%Sections%302%through%

308.%%

707 Uncopyrightable Material

The%U.S.%Copyright%Office%is%charged%with%administering%the%provisions%of%the%Copyright%

Act%and%with%issuing%regulations%for%the%administration%of%the%copyright%sy stem%that%are%

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consistent%with%the%statute.%The%Office%has%no%authority%to%register%claims%to%copyright%in%

works%that%fall%outside%the%scope%of%federal%statutory%protection.%%%

Section%102(a)%)%of%the%Copyright%Act%states%that%copyright%protection%extends%only%to%

“original%works%of%authorship.”%W orks%that%have%not%been%fixed%in%a%tan g ib le%medium%of%

expression,%works%that%have%not%been%created%by%a%human%being,%and%works%that%are%not%

eligible%for%copyright%protection%in%the%United%States%do%not%satisfy%this%requirement.%

Likewise,%the%copyright%law%does%not%protect%works%that%do%not%constitute%copyrightable%

subject%matter%or%works%that%do%not%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%original%authorship,%

such%as%the%following:%

• An%idea,%procedure,%process,%system,%method%of%operation,%concept,%principle,%or%

discovery.%%

• Facts.%

• Research.%

• Typeface%or%mere%variations%of%typographic%ornamentations.%

• Format%and%layout.%

• Book%designs.%

• Works%that%contain%an%insufficient%amount%of%authorship.%

• Names,%titles,%slogans,%or%other%short%phrases.%

• Numbers.%

• Works%consisting%entirely%of%information%that%is%common%property,%such%as%standard%

calendars,%height%and%weight%charts,%schedules%of%sporting%events,%and%lists%or%tables%

taken%from%public%docum ents%or%other%common%sou rces.%

• Measuring%and%computing%devices.%

• A%mere%listing%of%ingredients%or%contents.%

• Blank%forms.%

• Scènes%à%faire.%

• Familiar%symbols%and%designs.%

• Mere%variations%of%coloring.%

• U.S.%government%works.%

• Government%edicts.%

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• Works%that%are%in%the%public%domain.%

For%a%discussion%of%numbers,%research,%and%book%designs,%see%Sections%707.1%through%

707.3%below.%For%a%discussion%of%other%types%of%works%that%cannot%be%registered%with%the%

Office,%see%Chapter%300,%Section%313.%

707.1 Numbers

Individual%numbers%are%not% co pyrightable%and %cannot%be%registered%with%the%U.S.%

expressed%in%individual%numbers,%individual%letters,%or%individual%words.%

Individual%numbers%are%never %copyrightable%for%the%same%reason%tha t%an%individual%word%

cannot%be%protected%by%copyright.%See#Southco,#Inc.#v.#Kanebridge#Corp.,%390%F.3d%276,%

286-87%(3d%Cir.%2004)%(holding%that%the%regulatory%bar%against%registering%“short%

phrases”%logically%extends%to%short%sequences%of%numbers).%An%individual%number%is%a%

common%symbol%that%is%not%independently%created%and%does%not,%in%itself,%reveal%any%

creativity.%See#37%C.F.R.%§%202.1(a);%see#also%Chapter%300,%Section%313.4(J).%Nor%does%it%fit%

within%the%established%categories%of%copyrightable%subject%matter%set%forth%in%Section%

102(a)%of%the%statute.%See#17%U.S.C.%§%102(a).%While%the%Copyright%Act%states%that%literary%

works%may%be%expressed%in%“numbers”%or%“numerical%symbols,”%a%critical%element%in%the%

statutory%definition%is%that%there%must%be%a%“work”%that%is%expressed%in%some%

combination%of%“words,%numbers,%or%other%verbal%or%numerical%symbols%or%indicia.”%See%

17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“literary%works”).%In%other%words,%a%work%that%includes%

numbers%may%constitute%a%literary%work,%but%it%does%not%follow%that%a%number%contained%

in%the%literary%work%alone%contains%sufficien t%ex pression%to%constitute%a%work,%or%that%

such%an%element%alone%constitutes%copyrightable%authorship.%

A%compilation%of%numbers%may%be%registered%if%there%is%a%sufficient%amount%of%creativity%

in%the%author’s%selection,%coordinatio n ,%and/or%arrangement%of%data.%Howev er,%the%

registration%for%a%compilation%does%not%create%a%presumption%that%the%individual%

numbers%are%copyrightable%as%independent%works%or%as%independent%authorship.%%

The%authorship%involved%in%selecting,%coordinating,%and/or%arranging%the%copyrightable%

and%uncopyrightable%elements%of%a%compilation%must%be%perceptible%in%the%deposit%

copy(ies).%See%Chapter%300,%Section%312.2.%While%the%process%of%deriving%a%particular%

number%or%value%may%be%creative,%any%such%creativity%is%not%perceptible%in%a%number%

alone.%An%individual%number%in%and%of%itself%never%comprises%sufficient%authorship%to%be%

copyrightable.%Copyright%protects%expression,%not%ideas%or%processes,%and%an%individual%

number%itself%is%not,%and%does%not%reveal,%any%copyrightable%expression.%

Moreover,%the%statutory%definition%of%a%compilation%states%that%the%selection,%

coordination,%and/or%arrangement%of%preexisting%material%or%data%must%be%done%“in%such%

a%way%that%the%resulting%work%as%a%whole%constitutes%an%original%work%of%authorship.”%17%

U.S.C.%§%101;%see#also#Feist#Publications,#Inc.#v.#Rural#Telephone#Service#Co.,%499%U.S.%340,%

358%(1991).%The%process%of%arriving%at%individual%numbers%or%values%may%require%

judgment,%prediction ,%valuation,%or%expertise,%but%an%individual%number%does%not%express%

any%selection,%coordination,%or%arrangement%that%results%in%an%original%work%of%

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authorship.%Mental%processes%and%methods%of%operations%are%unfixed%and%they%are%

exempt%from%copyright%protection%under%Section%102(b)%of%the%statute.%

707.2 Research

The%U.S.%Copyright%Office%cannot%register%a%claim%in%research,%because%it%suggests%that%the%

applicant%may%be%asserting%a%claim%in%the%facts%that%appear%in%the%work%or%the%effort%

involved%in%collecting%that%information.% %

The%Supreme%Court%expressly%rejected%the%“sweat%of%the%brow”%or%“industrious%

collection”%doctrines,%which%made%copyright%protection%a%“reward%for%the%hard%work”%

involved%in%creating%a%work.%Feist,%499%U.S.%at%352,%364.%The%Court%concluded%that%

“[p]rotection%for%the%fruits%of%such%rese arch…may%in%certain%circumstances%be%available%

under%a%theory%of%unfair%competition,”%but%recognized%that%a%claim%to%copyright%“on%this%

basis%alone%distorts%basic%copyright%principles.”%Id.%at%354.%

Although%research%is%not%copyrightable,%the%Office%may%register%a%work%of%authorship%

that%describes,%explains,%or%illus trates%factual%research,%provided%that%the%work%contains%

a%sufficient%amount%of%original%authorship.%For%example,%a%research%paper,%a%scientific%

journal,%or%a%biopic%may %be%registered%if%the%work%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%literary,%

pictorial,%graphic,%or%audiovisual%expression.%However,%the%registration%does%not%extend%

to%the%facts,%ideas,%procedur es,%processes,%systems,%me thods%of%operation,%concepts,%

principles,%or%discoveries%described%in%the%work.%“They%may%not%be%copyrighted%and%are%

part%of%the%public%domain%available%to%every%person.”%Id.%at%348%(quoting%Miller#v.#

Universal#City#Studios,#Inc.,%650%F.%2d%1365,%1369%(5th%Cir.%1981).%

For%a%further%discussion%on%“research”%as%an%authorship%term,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%

618.8(A)(9).%

707.3 Book Design

The%overall%format%or%layout%of%a%book%or%other%printed%publication%cannot%be%registered%

with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office,%regardless%of%whether%the%book%is%published%in%print%or%

electronic%form.%Book%design%includes%all%of%the%physical%or%visual%attributes%of%a%book%or%

printed%publication,%such%as%the%choice%of%style%and%size%of%typeface,%leading%(i.e.,%the%

space%between%lines%of%type),%the%placement%of%the%folio%(i.e.,%page%numbers),%the%

arrangement%of%type%on%the%pages,%or%the%placement,%spacing,%and%juxtaposition%of%

textual%and%illustrative%matter%in%th e%work.%%%

The%copyright%law%does%not%protect%these%elements%because%they%fall%within%the%realm%of%

uncopyrightable%ideas.%Deciding%how%and%where%to%place%content%in%a%book%or%printed%

publication%is%merely%a%process%or%technique,%regardless%of%the%number%of%decisions%

involved.%The%fact%that%“a%work%is%distinctive ,%unique%or%pleasing%in%appearance,%and%

embodies%certain%ideas%of%contrast%or%coloring%does%not%necessarily%afford%a%basis%for%

Proposed%Rulemaking%Regarding%Registration%of%Claims%to%Copyright%in%the%Graphic%

Elements%involved%in%the%Design%of%Books%and%Other%Printed%Publications,%46%Fed.%Reg.%

30,651,%30,652%(June%10,%1981).%%%

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Registration%of%Claims%to%Copyright:%Notice%of%Termination%of%Proposed%Rulemaking%

Regarding%Registration%of%Claims%to%Copyright%in%the%Graphic%Elements%involved%in%the%

Design%of%Books%and%Other%Printed%Publications,%46%Fed.%Reg.%30,651,%30,652%(June%10,%

1981).%

For%a%further%discussion%on%“design”%as%an%authorship%term,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%

618.8(A)(1).%

708 Joint Works

A%“joint%work”%is%a%work%“prepared%by%two%or%more%authors%with%the%intention %that%their%

contributions%be%merged%into%inseparable%or%interdependent%parts%of%a%unitary%whole.”%

17%U.S.C.%§%101.%A%joint%work%may%be%registered%as%a%nondramatic%literary%work%if%it%

contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%literary%expression.%Examples%of%works%that%may%satisfy%

this%requirement%include%essays,%articles,%textbooks,%reference%works,%children’s%books,%

graphic%novels,%or%any%other%work%that%may%be%jointly%prepared%by%two%or%more%authors.%

Ordinarily,%each%author%owns%the%copyright%in%the%authorship%that%he%or%she%contributed%

to%the%work.%In%the%case%of%a%joint%work,%all%of%the%authors%jointly%own%the%copyright%in %

each%other’s%contributions%and%each%author%owns%an%undivided%interest%in%the%copyright%

for%the%work%as%a%whole.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%201(a).%

When%asserting%a%claim%in%a%joint%work,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%each%

author%who%contributed%copyrightable%authorship%to%the%work%and%should%provide%

specific%authorship%statements%for%each%author.%When%completing%an%online%application,%

the%authorship%informa tion%should%be%provided%in%the%Author%Created%field,%and%if%

applicable,%also%in%the%New%Material%Included%field.%When%completing%a%paper%application%

on%Form%TX,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%space%2,%and%if%applicable,%also%in%

space%6(b).%For%guidance%on%completing%these%portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%

600,%Sections%618%and%621.%In%addition,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%

claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%that%material.%For%guidance%on%completing%this%

portion%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%619.%

For%a%general%discussion%of%joint%works,%see%Chapter%500,%Section%505.%

709 Derivative Literary Works

A%derivative%literary%work%is%a%work%that%is%based%upon%one%or%more%preexisting%works,%

regardless%of%whether%the%preexisting%work%is%a%literary%work,%a%work%of%the%performing%

arts,%a%sound%recording,%a%pictorial,%graphic,%or%sculptural%work,%or%any%other%type%of%

work.%Typically,%a%derivative%literary%work%is%a%new%version%of%a%preexisting%work%or%a%

work%that%contains%new%material%combined%with%material%that%has%been%recast,%

transformed,%or%adapted%from%a%preexisting%work.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%

“derivative%work”).%

A%derivative%literary%work%may%be%registered%with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office%if%the%author%

contributed%a%sufficient%amount%of%new%authorship%to%the%work.%Making%trivial%changes%

or%additions%to%a%preexisting%work%does%not%satisfy%this%requirement.%See#Alfred#Bell#&#Co.#

v.#Catalda#Fine#Arts,#Inc.,%191%F.2d%99,%103%(2d%Cir.%1951).%Examples%of%nondramatic%

literary%works%that%may%be%registered%as%a%derivative%work%include%translations,%

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fictionalizations,%abridgements,%editorial%revisions ,%and%a%wide%range%of%other%works%

such%as:%

• A%short%story%based%on%a%preexisting%poem.%

• A%children’s%book%featuring%copyrightable%characters%from%a%preexisting%children’s%

book.%

• The%third%edition%of%a%previously%published%textbook.%

• The%fourth%version%of%a%previously%published%computer%program.%

• New%content%that%has%been%added%to%a%preexisting%website.%

• A%computer%program%that%has%been%translated%from%C++%into%the%C#%programming%

language.%

When%asserting%a%claim%in%a%derivative%literary%work,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%

name%of%each%author%who%created%the%new%material%that%the%applicant%intends%to%register,%

and%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%

that%new%material.%The%Literary%Division%may%accept%a%claim%in%“text”%if%the%new%material%

contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%textual%expression,%or%a%claim%in%“artwork”%and/or%

“photograph(s)”%if%the%new%ma terial%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%pictor ial%or%graphic%

expression.%The%Literary%Division%may%accept%a%claim%in%“revised%computer%program”%if%

the%new%material%contain s%sufficient%statements%or%instructions%to%be%used%directly%or%

indirectly%in%a%computer%in%order%to%brin g %about%a%certain%result.%When%completing%an%

online%application%this%information%should%be%provided%in%the%Author%Created%field%and%

the%New%Material%Included%field;%when%completing%a%paper%application%on%Form%TX%this%

information%should%be%provid e d%in%spaces%2%and%6(b).%For%guidance %on%completing%these%

portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.4%and%621.8.%

For%a%discussion%of%translations,%fictionalizations,%abridgements,%and%editorial%revisions,%

see%Sections%709.1%through%709.4%below.%For%a%discussion%of%derivative%computer%

programs,%see%Sections%721.2%and%721.8%below.%For%a%general%discussion%of%the%legal%

standard%for%determining%whether%a%derivative%work%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%

original%expression%to%warrant%registration,%see%Chapter%300,%Section%311.2.%%

709.1 Translations

A%translation%is%a%rendering%of%a%nondramatic%literary%work%from%one%language %into%

another,%such%as%a%work%that%has%been%translated%from%English%into%Spanish,%from%

German%into%English,%or%from%Hindi%into%Malayalam.%%

Translations%are%among%the%nine%categories%of%works%that%can%be%specially%ordered%or%

commissioned%as%a%work%made%for%hire,%provided%that%the%parties%expressly%agree%in%a%

signed%written%instrument%that%the%translation%shall%be%considered%a%work%made%for%hire.%

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See%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“work%made%for%hire,”%Section%2).%For%a%detailed%

discussion%of%works%made%for%hire,%see%Chapter%500,%Section%506.%

A%translation%may%be%registered%if%it%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%original%expression.%

A%translation%that%is%performed%by%a%computer%program%that%automatically%converts%text%

from%one%language%into%another%without%human %inter v e n tion %ca n n o t%be%re g is ter e d%

because%the%conversion%is%merely%a%mechanical%act.%For%the%same%reason,%a%

transliteration%or%other%process%whereby%the%letters%or%sounds%from%one%alphabe t%ar e%

converted%into%a%different%alphabet%cannot%be%registered.%See%Signo#Trading#

International,#Ltd.#v.#Gordon,%535%F.%Supp.%362,%364%(N.D.%Cal.%1981)%(holding%that%a%list%of%

words%translated%from%English%into%Arabic%and%then%transliterated%from%Arabic%into%

Roman%letters%“simply%does%not%embody%sufficient%originality%to%be%copyrightable”).%

Examples:#

• A%Portuguese%translation%of%a%Spanish%language%newspaper%could%be%

registered%as%a%derivative%work.%

• A%Tagalog%translation%of%The#King#James#Bible%could%be%registered%as%

a%derivative%work,%even%though%The#King#James#Bible%is%in%the%public%

domain.%

When%submitting%an%application%to%register%this%type%of%work,%the%claim%should%be%limited%

to%the%text%of%the%translation,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%author%who%

translated%the%preexisting %work%from%one%language%into %another,%and%the%applicant%

should%provide%the%name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%the%translated%text.%

Applicants%should%use%the%term%“translation”%to%describe%this%type%of%authorship,%rather%

than%“text”%or%“editing.”%When%completing%an%online%application,%this%information%should%

be%provided%in%the%Author%Created/Other%field%and%the%New%Material%Included/Other%

field.%When%completing%a%paper%application,%this%inform a tion %sh o u ld %be %pr o v ided%in%

spaces%2%and%6(b)%of%Form%TX.%For%guidance%on%completing%these%portions %of%the%

application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.4%and%621.8.%

709.2 Fictionalizations

A%fictionalization%is%a%work%of%fiction%that%recasts,%transforms,%or%adapts%the%facts%or%

factual%events%that%are%described%in%one%or%more%pr e e xis ting %w o r k s .%A%w o r k %of%fiction %

that%is%only%loosely%based%on%the%facts%or%events%described%in%a%preexisting%work%typically%

would%be%considered%a%work%of%fiction,%rather%than%a%fictionalization.%%

Examples:#

• A%children’s%book%about%the%life%and%times%of%Kit%Carson%would%be%

considered%a%fictionalization.%

• A%short%story%based%on%Stokely%Carmichael’s%experiences%during%the%

Freedom%Rides%would%be%considered%a%fictionalization.%

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• A%romance%novel%set%during%the%Civil%War%featuring%original%

characters,%situations,%and%dialog%with%occasional%references%to%

historical%persons%or%events%would%be%considered%a%work%of%fiction%

rather%than%a%fictionalization.%

When%submitting%an%application%to%register%this%type%of%work,%the%claim%should%be%limited%

to%the%text%of%the%fictionalization,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%author%of%

that%text,%and%the%applicant%sho uld%provide%the%name%of%the %claimant%who%owns%the%

describe%this%type%of%authorship,%rather%than%“editing.”%When%completing%an%online%

application,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%the%Author%Created/Other%field.%

When%completing%a%paper%application%on%Form%TX,%this%information%should%be%provided%

in%space%2.%For%guidance%on%comp letin g%these%portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%

600,%Section%618.4.%

If%the%fictionalization%is%based%on%or%inc orporates%a%preexisting%work,%such%as%a%biography%

or%other%work%of%authorship,%the%applicant%should%exclude%that%preexisting%work%from%

the%claim%using%the%proced ure%described%in%Section%621 .8.%By%contrast,%if%the%

fictionalization%is%based%solely%on%historical%facts,%persons,%or%even ts,%or%othe r %

uncopyrightable%material,%there%is%generally%no%need%to%complete%this%portion%of%the%

application.%%

709.3 Abridgements

An%abridgment%is%a%shortened%or%condensed%version%of%a%preexisting%work%that%retains%

the%general%sense%and%unity%of%the%preexisting%work.%An%abridgment%of%a%nondrama tic%

literary%work%may%be%registered%if%the%author%contributed%a%sufficient%amount%of%creative%

authorship%in%the%form%of%edits,%revisions,%or%other%modifications%to%the%preexisting%work,%

and%if%the%work%as%a%whole%is%sufficiently%creative%in%adapting%the%preexisting%work%such%

that%it%constitutes%an%original%wor k%of%authorship.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%

“derivative%work”).%Trivial%changes %do%not%satisfy%this%requirement,%such%as%merely%

omitting%a%section%from%the%beginning%or%end%of%a%preexisting%work.%

Examples:#

• An%audiobook%version%of%Leo%Tolstoy’s%Anna#Karenina%that%has%been%

abridged%and%condensed%in%order%to%fit%into%an%eight–hour%recording%

could%be%registered%as%a%derivative%work.%

• A%book%that%contains%an%abridged%and%condensed%editionsedition%of%

four%novelsa%novel%by%Joseph%Conrad%could%be%registered%as%a%

derivative%work.%

When%submitting%an%application%to%register%an%abridgement,%the%claim%should%be%limited%

to%the%condensed%text%tha t%appears%in%the%work,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%

of%the%author%who%condensed%the%preexisting%work,%and%the%applicant%should%provide%the%

name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%the%condensed%text.%Applicants%should%

use%the%term%“abridged%text”%or%the%like%to%describe%this%type%of%authorship,%rather%than%

“text,”%“edits,”%or%“editing.”%When%completing%an%online%application,%this%information%

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should%be%provided%in%the%Author%Created/Other%field%and%the%New%Material%

Included/Other%field.%When%co mpleting%a%paper%application%on%Form%TX,%this%

information%should%be%provid e d%in%spaces%2%and%6(b).%For%guidance%on%completing%these%

portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.4%and%621.8.%

709.4 Editorial Revisions, Annotations, Elaborations, or Other Modifications

Editorial%revisions,%annotations,%elaborations,%or%other%modifications%to%a%preexisting%

work%or%the%addenda%or%errata%sheets%for%a%publishedpublished%work%may%be%registered%

as%a%derivative%literary%work%if%the%author%contributed%a%sufficient%amount%of%new%

material%to%the%work,%and%if%the%derivative%work%as%a%whole%sufficiently%modifies%or%

transforms%the%preexis ting%work%such%that%it%constitutes%an%original%work%of%authorship.%

See%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“derivative%work”).%Specifically,%the%author%must%

contribute%new%text%or%revised%text%to%the%preexisting%work,%and%the%text%must%possess%a%

sufficient%amount%of%written%expression.%Merely%correcting%errors%in%spelling,%

punctuation,%grammar,%or%making%other%minor%changes,%revisions,%or%other%modifications%

to%a%preexisting%work%do%not%satisfy%this%requirement.%%

Examples:#

• The%Lifetime%Consulting%Group%published%a%training%manual%for%

pension%benefit%administrators.%The%following%year%the%company%

revised%the%manual%to%account%for%recent%changes%in%the%tax%code%

and%added%new%chapters%on%individual%retirement%accounts%and%the%

estate%tax.%The%revised%text%and%the%additional%text%may%be%

registered%as%a%derivative%work%if%they%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%

new%and%revised%material.%%

• Agatha%Thornton%is%the%author%of%the%novel%Bangers#and#Mash,%which%

was%published%in%the%United%Kingdom.%Before%the%work%was%

published%in%the%United%States,%Agatha%revised%certain%passages%that%

were%likely%to%confuse%an%American%reader.%The%revisions%to%the%

British%edition%may%be%registered%as%a%derivative%work%if%they%

contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%new%and%revised%material.%

• Herman%Melville%is%the%author%of%the%novel%Moby-Dick.%Professor%

Whalen%wrote%a%brief%introduction%that%analyzes%the%plot,%setting,%

characters,%and%theme%of%the%novel.%Professor%Cetacean%prepared%

footnotes,%endnotes,%and%other%marginalia%that%explain%the%meaning%

of%certain%words%and%phrases%that%appear%in%the%novel.%All%of%these%

works%were%published%together%in%a%single%volume%and%the%copyright%

is%owned%by%the%Leviathan%Press .%The%introduction,%footnotes,%and%

other%annotations%may%be%registered%as%a%derivative%work,%because%

they%clearly%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%new%authorship.%

When%submitting%an%application%to%register%this%type%of%work,%the%claim%should%be%limited%

to%the%new%text%or%revised%text%that%the%author%contributed%to%the%work,%the%applicant%

should%provide%the%name%of%the%author%who%created%the%new%material,%and%the%applicant%

should%provide%the%name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%that%new%material.%

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Applicants%should%use%the%terms%“new%text”%and/or%“revised%text”%to%describe%this%type%of%

authorship,%rather%than%“text”%or%“editing.”%When%completing%an%online%application,%this%

information%should%be%provid e d%in%the%Author%Created/Other%field%and%the%New%Material%

Included/Other%field.%When%co mpleting%a%paper%application%on%Form%TX,%this%

information%should%be%provided%in%spaces%2%and%6(b).%For%guidance%on%completing%these%

portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.4%and%621.8.%

710 Compilations

The%Copyright%Act%defines%a%“compilation”%as%“a%work%formed%by%the%collection%and%

assembling%of%preexisting%materials%or%of%data%that%are%selected,%coordinated,%or%

arranged%in%such%a%way%that%the%resulting%work%as%a%whole%constitutes%an%original%work%

of%authorship.”%17%U.S.C.%§%101.%%%

Compilations%are%among%the%nine%categories%of%works%that%can%be%specially%ordered%or%

commissioned%as%a%work%made%for%hire,%provided%that%the%parties%expressly%agree%in%a%

signed%written%instrument%that%the%compilation%shall%be%considered%a%work%made%for%

hire.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“work%made%for%hire,”%Section%2).%For%a%detailed%

discussion%of%works%made%for%hire,%see%Chapter%500,%Section%506.%

Typically,%the%author%of%a%compilation%selects%the%preexisting%material%or%data%that%will%be%

included%in%the%compilation,%the%autho r %classifies,%categorizes,%or%groups%these%elemen ts%

into%particular%sequences,%and%the%auth or%decides%how%these%elements%should%be%

arranged%within%the%compilation%as%a%whole.%A%compilation%may%be%registered%if%the%

author’s%selection,%coordination,%and/or%arrangement%of%preexisting%material%or%data%

was%independently%created,%and%if%the%selection,%coordination,%and/or%arrangement%

contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%creativity.%A%registration%for%a%compilation%may%cover%the%

author’s%original%selection,%coordination,%and/or%arrangement,%but%it%does%not%cover%any%

preexisting%material%or%data%that%is%included%in%the%compilation.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%103(b)%

(“Copyright%in%a%compilation%.%.%.%does%not%imply%any%exclusive%right%in%the%preexisting%

material”).%

The%compilation%must%fall%within%one%or%more%of%the%categories%listed%in%Section%102(a)%

of%the%Copyright%Act.%See%H.R.

!REP.!NO.!94-1476,!at%57%(1976)%reprinted#in%1976%

U.S.C.C.A.N.%at%5670;%S.!REP.!NO.!94-473,%at%54-55%(1975).%In%other%words,%a%compilation%

may%be%registered%if%the%selection,%coordination,%and/or%arrangement%as%a%whole%would%

be%considered%a%literary%work,%a%musical%work,%or%any%other%type%of%work%listed%in%17%

U.S.C.%§%102(a).%If%the%author’s%selection,%coordination,%and/or%arrangement%does%not%fall%

within%one%or%more%of%the%congressionally%established%categories%of%authorship,%the%

registration%specialist%may%communicate%with%the%applicant%or%may%refuse%registration.%

See#Registration%of%Claims%to%Copyright,%77%Fed.%Reg.%37,605,%37,606%(June%22,%2012).%%

Examples%of%nondramatic%literary%works%that%may%be%registered%as%a%compilation%include%

the%following:%

• Yellow%pages%directories,%street%directories,%criss-cross%directories,%membership%

lists,%price%lists,%catalogs,%financial%reports,%financial%ratings,%and%the%like%may%be%

registered%as%a%compilation,%provided%that%the%author%contributed%a%sufficient%

amount%of%selection,%coordination,%and/or%arrangement%authorship%to%the%work.%

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• Charts,%tables,%graphs,%figures,%diagrams,%and%the%like%may%be%registered%as%a%

compilation,%provided%that%there%is%a%sufficient%amount%of%original%authorship%in%the%

selection,%coordination,%and/or%arrangement%of%data%or%other%textual%or%numerical%

elements.%%%

• A%populated%database%that%presents%data%in%an%organizational%fra mework%for%

recording%information%may%be%registered%as%a%compilation,%provided%that%there%is%a%

sufficient%amount%of%original%authorship%in%the%selection,%coordination,%and/or%

arrangement%of%data.%If%the%author%subsequently%updates%the%database%by%inserting%

new%data%into%the%original%framework,%it%may%be%possible%to%register%the%updates%as%a%

derivative%work,%provided%that%the%updates%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%new%data%

and%provided%that%the%author%contributed%a%substantial%amount%of%new%copyrightable%

authorship%in%the%selection,%coordination,%and/or%arrangement%of%new%data%that%

appears%in%each%update.%

When%asserting%a%claim%in%a%compilation,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name %of%each%

author%who%created%the%selection,%coordination,%and/or%arrangement%that%the%applicant%

intends%to%register,%and%the%applicant%should%assert%a%claim%to%copyright%in%that%material%

using%the%procedures%described%in%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.7,%618.6,%and%621.8(D).%

For%a%general%discussion%of%the%legal%standard%for%determining%whether%a%compilation%

contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%original%expression%to%warrant%registration,%see%Chapter%

300,%Section%312.2.%%

711 Collective Works and Contributions to Collective Works

The%Copyright%Act%defines%a%“collective%work”%as%a%work%“in%which%a%number%of%

contributions,%constituting%separate%and%independent%works%in%themselves,%are%

assembled%into%a%collective%whole.”%17%U.S.C.%§%101.%A%contribution%to%a%collective%work%is%

a%separate%and%independent%work%that%has%been%included%within%a%collective%work.%%

Collective%works%are%a%subset%of%compilations.%Consequently,%the%author%must%select,%

coordinate,%and/or%arrange%the%component%works%in%such%a%way%that%the%resulting%work%

as%a%whole%constitutes%an%original%work%of%authorship.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%

“compilation”%stating%that%“[t]he%term%‘co mpilation’%includes%collective%works.”).%

Both%collective%works%and%contributions%to%collective%works%are%among%the%nine%

categories%of%works%that%can%be%specially%ordered%or%commissioned%as%a%work%made%for%

hire,%provided%that%the%parties%expressly%agree%in%a%signed%written%instrument%that%the%

work%shall%be%considered%a%work%made%for%hire.%Compare%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%

“compilation”)%(“The%term%‘compilation’%includes%collective%works.”),%with#id.%(definition%

of%“work%made%for%hire”)%(“a%‘work%made%for%hire’%is…a%work%specially%ordered%or%

commissioned%for%use%as%a%contribution%to%a%collective%work%[or]…as%a%compilation...”).%

For%a%detailed%discussion%of%works%made%for%hire,%see%Chapter%500,%Section%506.%

Collective%works%and%contributions%to%collective%works%may%be%registered%as%

nondramatic%literary%works,%provided%that%they%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%literary%

expression.%Examples%of%collective%works%that%may%satisfy%this%requirement%include%a%

periodical%issue,%an%anthology,%an%encyclopedia,%or%any%other%work%that%contains%a%

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number%of%separate%and%independent%works%that%have%been%assembled%into%a%collective%

whole.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“collective%work”).%Examples%of%a%contribution%to%

a%collective%work%that%may%satisfy%this%requirement%include%an%article%that%has%been%

included%within%a%periodical%issue,%an%essa y %that%has%been%included%within%an%anthology,%

or%an%entry%that%has%been%included%within%an%online%encyclopedia.%

Collective%works%typically%contain%two%different%types%of%authorship:%%%

• The%authorship%in%the%collective%work%as%a%whole,%which%may%involve%selecting,%

coordinating,%and/or%arranging%a%number%of%separate%and%independent%works%and%

assembling%them%into%a%collective%work,%and/or%revising%the%collective%work%as%a%

whole.%

• The%authorship%in%the%separate%and%independent%works%that%have%been%included%in%

the%collective%work,%whic h%may%contain%literary%expres sion%and/or%artistic%

expression.%

An%applicant%may%register%a%collective%work%together%with%the%separate%and%independent%

works%contained%therein%(i)%if%the%copyright%in%the%contributions%and%the%collective%work%

are%owned%by%the%same%claimant,%and%(ii)%if%the%component%works%have%not%been%

previously%published%or%registered.%In%no%case%may%the%claimant%register%a%contribution%

that%is%in%the%public%domain.%If%the%copyright%in%the%collective%work%and%the%contributions%

to%the%collective%work%are%o wned%by%different%parties,%separate%applications%for%each%

work%will%be%required.%For%additional%information%concerning%collective%works,%see%

Chapter%500,%Section%509.%

When%asserting%a%claim%in%a%collective%work%and/or%a%contribution%to%a%collective%wor k,%

the%applicant%should%iden tify%the%copyrightable%authorship%that%the%applicant%intends%to%

procedures%described%in%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.7%and%621.8(E).%

For%guidance%on%the%deposit%requirements%for%a%contribution%to%a%collective%work,%see%

Chapter%1500,%Section%1505.5.%%

712 Monographs and Serials

This%Section%discusses%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office’s%practices%and%procedures%for%

registering%a%single%issue%of%a%serial%publication,%such%as%single%issue%of%a%magazine%or%a%

single%volume%of%a%journal.literary%monographs.%It%also%discusses%the%Office’s%practices%

and%procedures%for%registering%serial%publications,%such%as%a%newspaper,%magazine,%

newsletter,%or%journal.%%

NOTE

:%The%Office%has%established%a%proced u r e%that%allows%copyright%owners%to%register%a%

group%of%serials,%a%group%of%newspapers,%or%a%group%of%newsletters%with%one%ap plication%

and%one%filing%fee.%The%requirements%for%these%group%registration%options%are%discussed%

in%Chapter%1100,%Sections%1109%through%1111.%

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712.1 What Is a Literary Monograph?

A%literary%monograph%is%a%literary%work%that%is%“published%in%one%volume%or%a%finite%

number%of%volumes.”%37%C.F.R.%§%202.19(b)(5).%Examples%of%works%that%may%qualify%as%a%

monograph%include%fiction,%nonfiction,%poetry,%short%stories,%memoirs,%textbooks,%and%

other%types%of%nondramatic%literary%works.%

Most%monographs%are%published%in%a%single%volume,%rather%than%a%series%of%successive%

issues%or%parts.%Some%monogr a phs%are%published%in%separate%volumes%with%each%bearing%

the%same%title%and%successiv e%numerical%designations%(as%in %the%case%of%a%multi-volume%

encyclopedia).%But%typically%the%entire%work%is%published%in%a%limited%numb e r%of%volumes%

that,%taken%together,%constitute%the%work%as%a%whole.%See#Simplifying%Deposit%

Requirements%for%Certain%Literary%Works%and%Musical%Compositions,%82%Fed.%Reg.%

38,859,%38,860%(Aug.%16,%2017).%

NOTE

:%Serials%and%legal%publications%are%not%considered%monographs%for%purposes%of%

registration.%For%information%concerning%the%registration%requirements%for%these%types%

of%works,%see%Sections%712.2%and%717.1.%

712.1(A) Copyrightable Authorship in Literary Monographs

When%registering%a%literary%monograph,%the%applicant%may%assert%a%claim%in%new%and%

original%text,%artwork,%and/or%photographs%appearing%in%the%work.%The%applicant%should%

provide%the%name(s)%of%the%author%or%co-authors%who%created%that%material,%and%the%

name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%that%material.%The%Literary%Division%

may%accept%a%claim%in%“text”%if%the%work%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%written%

expression,%and/or%a%claim%in%“artwork”%and/or%“photograph(s)”%if%the%work%contains%a%

sufficient%amount%of%pictorial%or%graphic%expression.%%

A%literary%monograph%may%be%considered%a%collective%work%if%it%contains%“a%number%of%

contributions,%constituting%separate%and%independent%works%in%themselves,%[that]%are%

assembled%into%a%collective%whole.”%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“collective%work”).%

Collective%works%typically%contain%the%following%types%of%authorship:%%

• The%authorship%in%the%compilation,%which%may%involve%selecting,%coordinating,%

and/or%arranging%a%number%of%separate%and%independent%works%within%the%

monograph%as%a%whole,%and/or%revising%the%monograph%as%a%whole.%

• The%authorship%in%the%separate%and%independent%works%that%have%been%included%

within%the%monograph,%which%may%contain%literary%expression%and/or%artistic%

expression.%

As%with%any%other%type%of%collective%work,%an%applicant%may%register%a%monograph%

together%with%the%separa te%and%independent%wor ks%contained%therein,%(i)%if%the%claimant%

owns%the%copyright%in%the%monograph%and%the%contributions,%and%(ii)%if%those%

contributions%have%not%been%previously%published%or%registered.%In%no%case%may%the%

claimant%register%a%contribution%that%is%in%the%public%domain.%%

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712.1(B) Application Tips for Registering a Literary Monograph

When%completing%an%online%application,%the%applicant%should%describe%the%work%being%

registered%in%the%Author%Created%field,%and%if%applicable,%in%the%New%Material%Included%

field.%When%completing%a%paper%application%on%Form%TX,%this%information%should%be%

provided%in%space%2,%and%if%applicable,%in%space%6(b).%For%guidance%on%completing%these%

portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.4%and%621.8.%

For%guidance%concerning%the%deposit%requirements%for%literary%monographs,%see%Chapter%

1500,%Section%1509.1(A).%

712.2 What Is a Serial?

A%serial%is%a%work%that%is%issued%or%intended%to%be%issued%in%successive%parts%bearing%

numerical%or%chronological%designations%that%are%intended%to%be%continued%indefinitely.%

37%C.F.R.%§%202.3(b)(1)(v).%Examples%include%periodicals,%newspapers,%magazines,%

newsletters,%periodicals%(including%newspapers);%annuals;%and%the%journals,%bulletins,%

annuals,%the%and%proceedings%of%societies,%and%other%similar%works.%37%C.F.R.%§%

202.3(b)(1)(v).%Examples%of%works%that%do%not%fall%within%this%category%include%episodes%

of%a%television%series,%a%series%of%online%videos,%a%collection%of%musical%works,%a%group%of%

manuscripts,%an%assortment%of%poetry,%or%a%set%of%advertising%copies.%

% 712.2“Periodicals”%are%considered%“collective%works”%for%purposes%of%

registration,%because%they%contain%“a%number%of%contributions,%constituting%separate%and%

independent%works%in%themse lve s,%[that]%are%assembled%into%a%collective%whole.”%37%

C.F.R.%§%202.4(b)(3);%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“collective%work”).%

Most%serials%are%–%but%do%not%have%to%be%–%collective%works%to%qualify%for%registration.%For%

example,%a%newsletter%that%contains%a%single%article%and%a%single%photograph%would%not%

be%considered%a%collective%work,%because%it%does%not%contain%sufficient%contributions.%

Nevertheless,%it%could%still%be%registered%as%a%“serial”%if%the%requirements%set%forth%in%

Section%712.2(B)%have%been%met.%

712.2(A) Copyrightable Authorship in Serials

Most%serials%are%collective%works,%because%they%typically%contain%“a%number%of%

contributions,%constituting%separate%and%independent%works%in%themselves,%[that]%are%

assembled%into%a%collective%whole.”%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“collective%work”).%As%

such,%they%typically%contain%two%different%types%of%authorship:%%

• The%authorship%in%the%compilation,%which%may%involve%selecting,%coordinating,%

and/or%arranging%a%number%of%separate%and%independent%works%within%the%serial%as%

a%whole,%and/or%revising%the%serial%as%a%whole.%

• The%authorship%in%the%separate%and%independent%works%that%have%been%included%

within%the%serial,%which%may%contain%literary%expression%and/or%artistic%expression.%

As%with%any%other%type%of%collective%work,%an%applicant%may%register%a%serial%together%

with%the%separate%and%independent%works%contained%therein,%(i)%if%the%claimant%owns%the%

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been%previously%published%or%registered.%In%no%case%may%the%claimant%register%a%

contribution%that%is%in%the%public%domain.%%

A%registration%for%a%single%issue%of%a%serial%publication%covers%the%particular%issue%that%

has%been%submitted%for%registration,%as%well%as%any%contributions%that%may%be%included%

within%the%claim.%The%U.S.%Copyright%Office%does%not%offer%“blanket%registrations”%that%

cover%future%issues%or%future%contributions%to%that%publication.%

712.32(B) Application Tips for Registering a Single Issue of a Serial Publication

An%applicant%may%register%a%single%issue%of%a%serial%publication%with%the%online%

application%by%selecting%the%option%for%“Single%Serial%Issue.”%In%the%

alternativeAlternatively,%an%applicant%may%submit%a%paper%application%using%Form%SE.%An%

applicant%may%also%register%a%serial%by%selecting%the%option%for%“Literary%Work”%or%by%

submitting%a%paper%application%using%Form%TX.%If%the%claim%is%approved,%the%U.S.%

regardless%of%whether%the%claim%is%submitted%as%a%“Literary%Work”%or%a%“Single%Serial%

Issue.”%%

NOTE

:%These%applications%may%Form%SE%and%the%application%for%a%“Single%Serial%Issue”%

may%only%be%used%to%register%an%issue%that%has%been%published,%but%they.%These%

applications%may%notonly%be%used%to%register%an%issuea%serial%that%has%not%been%published%

yet.%Likewise,%theyqualifies%as%a%collective%work.%They%also%may%not%be%used%to%register%an%

individual%article,%photograph,%or%oth e r%contribution%to%a%serial%publication%(unless,%but%

only%if%the%applicant%is%registering%that%contribu tion%together%with%the%issue%as%a%whole)..%

If%the%registration%specialist%determin es%that%the%issue%does%not%satisfy%these%

requirements,%he%or%she%will%refuse%to%register%the%claim.%

When%completing%the%applicationIn%all%cases,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%title%that%

appears%on%the%serial,%as%well%as%the%volume%number,%issue%number,%and%date%(if%any)%that%

appears%on%the%specific%issue%that%will%be%submitted%for%registration,%as%well%as%the%

frequency%of%publicationpublication%for%that%serial%(e.g.,,%such%as%daily,%weekly,%monthly,%

etc.)..%When%completing%an%online%application,%an%applicant%may%provide%this%information%

in%the%Title%field%(e.g.,#Home#Cooking,%Vol.%2,%No.%17,%February%2,%2013).%When%completing%

Form%SEa%paper%application,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%space%1.%For%

guidance%in%completing%this%portion%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%610.%%

The%applicant%should%identify%the%copyrightable%authorship%that%the%applicant%intends%to%

completing%an%online%application,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%the%Author%

Created%field.%When%completing%a%paper%application,%this%information%should%be%provided%

in%space%2%of%Form%SE.%For%guidance%on%completing%these%portions%ofForm%SE%or%the%

online%application,%for%a%“Single%Serial%Issue,”%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.7(C)%and%

618.7(D).%For%Form%TX%or%the%online%application%for%a%“Literary%Work,”%see%Chapter%600,%

Sections%618.4(A),%618.4(B),%618.7(A),%and%618.7(B)(2).%

If%the%applicant%only%intends%to%register%the%authorship%involved%in%creating%the%issue%as%a%

whole,%the%applicant%should%assert%a%claim%in%the%“compilation.”“collective%work%

authorship.”%If%the%applicant%intends%to%register%the%au thorship%involved%in%creating%the%

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issue%as%a%whole,%as%well%as%the%individual%contrib u tions%that%appear%within%that%issue,%

the%applicant%mayshould%assert%a%claim%in%both%the%“compilation”%and%the%“contributions%

to%a%collective%work.”%Alternatively,%the%applicant%may%assert%a%claim%in%both%the%

“compilation”%and%the%specific%form%of%authorship%that%appears%in%each%contribution,%

such%as%“text,”%“photographs,”and%component%work(s)%authored%or%“artworkfully%owned%

by%the%Collective%Work%Author.”%

AnAs%mentioned%above,%an%applicant%may%register%an%issue%together%with%the%articles,%

photographs,%or%other%contributions%contained%therein%(i)%if%the%claimant%owns%the%

contributions%have%not%been%previously%published%or%previously%registered.%See#Morris#v.#

Business#Concepts,#Inc.,%259%F.3d%65,%71%(2d%Cir.%2001),%abrogated#on#other%grounds#by#

Reed#Elsevier,#Inc.#v.#Muchnick,%559%U.S.%154%(2010).%In%no%case%may%the%claiman t%register%

a%contribution%that%is%in%the%public%domain.%

If%the%copyright%in%the%individual%con tributions%and%the%issue%as%a%whole%are%ow ned%by%

different%parties,%or%if%the%contributions%were%previously%published%or%previously%

registered,%the%applicant%generally%must%submit%a%separate%application%for%each%

contribution.%

If%the%claimant%is%not%the%author%of%the%issu e%as%a%whole%or%is%not%the%author(s)%of%the%

individual%contributions%that%appear %w ithin%that%issue,%the%applicant%should%provide%a%

transfer%statement%explaining%how%the%claimant%obtained%the%copyright%in%the%issue%as%a%

whole%or%a%particular%contribution,%as%appropriate.%For%guidance%on%completing%this%

portion%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%620.9(A).%

If%the%issue%contains%an%appreciable%amount%of%previously%published%material,%previously%

registered%material,%public%domain%material,%or%material%that%is%not%owned%by%the%

procedure%described%in%Chapter%600,%Section%621.8.%%

For%guidance%concerning%the%deposit%requirements%for%serials,%see%Chapter%1500,%Section%

1509.1(KB).%

712.4 3 ISBN and ISSN Numbers

If an International Standard SerialBook Number (“ISSN”)

If%an(“ISBN”)%or%International%Stan dard%Serial%Number%(“ISSN”)%has%be en%assigned%to%

thea%monograph%or%serial,%the%applicant%is%strongly%encouraged%to%include%that%

information%in%the%online%application.%Fo r %guidance%on%completing%this%portion%of%the %

application,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%612.6(C).%When%completing%Form%SE,%or%Form%TX%

the%applicant%may%include %the%ISSN%number%in%the%space%marked%Previous%or%Alternative%

Titles.%

If%the%applicant%provides%an%ISBN%or%ISSN,%the%number%will%appear%on%the%certificate%of%

registration%and%the%online%public%record.%Providing%this%information%is%useful,%because%

an%ISSNthe%number%may%be%used%to%search%and%retrieve%the%registration%records%for%a%

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particular%monograph%or%serial.%However,%providing%an%ISBN%or%ISSN%is%optional%and%an%

application%will%be%accepted%even%if%this%portion%of%the%application%is%left%blank.%%

The%U.S.%Copyright%Office%does%not%assign%ISSNs.ISBNs%or%ISSNs.%In%the%United%States,%

ISBNs%are%administered%by%R .R.%Bowker%(www.bowker.com).%For%information%

concerning%the%procedure%for%obtaining%an%ISSN,%applicants%should%write%to%the%Serials%

Record%Division%of%the%Library%of%Congress%at%the%following%address:%

Library%of%Congress%

ISSN%Publisher%Liaison%Section%%

101%Independence%Avenue%SE%

Washington,%DC%20540-4284%

Additional%information,%including%the%ISSN%application%form,%is%available%on%the%ISSN%

Publisher%Liaison%Section’s%webpage.%

713 Book Jackets

Book%jackets%often%contain%several%types%of%authorship%that%is%separate%from%the%book%

itself,%such%as%text,%illustrations,%and%photograph s .%If%text%is%the%predominant%form%of%

authorship%in%the%jacket,%the%work%may%be%registered%as%a%nondramatic%literary%work.%If%

the%predominant%form%of%authorship%consists%of%artwork,%illustrations,%or%photographs,%

the%jacket%may%be%registered %as%a%work%of %the%visual%arts.%See%37%C.F.R.%§%202.3(b)(1)(i),%(iii).%%

When%asserting%a%claim%in%a%book%jacket,%the%applicant%should%clearly%indicate%that%the%

claim%extends%to%the%copyrightable%material%that%appears%on%the%jacket.%Specifically,%the%

claim%should%be%limited%to%the%text,%artwork,%and/or%photographs%that%appear%on%the%

jacket,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%author%who%create d%that%material,%

and%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%

that%material.%The%Literary%Division%may%accept%a%claim%in%“text”%if%the%jacket%contains%a%

sufficient%amount%of%written%expression,%or%a%claim%in%“artwork”%and/or%“photograph(s)”%

if%the%jacket%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%pic torial%or%graphic%expression.%When%

completing%an%online%application,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%the%Author%

Created%field,%and%if%applicable,%also%in%the%New%Material%Included%field.%When%completing%

a%paper%application%on%Form%TX,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%space%2,%and%if%

applicable,%also%in%space%6(b).%For%guidance%on%completing%these%portions%of%the%

application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.4%and%621.8.%

If%the%claim%in%the%book%jacket%is%based%solely%o n%the%title%of%the%work,%the%registration%

specialist%will%refuse%to%register%the%claim.%If%the%claim%is%based%solely%on%the%

arrangement,%spacing,%juxtaposition,%and%layout%of%copyrightable%or%uncopyrightable%

elements,%the%registration%specialistregistration%specialist%may%communicate%with%the%

applicant%or%may%refuse%to%register%the%claim%if%the%jacket%merely%contains%a%standard%

arrangement%that%is%not%sufficiently%creative%to%support%a%compilation%claim.%See%37%C.F.R.%

§%202.1(a);%Chapter%300,%Section%313.3(E).%

A%book%and%a%book%jacket%may%be%registered%with%the%same%application%if%the%works%can%

be%physically%separated%from%each%other,%and%if%the%copyright%in%both%works%is%owned%by%

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the%same%claimant.%For%more%information%concerning%this%option,%see%Chapter%1100,%§%

1107Section%1103.%

In%the%alternative,%the%applicant%may%submit%separate%applications%for%the%book%and%the%

jacket.%If%the%applicant%submits%a%separate%application%for%a%jacket%that%has%been%

published,published,%the%Office%will%retain%the%jacket%“for %the%longest%period%consider ed%

practicable%and%desirable%by%the%Register%of%Copyrights%and%the%Librarian%of%Congress.”%

17%U.S.C.%§%704(d).%If%the%applicant%submits%an%application%to%register%a%book%that%has%

been%published%but%does%not%assert%a%separate%claim%in%the%jacket,%the%Library%of%

Congress%may%add%the%book%to%its%collection,%but%the%jacket%will%be%discarde d.%For%a%

discussion%of%the%deposit%requirements%for%book%jackets,%see%Chapter%1500,%Section%

1509.1(AD).%

714 Games

A%game%may%be%registered%as%a%literary%work%if%the%predominant%form%of%authorship%in%

the%work%consists%of%text.%Examples%of%works%that%may%satisfy%this%requirement%include%

word%games,%card%games,%party%games,%riddles,%brain%teasers,%and%similar%diversions,%

including%the%instructions%or %directions%for%playing%a%particular%ga me.%A%game%may%be%

registered%as%a%work%of%the%visual%arts%if%the%predominant%form%of%authorship%consists%of%

pictorial%or%sculptural%authorship.%Examples%of%works%that%may%satisfy%this%requirement%

include%board%games,%playing%cards,%playing%pieces,%and%the%like.%See%37%C.F.R.%§§§%

202.3(b)(1)(i),%(iii).%%%

When%submitting%an%application%to%register%a%game,%the%claim%should%be%limited%to%the%

text,%artwork,%and/or%pho tographs%that%appear%in%the%wo rk%(as%applicable),%the%applicant%

should%provide%the%name%of%the%author%who%created%that%material,%and%the%applicant%

should%provide%the%name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%that%material.%The%

Literary%Division%may%accept%a%claim%in%“text”%if%the%game%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%

written%expression,%or%a%claim%in%“artwork”%and/or%“photograph(s)”%if%the%work%contains%

a%sufficient%amount%of%pictorial%or%graphic%expression.%When%completing%an%online%

application,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%the%Author%Created%field,%and%if%

applicable,%also%in%the%New%Material%Included%field.%When%completing%a%paper%application%

on%Form%TX,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%space%2,%and%if%applicable,%also%in%

space%6(b).%For%guidance%on%completing%these%portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%

600,%Sections%618.4%and%621.8.%

A%registration%for%a%game%covers%all%of%the%copyrightable%elements%that%appear%in%the%

work,%regardless%of%whether%the%game%has%been%registered%as%a%literary%work%or%a%work%

of%the%visual%arts.%However,%copyright%does%not%protect%the%idea%for%a%game,%the%name%or%

title%of%a%game,%or%the%proced ure,%process,%or%method%of%o peration%for%playing%a%game.%

Nor%does%copyright%protect%any%idea,%system,%method,%or%device%involved%in%developing%

or%marketing%a%game.%Once%a%game%has%been%made%available%to%the%public,%the%copyright%

law%cannot%be%used%to%prevent%others%from%developing%another%game%based%on%similar%

principles.%Copyright%protects%only%the%particular%expression%that%app ears%in%the%literary%

or%artistic%elements%that%the%work%may%contain.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%102(b);%37%C.F.R.%§%202.1.%

If%the%game%consists%of%separately%fixed %elements%and%works%that%were%physic ally%

bundled%together%by%the%claimant%for%distribution%to%the%public%as%a%single,in%the%same%

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integrated%unit,%it%may%be%possible%to%register%th e m%with%one%application%and%one%filing%

fee%if%all%the%works%were%first%published%in%that%inte g rated%unit%and%if%the%claimant%owns%

the%copyright%in%those%works.%For%information%concerning%the%unit%of%publication%option,%

see%Chapter%1100,%Section%1107Section1103.%

For%a%discussion%of%the%practices%and%procedures%for%registering%videogames,%see%Chapter%

800,%Section%807.7(A).%For%a%discussion%of%the%practices%and%procedures%for%registering%

board%games,%see%Chapter%900,%Section%910.%

715 Genealogies

715.1 What Is a Genealogy?

A%genealogy%is%a%work%that%contains%information%about%the%history%of%a%particular%family.%

These%types%of%works%typically%contain%a%substantial%amount%of%factual%information,%such%

as%the%names%of%family%members,%dates%of%birth,%marriage,%death,%and%other%significant%

events,%as%well%as%family%trees%illustrating%the%relationships%between%family%members.%

Frequently,%this%information%is%obtained%from%various%sources,%such%as%letters,%diaries,%

scrapbooks,%photo%albums,%birth%certificates,%marriage%licenses,%church%records,%census%

records,%wills%and%probate%records,%gravestones,%and%the%like.%Much%of%this%material%may%

be%in%the%public%domain,%it%may%be%previously%published,%it%may%be%previously%registered%

with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office,%or%it%may%be%separately%owned%by%another%copyright%

owner.%

715.2 Copyrightable Authorship in Genealogies

Although%facts%are%not%copyrightable,%a%genealogy%may%be%registered%as%a%literary%work%if%

it%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%written%exp r ession.%The%application%should%be%limited%

to%the%text,%artwork,%and/or%photographs%that%the%author%contributed%to%the%work%(as%

applicable),%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%author%who%created%that%

material,%and%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%

contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%written%expression,%and%may%accept%a%claim%in%“artwork”%

and/or%“photograph(s)”%if%the%work%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%pictorial%or%graphic%

expression.%Likewise,%the%Literary%Division%may%accept%a%claim%in%“compilation”%if%the%

author%exercised%a%sufficient%amount%of%creativity%in%selecting,%coordinating,%and/or%

arranging%the%information%that%appears%in%the%genealogy.%%%

715.3 Application Tips for Genealogies

Submitting%an%online%application%is%the%preferred%way%to%register%a%genealogy.%When%

completing%the%application,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%author%who%

created%the%genealogy%on%the%Author%screen.%In%the%field%marked%Author%Created,%the%

applicant%should%check%one%or%more%of%the%boxes%that%accurately%describe%the%material%

that%the%author%created.%%

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Examples:#

• The%applicant%should%check%the%box%marked%“text”%if%the%author%

wrote%the%captions,%footnotes,%comments,%biographies,%or%other%

textual%expression%that%app ears%in%the%genealogy.%%

• If%the%author%created%any%of%the%artwork%or%took%any%of%the%

photographs%that%appear%in%the%genealogy,%the%applicant%should%

check%the%boxes%marked%“artwork”%or%“photograph(s),”%as%

applicable.%

• If%the%author%selected,%coordinated,%and/or%arranged%the%names,%

dates,%records,%photographs,%or%other%material%that%appears%in%the%

genealogy,%the%applicant%should%provide%a%brief%statement%to%that%

effect%in%the%field%marked%Other.%For%example,%the%Literary%Division%

will%accept%a%brief%statement,%such%as:%“selection,%coordination,%and%

arrangement%of%family%photographs,%newspaper%clippings,%census%

records,%and%other%source%material,”%“selection%and%arrangement%of%

information%obtained%from%family%records,%court%records,%church%

records,%and%gravestones,”%“selection%of%family%photos,%coordination%

of%family%names%and%relationships,%and%arrangement%of%facts%and%

historical%information,”%or%the%like.%%

For%additional%guidance%on%completing%this%portion%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%

Section%618.4.%

The%applicant%should%provide%the%exact%same%information%on%the%Limitation%of%Claim%

screen%in%the%field%marked%New%Materia l%Included.%In%other%words,%if%the%applicant%

checked%the%box%for%“text”%in%the%Author%Created%field,%the%applicant%also%should%check%

the%box%for%“text”%on%the%Limitation%of%Claim%screen%in%the%New%Material%Included%field.%If%

the%applicant%stated%“selectio n%and%arrangement%of%churc h%records”%on%the%Author%

Created%screen%in%the%field%marked%Other,%the%applicant%should%state%“selection%and%

arrangement%of%church%records”%on%the%Limitation%of%Claim%screen%in%the%field%marked%

Other.%For%additional%guidance%on%completing%these%portions%of%the%application,%see%

Chapter%600,%Section%621.8.%

A%registration%for%a%genealogy%does%not%cover%any%of%the%factual%information%that%may%be%

included%in%the%work.%Nor%does%it%co v er%material%that%is%in%the%public%domain,%material%

that%has%been%previously %published,%material%that%has%been %previously%registered,%or%

material%that%is%owned%by%another%person%or%legal%entity.%If%the%genealogy%contains%this%

type%of%material%the%applica nt%should%exclude%it%from%the%application%by%checking%the%

appropriate%boxes%that%appear%on%the%Limitation%of%Claim%screen%in%the%field%marked%

Material%Excluded.%

Examples:#

• The%applicant%should%check%the%box%marked%“text”%if%the%genealogy%

contains%an%appreciable%amount%of%text%that%is%in%the%public%domain,%

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text%that%has%been%previous ly%published,%text%that%has%been%

previously%registered,%or%text%owned%by%a%third%party.%

• The%applicant%should%check%the%box%marked%“photograph(s),”%if%the%

genealogy%contains%an%appreciable%number%of%photos%that%are%in%the%

public%domain,%photos%that%have%been%previously%published,%photos%

that%have%been%previou sly%registered,%or%photos%owned%by%a%third%

party.%

• The%applicant%should%check%the%box%marked%“artwork”%if%the%

genealogy%contains%an%appreciable%amount%of%artwork%that%is%in%the%

public%domain,%artwork%that%has%been%previously%published,%artwork%

that%has%been%previously%registered,%or%artwork%owned%by%a%third%

party.%

If%the%genealogy%contains%an%appre ciable%amount%of%material%that%has%been%reg istered%

with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%registration%number%and%

the%year%that%the%registration %was%issued%in%the%field%marked%Previous%Registration.%For%

additional%guidance%on%completing%this%portion%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%

SectionsSection%621.8(F).%

If%the%genealogy%appears%to%contain%an%appreciable%amount%of%public%domain%material,%

previously%published%material,%previously%registered%material,%or%material%that%is%owned%

by%another%party,%and%if%the%applicant%failed%to%exclude%that%material%from%the%claim,%the%

registration%specialist%may%add%an%annotation%to%the%registration%record,%such%as%

“Regarding%authorship%info rmation%and%limitation%of%claim:%registrationRegistration%

does%not%extend%to%previously%registered,%previously%published,%public%domain,%or%

separately%owned%material,%or%to%facts.”%

If%it%is%unclear%whether%the%author%con tributed%text,%artwork,%photographs,%or%

compilation%authorship%to%the%genealogy,%the%registration%specialist%will%communicate%

with%the%applicant.%If%the%genealogy%does%not%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%original%

authorship%to%warrant%registration,%the%specialist%may%refuse%to%register%the%claim.%

Examples:#

• Jane%Springer%created%a%genealogy%titled%The#Springers#of#Springfield,#

Massachusetts.%She%gathered%information%from%local%courthouses,%

churches,%cemeteries,%and%other%sources;%she%assembled%this%

information%into%a%book;%and%wrote%a%brief%introduction%for%the%

work.%Jane%may%register%the%introduction%by%checking%the%box%for%

“text”%in%the%Author%Created%and%New%Material%Included%fields.%She%

may%register%the%compilation%of%information%by%stating%“selection%

and%arrangement%of%family%records”%on%the%Author%Created%and%

Limitation%of%Claim%screens%in%the%fields%marked%Other.%%

• Jennifer%Smith%submits%an%application%to%register%a%genealogy%titled%

The#Smith#Family#of#Hamilton#County,#Virginia.%Jennifer%wrote%the%

introduction%for%this%work,%the%captions%for%each%photograph,%and%a%

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short%biography%for%each%member%of%the%family.%The%genealogy%also%

contains%text%and%photographs%created%by%other%family%members.%On%

the%Author%Created%scre en%Jennifer%checks%the%boxes%for%“text”%and%

states%“selection,%coordination,%and%arrangement%of%family%records”%

in%the%field%marked%Other.%Jennifer%should%have%provided%this%exact%

same%information%on%the%Limitation%of%Claim%screen%in%the%New%

Material%Included%field.%In%addition,%she%should%have%checked%the%

boxes%for%“text”%and%“photograph(s)”%in%the%Material%Excluded%field%

because%the%genealogy%contains%text%or%photos%created%and%owned%

by%other%parties.%The%registration%specialist%will%register%the%claim%

with%an%annotation,%such%as:%“Regarding%authorship%information:%

registrationRegistration%does%not%extend%to%previously%registered,%

previously%published,%public%domain,%or%sepa r ately%owned%material,%

or%to%facts.”%

• Thomas%Henry%submits%an%application%to%register%a%genealogy%titled%

The#Henrys#in#Spokane#County.%On%the%Author%Created%screen%he%

checks%the%box%for%“text”%and%states%“compilation%of%public%records”%

in%the%field%marked%Other.%In%the%Note%to %C opyright%Office%field,%

Thomas%explains%that%he%wrote%the%introduction%for%this%work%and%

he%prepared%a%list%of%all%the%members%of%the%Henry%family%who%were%

born%in%Spokane%County.%The%names%are%listed%in%chronological%

order%based%on%the%individual’s%date%of%birth.%The%registration%

specialist%will%communicate%with%the%applicant.%Although%the%

introduction%may%be%registered %as %“text,”%the%Office%cannot%register%

the%claim%in%“compilation,”%bec ause%preparing%a%list%of%all%of%the%

family%members%from%a%particular%cou n ty%an d%organizing%the%names%

in%chronological%order%does%not%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%

compilation%authorship%to%warrant%registration.%

716 Instructional Texts and Instructional Works

Textbooks%and%other%instructional%texts%may%be%registered%if%the%w ork%contains%a%

sufficient%amount%of%original%authorship.%The%statute%defines%an%“instructional%text”%as%“a%

literary,%pictorial,%or%graphic%work%prepared%for%publicationpublication%and%with%the%

purpose%of%use%in%systematic%instructional%activities.”%See%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%

“work%made%for%hire”).%As%the%legislative%history%explains,%this%category%includes%

“textbook%material,”%regardless%of%wh ether%the%work%is%publishedpublished%“in%book%

form%or%prepared%in%the%form%of%text%matter.”%H.R.!REP.!NO.!94-1476,!at%121%(1976)%

reprinted#in%1976%U.S.C.C.A.N.%at%5737;%S.

!REP.!NO.%94-473,%at%105%(1975).%The%“basic%

characteristic”%of%an%instructional%text%is%that%the%work%must%be%prepared%for%“use%in%

systematic%instructional%activities,”%rather%than%a%work%“prepared%for%use%by%a%general%

readership.”%H.R.

!REP.!NO.!94-1476,!at%121%(1976)%reprinted#in%1976%U.S.C.C.A.N.%at%5737;%

!REP.!NO.%94-473,%at%105%(1975).%%Instructional%texts%are%among%the%nine%categorie s %of%

works%that%can%be%specially%ordered%or%commissioned%as%a%work%made%for%hire,%provided%

that%the%parties%expressly%ag ree%in%a%signed%written%instrument%that%the%work%shall%be%

considered%a%work%made%for%hire.%For%a%discussion%of%works%made%for%hire,%see%Chapter%

500,%Section%506.%

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Other%types%of%instructional%works%may%be%registered%with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office,%

provided%that%the%work,%taken%as%a%whole,%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%original%

authorship.%Examples%of%works%that%may%satisfy%this%requirement%include%cookbooks,%

instructions%for%knitting,%crocheting,%or%ne e dlework,%instructions%for%operating%a%

machine,%appliance,%or%other%device,%and%similar%types%of%works.%%

If%text%is%the%predominant%form%of%authorship,%an%instructional%text%or%other%instructional%

work%may%be%registered%as%a%nondramatic%literary%work.%If%the%predominant%form%of%

authorship%consists%of%artwork,%illustrations,%or%photographs,%the%work%may%be%

registered%as%a%work%of%the%visual%arts.%See%37%C.F.R.%§%202.3(b)(1)(i),%(iii).%%For%

information%concerning%the%reg is tration%requirements%for%stencils,%patterns,%and%how-to%

books,%see%Chapter%900,%Section%920.%%%

The%Literary%Division%may%register%an%instructional%work%that%explains%how%to%perform%a%

particular%activity,%provided%that%the%work%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%text,%

photographs,%artwork,%or%other%copyrightable%expression.%Likewise,%the%Literary%Division%

may%register%an%instructional%work%that%illustrates%or%describes%the%end%result%for%a%

particular%activity%or%technique,%such%as%a%drawing%of%a%crochet%pattern%or%a%photograph%

of%a%product%that%has%been%fully%assembled.%%

When%asserting%a%claim%in%an%instructional%text%or%an%instructional%work,%the%claim%

should%be%limited%to%the%text,%artwork,%and/or%photographs%that%appear%in%the%work,%the%

applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%author%who%created%that%material,%and%the%

applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%that%

material.%The%Literary%Division%may%accept%a%claim%in%“text”%if%the%work%contains%a%

sufficient%amount%of%written%or%editorial%expression,%or%a%claim%in%“artwork”%and/or%

“photograph(s)”%if%the%work%co ntains%a%sufficient%amount%of%pictorial%or%gra phic%

expression.%When%completing%an%online%application,%this%information%should%be%provided%

in%the%Author%Created%field,%and%if%applicable,%also %in%th e%New%Material%Included%field.%

When%completing%a%paper%application%on%Form%TX,%this%information%should%be%provided%

in%space%2,%and%if%applicable,%also%in%space%6(b).%For%gu idance%on%completing%these%

portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.4%and%621.8.%

A%registration%for%a%cookbook%covers%the%instructional%text%that%appears%in%the%work,%as%

well%as%any%photographs%or%illustrations%that%are%owned%by%the%copyright%claimant.%

However,%the%registration%does%not%cover%the%list%of%ingredients%that%appear%in%each%

recipe.%Likewise,%a%registration%for%a%cookbook%or%other%instructional%work%does%not%

cover%the%activities%described%in%the%work,%because%procedures,%processes,%or%methods%of%

operation%are%not%subject%to%copyright%protection.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%102(b);%37%C.F.R.%§%

202.1(a);%see#also%Policy%Decision%on%Copyrightability%of%Digitized%Typefaces,%53%Fed.%Reg.%

38,110,%38,112%(Sept.%29,%1988)Policy%Decision%on%Copyrightability%of%Digitized%

Typefaces,%53%Fed.%Reg.%38,110,%38,112%(Sept.%29,%1988)%(“[T]he%explanation%and%

illustration%of%recipes%is%copyrightable%even %th ough%the%end%result%—%the%food%product%—%

is%not.”).%The%registration%specialist%may%add%an%annotation,%may%communicate%with%the%

applicant,%or%may%refuse%registration%if%the%applicant%appears%to%be%asserting%a%claim%to%

specific%hand%or%body%movements%for%performing%a%particular%activity,%or%if%the%

instructions,%taken%as%a%whole,%are%de#minimis.%

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Examples:#

• Martha%Custer%submits%an%application%to%register%a%set%of%basic%

instructions%for%knitting%a%sweater.%In%the%Author%Created%field,%she%

checks%the%box%for%“text.”%There%are%dozens%of%steps%in%the%process,%

and%the%instruction%for%each%step%is%one%sentence%long.%The%

registration%specialist%will%register%the%claim,%because%the%

instructional%text,%taken%as%a%whole,%contains%a%suffic ie nt%amount%of%

expression%to%support%a%registration.%

• Jules%Kinder%submits%an%application%to%register%a%cookbook%titled%Pie#

in#the#Sky.%In%the%Author%Created%field,%the%applicant%asserts%a%claim%

in%“text,%photographs,%and%compilatio n %of%ingredients.”%Each%recipe%

contains%a%list%of%ingredients,%instructions%for%making%a%pie,%and%a%

photograph%of%the%finished%product.%The%claim%in%text%and%

photographs%is%acceptable,%but%the%claim%in%compilation%is%not,%

because%the%applicant%appears%to%be%asserting%a%claim%in%a%mere%

listing%of%ingredients.%The%registration%specialist%may%add%an%

annotation,%such%as:%“Regarding%authorship%information:%

Compilation%is%mere%listing%of%ingredients%or%contents;%not%

copyrightable.%37%CFR%202.1.”%

• The%Abigail%Adams%Co.%submits%an%application%to%register%a%set%of%

basic%instructions%for%crochetingknitting%a%scarf.%In%the%Author%

Created%field,%the%applicant%asserts%a%claim%in%“text,%photographs,%and%

artwork.”%The%work%contains%illustrations,%photographs,%patterns,%

and%other%artwork,%but%the%instructional%text%is%extremely%basic,%

abbreviated,%and%formulaic,%such%as%“knit%1,%purl%2.”%The%registration%

specialist%will%communicate%with%the%applicant.%The%claim%in%

“artwork”%and%“photograph s”%is%acceptable,%but%the%claim%in%“text”%is%

not,%because%the%instructional%text,%taken%as%a%whole,%is%de#minimis.%

• Paulina%Neumann%submits%an%application%to%register%a%recipe%for%a%

caesar%salad.%In%the%Author%Created%field,%the%applicant%asserts%a%

claim%in%“text.”%The%work%contains%a%list%of%eleven%ingredients%

together%with%the%follow ing%instructions:%“(1)%puree%anchovies,%

garlic,%dijon,%egg%yolks,;%(2)%drizzle%oil%in%gradually%to%emulsify;%(3)%

add%lemon,%parmesan%cheese,%salt,%pepper,%worcestershire%and%

tobasco%sauce.”%The%registra tion%specialist%will%refuse%to%register %the%

claim,%because%the%list%of%ingredients%is%not%copyrightable%and%the%

instructional%text%is%de#minimis.%

For%a%discussion%of%the%deposit%requirements%for%an%instructional%work,%see%Chapter%

1500,%Section%1509.1(FI).%

717 Legal Materials

Certain%types%of%legal%materials%may%be%registered%with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Offic e %if%they%

were%created%by%a%private%entity%or%non-lawmaking%official,%and%if%they%contain%a%

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sufficient%amount%of%original%expression.%Examples%of%legal%materials%that%may%satisfy%

this%requirement%are%discussed%in%Sections%717.1%through%717.3%below.%%

When%submitting%an%application%to%register%these%types%of%works,%the%claim%should%be%

limited%to%the%new%material%that%appears%in%the%work,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%

name%of%the%author%who%created%that%material,%and%the%applicant%should%provide%the%

name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%that%material.%The%Literary%Division%

may%accept%a%claim%in%“text”%if%the%work%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%written%

expression,%or%a%claim%in%“artwork”%and/or%“photograph(s)”%if%the%work%contains%a%

sufficient%amount%of%pictorial%or%graphic%expression.%When%completing%an%online%

application,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%the%Author%Created%field,%and%if%

applicable,%also%in%the%New%Material%Included%field.%When%completing%a%paper%application%

on%Form%TX,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%space%2,%and%if%applicable,%also%in%

space%6(b).%For%guidance%on%completing%these%portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%

600,%Sections%618.4%and%621.8.%

Certain%types%of%legal%materials%may%be%registered%as%a%compilation%if%the%author%

exercised%a%sufficient%amount%of%creativity%in%selecting,%coordinating,%and/or%arranging%

the%preexisting%materials%th at%appear%within%the%deposit.%W hen%asserting%a%claim%in%a%

compilation,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%author%who%created%the%

selection,%coordination,%and/or%arrangement%that%the%applicant%intends%to%register,%and%

the%applicant%should%asser t%a%claim%to%copyright%in%that%material%usin g%the%procedures%

described%in%Chapter%600,%Section%618.6.%%

As%discussed%in%Sections%717.1%and%717.2,%legal%materials%often%contain%an%appreciable%

amount%of%content%that%is%not%eligible%for%copyright%protection.%They%also%may%contain%an%

appreciable%amount%of%content%that%is%in%the%public%domain,%content%that%has%been%

previously%published,%content%that%has%been%previously%registered,%or%content%that%is%

owned%by%a%third%party.%If%so,%the%applicant%should%exclude%this%content%from%the%

application%using%the%procedure%described%in%Chapter%600,%Section%621.8(F).%

If%the%applicant%asserts%a%claim%in%both%the%copyrightable%and%uncopyrightable%elements%

of%the%work,%the%registration%specialist%may%annotate%the%application%to%indicate%that%the%

registration%does%not%extend%to%the%uncopyrightable%elements.%If%the%applicant%asserts%a%

claim%to%copyright%in%an%element%that%is%uncopyrightable,%the%registration%specialist%may%

communicate%with%the%applicant%or%may%refuse%registration%if%the%claim%appears%to%be%

based%solely%on%that%element.%%

NOTE

:%The%Office%will%not%register%legislative%enactments,%judicial%decisions,%

administrative%rulings,%public%ordinances,%or%similar%types%of%official%legal%materials%that%

have%been%issued%by%a%federal,%state,%local,%or%territorial%government.%Likewise,%the%Office%

will%not%register%“non-binding,%explanatory%legal%materials”%created%by%a%legislator%or%

legislative%body%“vested%with%the%authority%to%make%law”%or%by%judges%“who%possess%the%

authority%to%make%and%interpret%the%law.”%Georgia#v.#Public.Resource.Org,#Inc.,%140%S.%Ct.%

1498,%1504%(2020).%This%is%known%as%the%“government%edicts%doctrine.”%Id.%at%1504,%1506.%

For%information%concerning%this%doctrine,%see%Chapter%300,%Section%313.6(C)(2).%

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717.1 Legal Publications

A%legal%publication%that%analyzes,%annotates,%summarizes,%or%comments%upon%a%

legislative%enactment,%aenactments,%judicial%decision,%andecisions,%executive%order,%

anorders,%administrative%regulationregulations,%or%other%edicts%of%government%may%be%

registered%as%a%nondramatic%literary%work,%provided%thatif%the%publication%was%

“prepared%by%a%private%party,%or%a%non-lawmaking%official”%“who%lack[s]%the%authority%to%

make%or%interpret%the%law,”%and%if%it%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%literary%

expressionoriginal%authorship.%Georgia,%140%S.%Ct.%at%1507,%1509,%1510.%Examples%of%legal%

publications%that%may%satisfy%this%requirement%are%listed%below,%but%in%no%case%does%the%

registration%cover%any%government%edict%that%may%be%included%in%the%work.%See%17%U.S.C.%

§%105;See#id.#at%1504;%see#also%Chapter%300,%Section%313.6(C)(2).%

Examples:#

• Annotated%codes%authored%by%a%private%entity%

not acting under the

control of a legislative or judicial body%that%summarize%or%comment%

upon%legal%materialsgovernment%edicts%issued%by %a%federal,%state,%

local,%or%foreign%government.%%

• A%compilation%of%authored%by%a%private%entity%

not acting under the

control of a legislative or judicial body%that%contains%legislative%

enactments%or,%judicial%decisions,%or%other%government%edicts,%

provided%that%the%authorentity%exercised%a%sufficient%amount%of%

creativity%in%selecting,%coordinating,%and/or%arranging%thethis%

material%that%appears%in%the%compilation.%

• Treatises%that%analyze%or%review%legal%subjects.%

• Dictionaries,%anthologies,%and%encyclopedias%that%define%or%describe%

legal%subjects.%

• Legal%periodicals%that %cover%s pecific %areas% of%the% law,%s uch%as% law%

reviews,%legal%journals,%legal%newspapers,% legal%newsletters,%and%

the%like.%

• Casebooks%containing%a%selection%of%legislative%enactments%and%

judicial%decisions%that%have%been%abridged%and/or%annotated%with%

comments%and%questions%for%use%in%systematic%instructional%

activities.%

• Test%materials%that%are%used%to%determine%eligibility%for%membership%

in%a%bar%association%or%other%profes s ional%organization,%as%well%as%

study%materials%used%to%prepare%for%such%tests.%

The%Office%will%consider%an%application%to%register%a%citator%containing%specialized%

indexes%for%tracing%the%prior%and%sub s equent%history%of%a%judicial%decision;%for%iden tifying%

decisions%that%have%followed,%explained,%distinguished,%criticized,%or%overruled%a%

previous%judicial%decision;%or%for%researching%a%specific%area%of%the%law.%This%type%of%work%

may%be%registered%if%it%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%new%text,%such%as%an%introduction%

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or%a%brief%summary%of%the%issues%discussed%in%each%case.%Likewise,%a%citator%may%be%

registered%as%a%compilation,%provided%that%the%author%exercised%a%sufficient%amount%of%

creativity%in%selecting,%coordinating,%and/or%arranging%the%categories%that%appear%within%

the%work.%However ,%the%registration%specialist%may%communicate%with%the%applicant%or%

may%refuse%registration%if%the%claim%appears%to%be%based%solely%on%the%selection%of%judicial%

decisions,%because%citators%typically%list%all%of%the%subsequent%decisions%that%cite%the%

same%case.%The%specialist%also%may%communicate%or%refuse%registration%if%the%claim%

appears%to%be%based%solely%on%a%system%for%conducting%legal%research%or%on%any%“idea,%

procedure,%process,%system,%method%of%operation,%concept,%principle,%or%discovery”%that%

may%be%reflected%or%implemented%in%the%work.%17%U.S.C.%§%102(b).%

717.2 Legal Documents

Contracts,%insurance%policies,%or%other%legal%documents%may%be%registered%if%they%contain%

a%sufficient%amount%of%expression%that%is%original%to%the%author.%The%U.S.%Copyright%Office%

may%register%briefs,%motions,%prepared%testimony,%expert%reports,%or%other%legal%

pleadings,%provided%that%they%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%expression%that%originated%

with%the%author%(regardless%of%whether%the%pleading%has%or%has%not%been%filed%with%a%

judicial%or%administrative %body).%Likewise,%the%Office%may%register%books%that%contain%

sample%forms%used%in%preparing%contracts,%pleadings,%or%other%legal%documents.%

Legal%documents%typically%contain%an%appreciable%amount%of%language%that%may%have%

been%obtained%from%other%sources,%such%as%standard%form%contracts,%prior%pleadings,%

form%books,%and%the%like.%Much%of%this%language%may%ha v e %be e n %pr e v io u s ly%pu b lish e d,%it%

may%be%owned%by%other%parties,%or%it%may%be%in%the%public%domain.%Often%the%language%

used%in%a%legal%document%may%be%determined%by%the%requirements%of%the%relevant%

statutory,%regulatory,%or%decisional%law.%In%some%cases,%the%author%may%be%required%to%

use%specific%legal%terminology%or%a%specific%sentence%structure,%such%as%the%boilerplate%

language%found%in%a%lease,%bailment,%chattel%mortgage,%security%interest,%or%similar%

transactions.%%

The%Office%may%register%a%legal%document%that%contains%an%appreciable%amount%of%

unclaimable%material,%provided%that%the%claim%is%limited%to%the%new%material%tha t%th e%

author%contributed%to%the%work%and%provided%that%the%unclaimable%material%has%been%

excluded%from%the%claim.%For%purposes%of%registration,%unclaimable%material%includes%

previously%published%material,%previously%registered%material,%public%domain%material,%

or%copyrightable%material%that%is%owned%by%another%party.%%

When%completing%the%application,%the%applicant%should%provide%a%brief%statement%that%

describes%the%new%material%that%the%author%contributed%to%the%work,%such%as%“new%text,”%

and%a%brief%statement%that%describes%the%unclaimable%material%that%should%be%excluded%

from%the%claim,%such%as%“standard%legal%language.”%In%the%case%o f%an%online%application,%

this%information%should%be%provided%in%the%Author%Created,%New%Material%Included,%and%

Material%Excluded%fields.%In%the%case%of%a%paper%application%submitted%on%Form%TX,%it%

should%be%provided%in%spaces%2,%6(a),%and%6(b).%For%guidance%on%completing%these%

portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.4%and%621.8.%

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717.3 Patents, Patent Applications, and Non-Patent Literature

The%U.S.%Copyright%Office%may%register%a%claim%to%copyright%in%the%written%description%for%

an%invention%or%the%drawings%or%photographs%set%forth%in%a%patent%or%a%patent%

application,%provided%that%the%work%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%original%authorship.%

Likewise,%the%Office%may%register%a%claim%to%copyright%in%articles,%publications,%or%other%

non-patent%literature%that%may%be%submitted%with%a%patent%application.%However,%the%

any%“idea,%procedure,%process,%system,%method%of%operation,%concept,%principle,%or%

discovery”%that%may%be%disclosed%in%these%works.%%

Under%U.S.%patent%law,%a%patent%application%must%be%filed%within%one%year%after%the%

invention%has%been%described%in%any %pr inted%publication.%See%35%U.S.C.%§%102(a)(1),%

(b)(1).%Filing%a%patent%application%or%non-patent%literature%with%the%U.S.%Patent%and%

Trademark%Office%or%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office%is%not%considered%publicationpublication%

within%the%meaning%of%the%copyright%law.%The%U.S.%Copyright%Office%takes%no%position%on%

whether%filing%an%application%to%register%the%text%and%illustrations%in%a%patent%application%

or%in%non-patent%literature%would%be%considered%a%publication%within%the%meaning%of%the%

patent%law.%

718 Letters, Email, and Other Written Correspondence

Letters,%emails,%journals,%diaries,%and%other%forms%of%written%correspondence%may%be%

registered%if%they%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%copyrightable%expression%and%if%the%

claimant%owns%the%copyright%in%that%material.%%

When%submitting%an%application%to%register%these%types%of%works,%the%applicant%should%

limit%the%claim%to%the%text,%artwor k,%and/or%photographs%that%appear%in%the%work,%the%

applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%author%who%created%that%material,%and%the%

applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%that%

material.%The%Literary%Division%may%accept%a%claim%in%“text”%if%the%work%contains%a%

sufficient%amount%of%written%expression,%or%a%claim%in%“artwork”%and/or%“photograph(s)”%

if%the%work%contains%a%sufficient%amoun t%o f%pictorial%or%graphic%expression.%When%

completing%an%online%application,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%the%Author%

Created%field,%and%if%applicable,%also%in%the%New%Material%Included%field.%When%completing%

a%paper%application%on%Form%TX,%this%information%should%be%provided%in%space%2,%and%if%

applicable,%also%in%space%6(b).%For%guidance%on%completing%these%portions%of%the%

application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%618.4%and%621.8.%

As%a%general%rule,%the%author%of%the%correspondence—not%the%recipient—should%be%

named%as%the%copyright%claimant.%The%fact%that%a%person%owns%or%possesses%the%original%

copy%of%a%letter,%a%journal,%diary,%or%other%material%object%does%not%give%that%person%the%

right%to%claim%copyright%in%that%work,%even%if%the%material%object%was%purchased%or%found.%

Ownership%of%the%copyright%in%a%work,%or%of%any%of%the%exclusive%rights%under%a%copyright,%

is%distinct%from%the%ownership%of%any%material%object%in%which%the%work%has%been%fixed.%A%

transfer%of%ownership%involving%a%material%object%does%not%convey%any%rights%in%the%

copyrighted%work,%nor%does%the%transfer%of%ownership%of%a%copyright%convey%any%

property%rights%in%any%material%object%(absent%a%written%agreement%to%that%effect).%17%

U.S.C.%§%202.%

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A%party%that%has%obtained%all%of%the%rights%under%copyright%that%initially%belonged%to%the%

author%may%be%named%as%the%copyright%claimant%for%a%letter,%email,%journal,%diary,%or%

other%written%correspondence.%When%completing%the%application,%the%applicant%should%

provide%a%brief%transfer%statement%explaining%how%the%claimant%obtained%the%copyright%in%

the%work.%For%example ,%the%registration%specialist%may%accept%an%application%if%the%

applicant%states%that%the%claimant%obtained%the%copyright%“by%inheritance”%or%“by%written%

agreement,”%but%the%specialist%will%question%an%application%if%the%applicant%simply%states%

“I%found%this%diary%in%the%attic,”%“my%mother%gave%me%this%journal,”%“my%boyfriend%sent%me%

these%love%letters,”%or%the%like .%These%types%of%statements%su ggest%that%the%claimant%may%

own%a%material%object%(i.e.,%a%journal,%a%diary,%a%letter),%but%it%is%unclear%whether%the%

claimant%owns%the%copyright%in%the%work%that%is%embodied%in%those%objects.%For%guidance%

on%identifying%the%copyright%claimant,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%619.%For%guidance%on%

providing%a%transfer%statement,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%620.%%

In%some%cases,%journals,%diaries,%letters,%or%o ther%written%correspondence%may%be%

publishedpublished%with%new%material%that%introduces,%illustrates,%or%explains%the%work,%

such%as%forewords,%afterwords,%footnotes,%annotations,%or%the%like.%As%discussed%in%

Section%709.4,%this%type%of%material%may%be%registered%as%a%derivative%work%if%it%contains%

a%sufficient%amount%of%original%authorship.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“derivative%

work”).%The%applicant%should%limit%the%claim%to%the%new%text%that%the%author%contributed%

to%the%work,%the%applicant%sh ould%provide%the%name%of%th e%author%who%created%the%ne w%

text,%together%with%the%nam e%of%the%claimant%who%owns%th e%copyright%in%the%new%text.%

Applicants%should%use%the%terms%“new%text,”%“text%of%introduction,”%or%the%like%to%describe%

this%type%of%authorship,%rath er%than%“text”%or%“editing.”%If%the%new%material%contains%an%

appreciable%amount%of%pictorial%or%graphic%expression,%applicants%should%use%the%term%

“artwork”%and/or%“photograph(s)”%to%describe%this%type %of%authorship.%In%all%cases,%the%

journal,%diary,%letters,%or%other%written%correspondence%should%be%exclu ded%from%the%

claim%if%that%material%has%been%previously%published,%previously%registered,%if%it%is%in%the%

public%domain,%or%if%the%copyright%in%that%material%is%owned%by%another%party.%For%a%

discussion%of%the%procedure%for%excluding%this%type%of%material%from%a%claim,%see%Chapter%

600,%Section%621.8.%

719 Interviews

An%interview%is%a%written%or%recorded%account%of%a%conversation%between%two%or%more%

individuals.%Typically,%the%interviewer%pose s %a%series%of%questions%that%elicit%a%response%

from%the%interviewee(s).%%

An%interview%may%be%registered%if%the%conversation%has%been%fixed%in%a%tangible%medium%

of%expression%and%if%it%contains%a%sufficient%amount%of%creative%expression%in%the%form%of%

questions%and%responses.%Specifically,%an%interview%may%be%registered%as%a%literary%work%

if%it%has%been%fixed%in%a%written%transcript,%an%audio%re c ording,%a%video%recording,%or%other%

medium%of%expression.%An%interview%may%be%registered%as%a%work%of%the%performing%arts%

if%the%interview%was%performed%or %is%inte nded%to%be%performed%before%an%aud ience,%such%

as%a%television%interview,%radio%interview,%or%onstage%interview.%%

In%all%cases,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%author%who%created%the%

questions%and/or%the%author%who%created%the%responses%that%appear%in%the%interview,%

and%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%

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that%material.%The%Literary%Division%may%accept%a%claim%in%“text”%if%the%interview%contains%

a%sufficient%amount%of%written%expression,%or%may%accept%a%claim%in%“text%by%interviewer”%

or%“text%by%interviewee”%if%the%claim%is%limited%to%the%interviewer’s%questions%or%the%

interviewee’s%responses.%When%completing%an%online%application,%this%information%

should%be%provided%in%the%Author%Created%field,%and%if%applicable,%also%in%the%New%

Material%Included%field.%When%completing%a%paper%application%on%Form%TX,%this%

information%should%be%provid e d%in%space%2,%and%if%applicable,%also%in%space%6(b).%For%

guidance%on%completing%these%portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%

618.4%and%621.8.%

The%U.S.%Copyright%Office%will%assume%that%the%interviewer%and%the%interviewee%own%the%

joint%work,%(ii)%the%applicant%provides%a%transfer%statement%indicating%that%the%

interviewer%or%the%interviewee%trans fe rred%his%or%her%rights%to%the%copyright%claimant,%or%

(iii)%the%applicant%indicates%that%the%interview%was%created%or%commissioned%as%a%work%

made%for%hire.%If%the%applicant%fails%to%provide%a%transfer%statement%or%fails%to%answer%the%

work%made%for%hire%question,%the%registration%specialist%may%communicate%with%the%

applicant%if%it%appears%that%the%interviewee%or%the%interviewer%is%attempting%to%register%

the%entire%interview%instead%of%registering%a%claim%in%his%or%her%contribution%to%the%work.%

For%guidance%on%providing%a%transfer%statement,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%620.%For%

guidance%on%answering%the%work%made%for%hire%question,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%614.%

For%guidance%on%joint%works,%see%Chapter%500,%Section%505.%

Examples:#

• Michael%Scorch%submits%an%application%to%register%his%interview%with%

Major%William%Smith.%The%application%names%Michael%and%William%as%

authors%of%“text%of%interview%questions”%and%“text%of%responses%to%

interview%questions,”%respectively.%Michael%is%named%as%the%sole%

obtained%the%copyright%in%William’s%contribution%“by%written%

agreement.”%The%registration%specialist%will%register%the%claim.%

• Beth%McBride%submits%an%application%to%register%her%interview%with%

Franklin%Murphy.%Beth%is%named%as%author%of%“text%by%interviewer”%

and%Franklin%is%named%as%author%of%“text%by%interviewee.”%Beth%is%

named%as%the%sole%copyright%claimant,%but%a%transfer%statement%has%

not%been%provided%and%the%work%made%for%hire%question%has%not%

been%answered.%The%registration%specialist%will%communicate%with%

the%applicant%to%determin e%if%Franklin%transferred%his%copyright%to%

Beth%or%if%the%interview%was%created%or%commissioned%as%a%work%

made%for%hire.%If%Beth%does%not%own%the%copyright%in%Franklin’s%

contribution,%the%specialist%will%ask%her%to%limit%the%claim%to%the%“text%

by%interviewer.”%%%

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720 [Reserved]

721 Computer Programs

This%Section%discusses%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office’s%practices%and%procedures%for%the%

examination%of%computer%programs.%%

For%a%discussion%of%databases,%see%Section%727.%For%a%discussion%of%websites%and%website%

content,%see%Chapter%1000.%For%a%discussion%of%videogames,%see%Section%726%and%Chapter%

800,%Section%807.7(A).%

721.1 What Is a Computer Program?

The%Copyright%Act%defines%a%“computer%program”%as%“a%set%of%statements%or%instructions%

to%be%used%directly%or%indire ctly%in%a%computer%in%order%to%bring %about%a%certain%result.”%

17%U.S.C.%§%101.%Congress%added%this%definition%to%the%statute%“to%make%it%explicit%that%

computer%programs,%to%the%extent%that%they%embody%an%author’s%original%creation,%are%

proper%subject%matter%of%copyright.”%N

ATIONAL!COMMISSION!ON!NEW!TECHNOLOGICAL!USES!OF!

COPYRIGHTED!WORKS%(“CONTU”),%FINAL!REPORT!1%(1979)%(CONTU%REPORT);%see#also%126%

ONG.!REC.%29,895%(1980)%(statement%of%Rep.%Kastenmeier)%(explaining%that%the%

legislation%“eliminates%confusion%about%the%legal%status%of%computer%software%by%

enacting%the%recommendations%of%[CONTU]%clarifying%the%law%of%computer%software”).%

A%claim%to%copyright%in%a%computer%p rogram%may%be%based%on%the %authorship%“expressed%

in%words,%numbers,%or%other%verbal%or%numerical%symbols%or%indicia,”%regardless%of%

whether%that%expression%has%been%fixed%in%tapes,%disks,%cards,%or%any%other%tangible%

medium%of%expression.%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“literary%works”).%However,%the%

fixed%program%must%be%used%directly%or%indirectly%in%a%computer.%For%purposes%of%

can%store,%retrieve,%and%process%data%that%is%input%by%a%user%through%a%user%interface,%and%

is%capable%of%providing%output%throug h%a%display%screen%or%other%external%output%de v ice,%

such%as%a%printer.%“Computers”%include%mainframes,%desktops,%lapt ops,%tablets, %and%

smart%phones.%

721.2 What Is a Derivative Computer Program?

A%derivative%computer%program%is%a%program%that%is%“based%upon%one%or%more%

preexisting%works.”%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“derivative%work”).%Typically,%a%

derivative%computer%program%is%a%new%version%of%a%preexisting%program,%or%a%program%

that%contains%material%from %a%preexisting%work%that%has%been %revised,%augmented,%

abridged,%or%otherwise%modified%such%that%the%modifications%as%a%whole%represent%an%

original%work%of%authorship.%%

Example:#

• Telamon%Software%submits%an%application%to%register%a%computer%

program%titled%Ajax#4.0.%The%program%corrects%certain%problems%

found%in%previous%versions%of%the%same%pro g r a m.%For%instance,%it%

increases%the%number%of%file%formats%that%can%be%processed%by%the%

program,%it%doubles%the%speed%for%decoding%graphics,%and%it%allows%

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the%program%to%work%with%other%types%of%graphics%cards%and%

semiconductor%chips.%Ajax#4.0%would%be%considered%a%derivative%

computer%program.%See#Montgomery#v.#Noga,%168%F.3d%1282,%1290-

91%(11th%Cir.%1999).%

721.3 What Is Source Code?

Source%code%is%a%set%of%statements%and%instructions %written%by%a%human%being%using%a%

particular%programming%language,%such%as%C,%C++,%FORTRAN,%COBOL,%PERL,%Java,%Basic,%

PASCAL,%LISP,%LOGO,%or%other%programming%languages.%These%statements%or%instructions%

are%comprehensible%to%a%person%who%is%familiar%with%the%relevant%programming%

language,%but%in%most%cases%a%computer%or%other%electronic%device%cannot%execute%these%

statements%or%instructions%unless%they%have%been%converted%into%object%code.%This%

conversion%is%performed%by%a%separate%program%within%the%computer,%which%is%known%as%

an%interpreter,%assembler,%or%compiler.%See#Apple#Computer,#Inc.#v.#Franklin#Computer#

Corp.,%714%F.2d%1240,%1243%(3d%Cir.%1983);%Williams#Electronics,#Inc.#v.#Artic#International,#

Inc.,%685%F.2d%870,%876%n.7%(3d%Cir.%1982)%(quoting%the%CONTU%R

EPORT!at%21%n.%9,%28).%

721.4 What Is Object Code?

Object%code%is%the%representation%of%a%computer%program%in%a%machine%language.%It%

typically%consists%of%the%numbers%zero%and%one%(i.e.,%binary%coding),%the%numbers%zero%

through%seven%(i.e.,%octal%coding),%or%a%combination%of%letters%and%numbers%(i.e.,%ASCII%or%

hexadecimal%coding).%Object%code%is%comprehensible%to%a%computer%or%other%electronic%

device,%but%it%is%not%intended%to%be%read%by%human%beings,%and%as%a%general%rule,%it%is%not%

directly%comprehensible%to%human%beings.%See#Apple#Computer,#714%F.2d%at%1243.%

721.5 Relationship Between Source Code and Object Code

The%U.S.%Copyright%Office%views%source%code%and%object%code%as%two%representations%of%

the%same%work.%See#GCA#Corp.#v.#Chance,%217%U.S.P.Q.%718,%719-20%(N.D.%Cal.%1982)%

([b]ecause%the%object%code%is%the%encryption%of%the%copyrighted%source%code,%the%two%are%

to%be%treated%as%one%work…”).%

As%a%general%rule,%the%Office%will%not%issue%separate%registrations%for%the%source%code%and%

object%code%versions%of%the%same%program.%If%a%program%was%registered%in%unpublished%

form%based%on%a%submission%of%object%cod e ,%the%Office %may%register%the%first%published%

version%of%the%same%program%based%on%a%submission%of%source%code%(or%vice#versa),%even%

if%the%published%version%“is%substantially%the%same%as%the%unpublished%version.”% 17%U.S.C.%

§%408(e);%37%C.F.R.%§%202.3(b)(11)(i).%

For%details%concerning%the%deposit%requirements%for%registering%a%computer%program%

with%a%submission%of%object%code,%see%Chapter%1500,%Section%1509.1(CF)(4)(b).%

721.6 Relationship Between a Computer Program and a Work Created with a

Computer or a Computer Program

The%ownership%of%the%copyright%in%a%work%of%authorship,%or%of%any%of%the%exclusive%rights%

under%a%copyright,%is%distinct%from%the%ownership%of%any%material%object%in%which%the%

work%has%been%fixed.%A%transfer%of%ownership%of%a%material%object%does%not%convey%any%

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rights%in%the%work,%nor%does%the%transfer%of%ownership%of%a%copyright%convey%property%

rights%in%any%material%object%(absent%a%written%agreement%to%that%effect).%17%U.S.C.%§%202.%

Likewise,%ownership%of%the%copyright%in%a%work%is%distinct%from%ownership%of%any%

material%object%that%may%be%used%to%create%that%work.%The%fact%that%the%author%used%a%

computer%to%write%an%article,%short%story,%or%other%nondramatic%literary%work%does%not%

mean%that%the%work%is%a%computer%program.%The%fact%that%the%author%saved%his%or%her%

work%onto%a%hard%drive,%flash%drive,%thumb%drive,%CD-ROM,%or%other%electronic%storage%

device%does%not%mean%that%the%work%is%a%computer%program.%A%work%only%qualifies%as%a%

computer%program%if%it%contains%“a%set%of%statements%or%instructions%to%be%used%directly%

or%indirectly%in%a%computer%in%order%to%bring%about%a%certain%result.”%17%U.S.C.%§%101%

(definition%of%“computer%program”).%Moreover,%when%a%work%is%created%with%a%comp u ter%

program,%any%elements%of%the%work%that%are%generated%solely%by%the%program%are%not%

registerable,%such%as%formatting%codes%that%are%inserted%by%a%word%processing%program.%

721.7 Copyrightable Authorship in a Computer Program

A%computer%program%may%be%registered%with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office%if%it%contains%a%

sufficient%amount%of%original%authorship%in%the%form%of%statements%or%instructions%to%a%

computer.%%

Section%102(b)%of%the%Copyright%Act%“make[s]%clear%that%the%expression%adopted%by%the%

programmer%is%the%copyrightable%element%in%a%computer%program,%and%that%the%actual%

processes%or%methods%embodied%in%the%program%are%not%within%the%scope%of%the%

!REP.!94-1476,%at%57%(1976),%reprinted#in%1976%U.S.C.C.A.N.%at%5670;%S.!

REP.!NO.%94-473,%at%54%(1975).%%

As%a%general%rule,%the%Office%does%not%distinguish%between%executable%code%and%

nonexecuting%comments%or%data%that%may%appear%in%the%source%code%for%a%computer%

program.%Either%element%may%support%a%claim%to%copyright%if%the%program%contains%a%

sufficient%amount%of%original%statements%or%instructions,%and%both%elements%may%be%

registered%with%the%same%application.%See%Registration%of%Claims%to%Copyright%Deposit%

Requirements%for%Computer%Programs%Containing%Trade%Secrets%and%for%Computer%

Screen%Displays,%54%Fed.%Reg.%13,173,%13,174%n.2%(Mar.%31,%1989)See%Registration%of%

Claims%to%Copyright%Deposit%Requirements%for%Computer%Programs%Containing%Trade%

Secrets%and%for%Computer%Screen%Displays,%54%Fed.%Reg.%13,173,%13,174%n.2%(Mar.%31,%

1989);%see#also%Registration%Decision:%Registration%and%Deposit%of%Computer%Screen%

Displays,%53%Fed.%Reg.%21,817,%21,819%(June%10,%1988)Registration%Decision:%Registration%

and%Deposit%of%Computer%Screen%Displays,%53%Fed.%Reg.%21,817,%21,819%(June%10,%1988).%

To%register%a%claim%in%the%executable%code,%the%applicant%should%check%the%box%marked%

“computer%program”%in%the%Au thor%Created%field.%To%register%a%claim%in%nonexecuting%

comments,%the%applicant%may%check%the%box%marked%“computer%program,”%or%may%also%

check%this%box%and%state%“nonexecuting%comments”%in%the%field%marked%“Other.”..”%In%both%

cases,%the%applicant%should%avoid%using%the%term%“text,”%either%alone%or%in%combination%

with%the%term%“computer%program.”%For%guidance%in%completing%this%portion%of%the%

application,%see%Section%721.9(F).%

The%copyright%in%a%computer%program%does%not%extend%to%any%idea,%procedure,%process,%

system,%method%of%operation,%concept,%principle,%or%discovery,%regardless%of%the%form%in%

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which%it%is%described,%explained,%illustrated,%or%embodied%in%the%program.%17%U.S.C.%§%

102(b).%As%such,%the%Office%will%not%register%the%functional%aspects%of%a%computer%

program,%such%as%the%program’s%algorithm,%formatting,%functions,%logic,%system%design,%or%

the%like.%Likewise,%the%Office%will%communicate%with%the%applicant%and%may%refuse%

registration%if%the%applicant%asserts%a%claim%in%uncopyrightable%elements%that%may%be%

generated%by%a%computer%program,%such%as%menu%screens,%layout%and%format,%or%the%like.%

721.8 Copyrightable Authorship in a Derivative Computer Program

A%derivative%computer%program%may%be%registered%if%it%contains%new%material%that%is%

sufficiently%different%from%the%preexisting%work%such%that%the%program%qualifies%as%an%

original%work%of%authorship.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“derivative%work”).%The%

new%material%must%be%original%and%it%must%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%copyrightable%

authorship.%Making%only%a%few%minor%changes%or%revisions%to%a%preexisting%work,%or%

making%changes%or%revisions%of%a%rote%nature%that%are%predetermined%by%the%functional%

considerations%of%the%hardware%does%not%satisfy%this%requirement.%In%no%case%does%the%

system,%method%of%operation,%concept,%principle,%or%discovery,%regardless%of%the%form%in%

which%it%is%described,%explained,%illustrated,%or%embodied%in%the%program.%17%U.S.C.%§%

102(b).%

Examples:#

• Decrypt%Corp.%created%a%computer%program%titled%Skeleton#Key#

version#5.0.%The%program%contains%a%substantial%amount%of%new%code%

that%did%not%appear%in%prior%v ersions%of%the%same%program.%The%

additions%and%revisions%that%appear%in%the%source%code%for%version%

5.0%may%be%registered%as%a%derivative%work.%

• Pentathlon%Games%released%a%videogame%titled%World#of#Watercraft,%

which%is%designed%to%run%on%the%Sony%PlayStation.%A%month%later,%the%

company%released%another%version%of%the%game%that%is%designed%to%

run%on%the%Microsoft%Xbox.%The%source%code%for%each%version%is%

substantially%different,%and%not%simply%the%result%of%interoperability%

or%hardware%compatibility,%although%the%sounds%and%images%that%

appear%in%the%videogame%are%exactly%the%same.%The%source%code%for%

the%Xbox%version%may%be%registered%as%a%derivative%work.%

• Derrick%Maxwell%created%a%word%processing%program%titled%Linux#

Write,%which%is%designed%to%run%on%the%Linux%operating%system.%He%

subsequently%created%another%program%titled%Android#Write,%which%

is%designed%to%run%on%the%Android%operating%system.%Derrick%submits%

an%application%to%register%Android#Write%and%in%the%Author%

Created/Other%field%he%states%that%he%“adapted%this%program%to%run%

on%a%different%operating%system.”%The%registration%specialist%will%

communicate%with%the%applicant,%because%it%is%unclear%whether%the%

author%contributed%a%sufficient%amount%of%copyrightable%authorship%

to%this%work.%

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• Shell%Games%LLC%submits%two%applications%for%the%same%computer%

program,%one%specifically%for%the%source%code%and%the%other%for%the%

object%code.%Because%there%are%no%copyrightable%differences%

between%the%source%code%and%the%object%code,%there%is%no%basis%for%

issuing%a%separate%registration%for%each%representation%of%the%

program.%Moreover,%if%the%object%code%was%created%by%a%computer%

program,%there%would%be%no%human%authorship%in%the%object%code,%

and%no%authorship%that%is%distinct%from%the%source%code.%The%

registration%specialist%will%register%the%claim%in%the%source%code,%and%

reject%the%claim%in%the%object%code.%

Each%version%of%a%computer%program%that%contains%new,%copyrightable%authorship%is%

considered%a%separate%work.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“created;”%stating%that%

“where%the%work%has%been%prep ared%in%different%versions,%each%versio n%constitutes%a%

separate%work”).%A%registration%for%a%specific%version%of%a%computer%program%covers%the%

new%material%that%the%author%contributed%to%that%version,%including%any%changes,%

revisions,%additions,%or%other%modifications%that%the%author%made%to%that%version.%See%

H.R.

!REP.!NO.!94-1476,%at%57%(1976),%reprinted#in%1976%U.S.C.C.A.N.%at%5670;%S.!REP.!NO.%94-

473,%at%55%(1975)%(explaining%that%“copyright%in%a%‘new%version’%covers%only%the%material%

added%by%the%later%author,%and%has%no%effect%one%way%or%the%other%on%the%copyright%or%

public%domain%status%of%the%preexisting%material.”).%However,%a%registration%for%a%specific%

version%of%a%computer%program%does%not%cover%any%unclaimable%material%that%may%

appear%in%that%version.%For%purposes%of%registration,%unclaimable%material%includes:%

• Previously%published%material.%

• Material%that%has%been%previously%registered%with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office.%

• Material%that%is%in%the%public%domain.%

• Copyrightable%material%that%is%owned%by%a%third%party%(i.e.,%an%individual%or%legal%

entity%other%than%the%claimant%who%is%named%in%the%application).%%

If%the%program%contains%an%appr eciable%amount%of%unclaimable%material,%the%ap plicant%

should%identify%that%material%in%the%application%and%should%exclude%it%from%the%claim%

using%the%procedure%described%in%Section%721.9(G)%below.%See%17%U.S.C.%§%409(9)%(stating%

that%“[t]he%application%for%copyright%registration…%shall%include...%in%the%case%of%a%

compilation%or%derivative%work,%an%identification%of%any%preexisting%work%or%works%that%

it%is%based%upon%or%incorporates,%and %a%br ief,%general%statement%of%the%additional%material%

covered%by%the%copyright%claim%being%registered...”).%

Examples:#

• Excluding#previously#published#material.%Softwear,%Inc.%submits%an%

application%to%register%a%program%titled%Clothing#Maker#version#3.0.%

Version%3.0%contains%an%appreciable%amount%of%code%that%appeared%

in%versions%1.0%and%2.0%of%the%same%pr ogram.%Softwear%distributed%

copies%of%versions%1.0%and%2.0%to%the%public%before%it%filed%its%

application%for%registration%of%version%3.0.%Versions%1.0%and%2.0%

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would%be%considered%previously%published%works,%even%if%the%copies%

only%contained%the%object%code%for%those%versions%and%even%if%the%

source%code%for%those%versions%was%never%disclosed.%Therefore,%the%

application%should%be%limited%to%the%new%material%that%appears%in%

version%3.0,%and%any%source%code%that%appeared%in%versions%1.0%or%

2.0%should%be%excluded%from%the%claim%using%the%procedure%

described%in%Section%721.9(G).%%%

• Excluding#previously#registered#material.%Jesper%Nielsen%submits%an%

application%to%register%a%program%titled%Ink#Blot#version#5.0.%This%

version%contains%an%appreciable%amount%of%source%code%that%

appeared%in%versions%1.0%through%4.0%of%the%same%program.%The%

prior%versions%have%not%been%distributed%to%the%public,%but%version%

2.2.1%was%previously%registered%with%the%Office%as%an%unpublished%

work.%The%registration%for%version%5.0%will%cover%the%new%material%

that%appears%in%that%version ,%as%well%as%any%unpublished%or%

unregistered%source%code%from%versions%1.0%through%4.0%that%appear%

in%version%5.0.%However,%the%sourc e %code%that%appeared%in%version%

2.2.1%should%be%excluded%from%the%claim%using%the%procedure%

described%in%Section%721.9(G).%

• Excluding#third#party#material.%Vivek%&%Associates%created%an%

operating%system%titled%Architexture#v.#9.0%using%a%software%

development%tool%titled%Picture#This#v.#2.50.%The%source%code%for%

Architexture#v.#9.0%contains%an%appreciable%number%of%modules,%

subroutines,%and%macros%that%were%used%with%permission%from%the%

company%that%produced%Picture#This.%Vivek%&%Associates%should%

exclude%those%modules,%subroutines,%and%macros%from%its%

application%to%register%Architexture#v.#9.0#using%the%procedure%

described%in%Section%721.9(G),%because%the%copyright%in%that%

material%is%owned%by%a%third%party.%

• No#disclaimer#required.%CodeBuster%LLC%submits%an%application%to%

contains%an%appreciable%amount%of%code%that%appeared%in%versions%

1.1.1%and%2.2.2%of%the%same%program.%CodeBuster%never%registered%

versions%1.1.1%and%2.2.2%and%never%distributed%those%versions%to%the%

public.%Therefore,%the%prior%versions%of%the%program%need%not%be%

disclaimed%in%the%application%to%register%version%3.0.%The%

registration%for%version%3.0%will%cover%all%of%the%copyrightable%

content%that%appears%in%that%version,%including%any%unpublished%or%

unregistered%source%code%from%versions%1.1.1%or%2.2.2%that%have%

been%incorporated%into%version%3.0.%%%

The%registration%specialist%may%communicate%with%the%applicant%if%the%program%appears%

to%contain%an%appreciable%amount%of%unclaimable%material%and%if%the%applicant%does%not%

exclude%that%material%from%the%claim.%Examples%of%factors%that%may%prompt%a%specialist%to%

inquire%whether%a%computer%program%contains%unclaimable%material%include%the%

following:%

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• Multiple%copyright%notices.%

• A%copyright%notice%containing%an%earlier%date%than%either%the%completion%year%or%the%

publication%date%specified%in%the%application.%

• A%copyright%notice%containing%multiple%dates.%

• A%copyright%notice%containing%a%different%name%than%the%author%or%copyright%

claimant%named%in%the%application.%

• Multiple%version%numbers%or%multiple%release%numbers%(if%it%appears%that%the%

previous%versions%may%have%been%published%or%registered%or%if%they%may%be%owned%

by%a%party%other%than%the%copyright%claimant).%

• A%revision%history%in%the%deposit%indicating%that%changes%were%made%to%the%program%

after%the%year%of%completion%or%date%of%publicationpublication%specified%in%the%

application.%

• An%indication%that%the%author%created%the%work%using%another%computer%program%as%

an%authoring%tool.%

If%the%deposit%contains%multiple%dates%o r%multiple%version/release%numbers,%the%

applicant%should%notify%the%registration%specialist%if%those%dates%or%numbers%refer%to%the%

development%history%of%the%program%or%if%they%refer%to%previous%versions%of%the%program%

that%have%not%been%publish ed%or%registered%before.%When%submitting%an%online%

application,%this%information%may%be%provided%in%the%Note%to%Copyright%Office%field;%when%

completing%a%paper%application%this%information%may%be%provided%in%a%cover%letter.%

If%the%program%contains%only%a%m inimal%amount%of%unclaimable%materia l%or%if%the%

program%contains%material%that%is%uncopyrightable,%there%is%no%need%to%exclude%that%

material%from%the%application.%Unclaimable%material%should%be%excluded%only%if%that%

material%is%copyrightable%and%represents%an%appreciable%portion%of%the%work.%%

Example:#

• Professor%Barrakat%submits%an%application%for%a%computer%program%

titled%BearCat#5.0.%The%program%contains%5,000%lines%of%entirely%new%

source%code%and%50%lines%that%appeared%in%a%previously%published%

version%of%the%same%program.%There%is%no%need%to%exclude%these%50%

lines%of%code%from%the%application,%because%they%do%not%represent%an%

appreciable%portion%of%the%program%code%for%BearCat#5.0.%

721.9 Application Tips for Computer Programs

This%Section%discusses%the%practices%and%procedures%for%completing%an%application%to%

computer%programs,%see%Chapter%1500,%Section%1509.1(CF).%For%guidance%concerning%the%

filing%fee,%see%Chapter%1400,%Section%14031412.%

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721.9(A) Identifying the Type of Work

Submitting%an%online%application%through%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office’s%electronic%

registration%system%is%the%preferred%way%to%register%a%computer%program.%The%first%step%

in%completing%the%online%application%is%to% select%the%type%of%work%that%the%applicant%

intends%to%register.%In%the%case%of%a%compu te r%program,%the%applicant%should%select%

Literary%Work%from%the%drop%down%menu%marked%Type%of%Work.%%

When%submitting%a%paper%application,%Form%TX%should%be%used%to%register%a%claim%to%

721.9(B) Title of the Program

The%application%must%provide%the%title%of%the%computer%program.%17%U.S.C.%§%409(6).%The%

title%should%include%the%vers ion%number%or%release%num ber%(if%any)%for%the%specific%

version%of%the%program%that%the%applicant%intends%to%register.%The%version%number%or%

release%number%may%be%provided%in%the%application%as%follows:%

• Advantage#Works#v.#1.0#

• Advantage#Works#(v.#2.0)#

• Advantage#Works#version#3.5.1#

• Advantage#Works#(release#4.1.1)#

When%completing%an%online%application,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%title%of%the%

program%on%the%Title%screen.%When%completing%a%paper%application,%the%applicant%should%

provide%the%title%on%space%1%of%Form%TX.%For%guidance%on%completing%this%portion%of%the%

application,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%610.%

If%the%applicant%does%not%provide%a%ver sion%number%or%release%number,%the %registration%

specialist%may%add%that%information%to%the%Title%field/space%if%the%number%appears%on%the%

deposit%or%elsewhere%in%the%registration%materials%and%if%it%is%clear%that%the%number%

identifies%the%specific%version%that%has%be e n%submitted%for%registration.%In%such% cases,%the%

specialists%will%add%an%annotation%to%the%record,%such%as:%“Regarding%title%information:%

addedAdded%by%C.O.Copyright%Office%from%deposit.”%If%the%title%contains%multiple%version%

numbers%(e.g.,%Scale#Modeler#v.#1.0,#2.0,#3.0,#4.50),%the%specialist%may%communicate%with%

the%applicant%if%he%or%she%is%una ble%to%identify%the%specific%version%that%the%applicant%

intends%to%register.%%

721.9(C) Name of Author / Name of Claimant

The%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%the%author(s)%who%created%the%specific%version%

of%the%program%that%the%applicant%intends%to%register.%Specifically,%the%applicant%should%

provide%the%name(s)%of%the%person(s)%or%organization(s)%who%created%the%source%code%for%

the%version%that%will%be%subm itted%for%registration.%In%addition,%the%applicant%should%

provide%the%name%of%the%claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%that%version.%When%

completing%an%online%application%the%applicant%should%provide%this%information%on%the%

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Author%and%Claimant%screens;%when%completing%a%paper%application%the%applicant%should%

provide%this%information%in%spaces%2%and%4%of%Form%TX.%%

For%guidance%on%completing%this%portion%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%

613%and%619.%For%guidance%on%identifying%the%author%of%a%work%made%for%hire,%see%

Chapter%600,%Section%614.%

721.9(D) Year of Completion

The%applicant%should%identify%the%year%that%the%author%completed%the%specific%version%of%

the%program%that%the%applic ant%intends%to%register.%As%a%gener al%rule,%the%applicant%

should%provide%a%year%of%completion%only%for%the%specific%version%of%the%program%that%

will%be%submitted%for%registration.%The%applicant%should%not%provide%a%year%of%completion%

for%the%first%version%of%the%program%or%any%other%versio n %of%the%pr o g r a m%that%is%not%

included%in%the%application.%

For%the%purpose%of%copyright%registration,%each%version%of%a%computer%program%is%

considered%a%separate%work.%Each%version%of%a%program%is%considered%complete%when%

that%version%has%been%fixed%in%a%tangible%medium%of%expression%for%the%first%time.%When%a%

program%is%prepared%over%a%period%of%time,%the%portion%that%has%been%fixed%at%any%

particular%time%constitutes%the%version%that%has%been%completed%as%of%that%date.%See%17%

U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%of%“created”);%see#also%37%C.F.R.%§%202.3(bc)(4)(ii)%(explaining%that%

the%year%of%completion %means%“the%latest%year%in%which%th e%creation%of%any%copyrightab le%

element%was%completed”).%%

When%completing%an%online%application,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%year%of%

completion%on%the%Publication/Creation%screen;%when%completing%a%paper%application%

the%applicant%should%provide%this%information%in%space%3(a)%of%Form%TX.%For%guidance%on%

completing%this%portion%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%611.%

If%the%year%specified%in%the%application%does%not%match%the%year%that%is%specified%in%the%

dates%(e.g.,%©%Lionel%Software%2010,%2011,%2012),%the%registration%specialist%may%

communicate%with%the%applicant%if%he%or%she%is%unable%to%identify%the%specific%version%that%

the%applicant%intends%to%reg ister.%%

721.9(E) Date of Publication

If%the%version%that%the%applicant%intends%to%regis ter%has%been%published%as%of%the%date%that%

the%application%is%filed%with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%

month,%day,%and%year%that%the%version%being%registered%was%published%for%the%first%time.%

As%a%general%rule,%the%applicant%should%provide%a%date%of%first%publicationpublication%only%

for%the%specific%version%that%will%be%submitted%for%registration.%The %ap p lica n t%sho u ld %no t%

provide%a%date%of%publication%for%the%first%version%of%the%program%or%any%other%version%of%

the%program%that%is%not%includ ed%in%the%application.%

A%computer%program%is%considered%published%when%copies%of%the%program%are%

distributed%“to%the%public%by%sale%or%other%transfer%of%ownership,%or%by%rental,%lease,%or%

lending”%or%when%copies%of%the%program%are%offered%“to%a%group%of%persons%for%purposes%

of%further%distribution,%public%performance,%or%public%display.”%17%U.S.C.%§%101%(definition%

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of%“publication”).%As%a%general%rule,%a%program%is%considered%published%if%there%has%been%

a%general%distribution%of%the%program%code,%regardless%of%whether%the%copies%are%

distributed%by%purchase%or%license%and%regardless%of%whether%the%copies%are%distributed%

on%a%CD-ROM,%DVD,%or%downloaded%online.%Likewise,%a%program%is%considered%published%

even%if%the%copies%contained%object%code%rather%than%source%code%and%even%if%the%source%

code%has%not%been%disclosed%to%the%public.%See#Midway#Manufacturing#Co.#v.#Strohon,%564%

F.%Supp.%741,%751%(N.D.%Ill.%1983)%(“the%object%code%is%nothing%other%than%a%direct%

transformation%of%a%com puter%program,%compose d...%in%source%code”).%%

When%completing%an%online%application,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%date%of%first%

publicationpublication%on%the%Publication/Completion%screen.%When%completing%a%paper%

application%the%applicant%should%provide%this%information%on%space%3(b)%of%Form%TX.%For%

guidance%on%completing%this%portion%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%612.%%

For%a%general%discussion%of%publication%and%for%specific%guidance%on%determining%

whether%a%particular%work%has%been%published,%see%Chapter%1900.%

721.9(F) Asserting a Claim to Copyright in a Computer Program

The%applicant%should%identify%the%copyrightable%authorship%that%the%applicant%intends%to%

provided%in%the%application%defines%the%claim%that%is%being%registered,%rather%than%the%

information%given%in%the%deposit%copy(ies)%or%elsewhere%in%the%registration%materials.%

When%completing%an%online%application,%the%applicant%should%provide%this%information%

on%the%Author%screen%in%the%field%marked%Author%Created.%When%completing%a%paper%

application,%the%applicant%should%provide%this%information%on%space%2%of%the%application%

under%the%heading%Nature%of%Authorship.%For%guidance%on%completing%this%portion%of%the%

application,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%618.4.%

“Computer%program”%is%the%most%appropriate%term%for%registering%a%claim%in%this%type%of%

work.%If%this%term%does%not%fully%describe%the%copyrightable%material%that%the%applicant%

intends%to%register,%the%applicant%should%pr ovide%a%more%specific%description%in%the%

Author%Created/Other%field%using%the%procedure%described%in%Chapter%600,%Section%

618.4(A).%For%a%representative%list%of%other%terms%that%may%be%acceptable,%see%Section%

721.9(H).%

“Revised%computer%program”%is%the%most%appropriate%term%for%registering%a%claim%in%a%

derivative%computer%program.%If%this%term%does%not%fully%describe%the%copyrightable%

material%that%the%applicant%intends%to%register,%the%applicant%should%provide%a%more%

specific%description%using%the%procedures%described%in%Chapter%600,%Section%621.8(C)(1)%

and%621.8(C)(2).%For%a%representative%list%of%other%terms%that%may%be%acceptable,%see%

Section%721.9(H).%%

As%discussed%in%Section%721.7,%an%applicant%may%assert%a%claim%in%executable%code%as%well%

as%the%nonexecuting%comments%that%appear%in%the%source%code%for%a%computer%program.%

Both%claims%may%be%registered%with%the%same%application.%To%register%a%claim%in%

executable%code,%the%applicant%may%check%the%box%marked%“computer%program”%in%the%

Author%Created%field.%To%register%a%claim%in%nonexecuting%comments,%the%applicant%may%

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check%the%box%marked%“computer%program,”%or%may%also%check%this%box%and%state%

“nonexecuting%comments”%in%the%field%marked%Other.%In%both%cases,%the%applicant%should%

avoid%using%the%term%“text,”%either%alone%or%in%combination%with%the%term%“computer%

program.”%

If%the%claim%is%unclear,%the%registration%specialist%may%communicate%with%the%applicant%or%

may%refuse%registration.%For%example,%if%the%applicant%merely%asserts%a%claim%in%“text”%or%

a%claim%in%“text”%and%“computer%program,”%the%specialist%will%communicate%if%it%is%unclear%

whether%the%deposit%copy(ies)%contain%text%that%is%distinguishable%from%source%code,%

object%code,%or%other%statements%or%i nstructions%that%may%be%used%directly%or%indirectly%

in%a%computer%in%order%to%bring%abou t%a%ce rtain%result.%Likewise,%the%specialist%may%

communicate%if%the%applicant%merely%asserts%a%claim%in%“computer%program”%that%is%not%

discernable%as%a%written%language%or%a%programming%language.%

If%the%applicant%asserts%a%claim%in%both%the%co pyrightable%and%uncopyrightable%featur es%of%

the%program,%the%specialis t%may%communicate%with%the%applicant%or%may%annotate%the%

application%to%indicate%that%the%registration%does%not%extend%to%the%uncopyrightable%

features.%For%representative%examples%that%illustrate%this%practice,%see %Chapter%600,%

Section%618.8(C).%If%the%claim%appears%to%be%based%solely%on%the%functional%aspects%or%

other%features%that%are%not%eligible%for%copyright%protection,%registration%will%be%refused.%

For%a%representative%list%of%unclear%terms%that%may%be%questioned,%see%Section%721.9(I).%

For%a%representative%list%of%terms%that%will%not%be%accepted,%see%Section%721.9(J).%

721.9(G) Limiting the Claim to Copyright in a Computer Program

If%the%computer%program%con tains%an%appreciable%amount%of%unclaimable%material,%the%

applicant%should%exclude%that%material%from%the%claim.%As%discussed%in%Section%721.8,%this%

category%includes%previously%published%material,%previously%registered%material,%public%

domain%material,%or%copyrightable%material%that%is%owned%by%a%party%other%than%the%

When%completing%an%online%application,%the%applicant%should%provide%a%brief%statement%

that%identifies%the%unclaimab le%material%that%appears%in%the%pro gram.%Specifically,%the%

applicant%should%provide%this%information%on%the%Limitation%of%Claim%screen%by%checking %

one%or%more%of%the%boxes%that%appear%in%the%Material%Excluded%field%that%accurately%

describe%the%unclaimable%material.%When%completing%a%paper%application,%the%applicant%

should%provide%this%information%on%space%6(a)%of%Form%TX.%For%guidance%on%completing%

this%portion%of%the%applicatio n,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%621.8(B).%

In%addition,%the%applicant%should%provide%a%brief%statement%that%identifies%the%new%

material%that%the%applicant%intends%to%register.%When%completing%an%online%application,%

the%applicant%should%provide%this%information%on%the%Limitation%of%Claim%screen%by%

checking%one%or%more%of%the%boxes%that%appear%in%the%New%Material%Included%field%that%

accurately%describe%the%new%material%that%the%author%created.%When%completing%a%paper%

application,%the%applicant%should%provide%this%information%on%space%6(b)%of%Form%TX.%For%

guidance%on%completing%this%portion%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%

621.8(C).%

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The%statement%that%the%applicant%provides%in%the%New%Material%Included%field%should%be%

identical%to%the%statement%that%the%applicant%pr ovided%in%the%Author%Created%field.%

Likewise,%the%statement%that%the%applicant%provides%in%space%6(b)%of%the%paper%

application%should%be%identical%to%the%statement%that%the%applicant%provides%in%space%2.%

Together,%these%statements%define%the%claim%in%a%derivative%computer%program.%%

If%the%program%contains%an%appr eciable%amount%of%material%that%has%been%pr eviously%

registered%with%the%U.S.%Copyright%Office,%the%applicant%should%identify%the%registration%

number%for%that%material%and%the%year%that%the%registration%was%issued.%When%

completing%an%online%application,%the%applicant%should%provide%this%information%on%the%

Limitation%of%Claim%screen%in%the%field%marked%Previous%Registration.%When%completing%a%

paper%application,%the%applicant%should%provide%this%information%on%space%5%of%Form%TX.%

For%guidance%on%completing%this%portion%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Section%

621.8(F).%%

721.9(H) Acceptable Terminology for an Application to Register a Computer Program

This%Section%provides%guidance%for%completing%the%Author%Created/Other%field%and%the%

New%Material%Included/Other%field%of%the%online%application,%as%well%as%guidance%for%

completing%spaces%2%and%6(b)%of%paper%application%Form%TX.%%

The%applicant%should%provide%a%brief%statement%in%this%portion%of%the%application%that%

describes%the%copyrightable%material%that%the%applicant%intends%to%register.%The%applicant%

should%not%describe%any%uncopyrightable%elements%or%de#minimis%elements%that%appear%

in%the%program.%Likewise,%the%applicant%should%not%describe%the%material%object%in%which%

the%program%has%been%fixed.%%

The%U.S.%Copyright%Office%may%accept%the%term%“computer%program”%or%any%of%the%terms%

listed%below,%provided%that%they%accurately%describe%the%copyrightable%authorship%that%

appears%in%the%deposit%copy(ies).%In%most%cases,%the%Office%will%accept%combinations%or%

variant%forms%of%these%terms,%unless%they%are%contradicted%by%information%provided%in%

the%deposit%copy(ies)%o r%elsewhere%in%the%registration%materials.%%

• Computer%program%

• Computer%code%

• Computer%software%

• New%computer%program%

• New%computer%code%

• New%computer%software%

• Program%code%

• Program%instructions%

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• Revised%computer%program%

• Revised%computer%code%%

• Revised%computer%software%

• Revision%of%[specify%nature%of%revision,%e.g.,%revision%of%software%subroutines,%

revision%of%program%code,%etc.]%%

• Software%code%

• Software%modifications%

• Software%module(s)%

• Software%program%

• Software%routine(s)%

• Software%subroutine(s)%

• Software%update(s)%

• Source%code%

721.9(I) Unclear Terminology for an Application to Register a Computer Program

The%authorship%that%the%applicant%intends%to%register%should%be%clearly%identified%in%the%

application,%and%the%claim%to%copyright%in%that%authorship %should%be%clearly%stated.%If%the%

claim%to%copyright%is%unclear,%the%registration%specialist%may%communicate%with%the%

applicant%or%may%refuse%registration.%Examples%of%unclear%terms%include%the%following%or%

any%combination%of%the%following:%%

• Adaptation%(if%it%appears%that%the%program%was%merely%adapted%to%%

run%on%different%hardware)%

• Automation%%

• Cells%

• Commands%

• Compilation%

• Computerized%%

• Debugging%

• Editing%

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• Enhancements%

• Entire%program%code%

• Entire%text%

• Entire%work%

• Error%corrections%

• Features%

• Macro(s)%%

• New%programming%text%

• Patching%

• Program%text%

• Programmer%

• Programming%text%

• Search%engine%

• Text%

• Text%of%computer%program%

• Text%of%computer%game%

If%the%applicant%combines%an%accepta ble%authorship%term%with%the%term%“text,”%such %as%

“computer%program%and%tex t”%or%“text%and%program%code,”%the%registration%specialist%will%

examine%the%deposit%copy(ies)%to%determine%if%the%work%contains%copyrightable%text%that%

is%not%part%of%the%computer%program.%If%the%work%does%not%appear%to%contain%

copyrightable%text%apart%from%the%text%of%the%computer%program,%the%specialist%may%

communicate%with%the%applicant%or%may%refuse%to%register%that%aspect%of%the%claim.%

721.9(J) Unacceptable Terminology for an Application to Register a Computer Program

If%the%applicant%asserts%a%claim%in%both%the%copyrightable%and%uncopyrightable%features%of%

the%program,%the%specialis t%may%annotate%the%application%to %indicate%that%the%registration%

does%not%extend%to%the%uncopyrightable%features.%If%the%applicant%asserts%a%claim%to%

the%registration%specialist%may%communicate%with%the%applicant%or%may%refuse%

registration%if%the%claim%appears%to%be%based%solely%on%those%features.%Examples%of%

unacceptable%terms%include%the%following%or%any%combination%of%the%following:%

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• Algorithm%

• Analysis%

• Cassette%

• Chip%

• Computation%

• Computer%language(s)%

• Computerized%

• Data%

• Designed%program%

• Disk%

• Drive%

• Encrypting%

• EPROM%

• Flash%drive%

• Format%

• Formatting%

• Formula(s)%

• Functions%

• Hard%drive%

• Interface%

• Language%

• Layout%

• Logic%

• Menu%screens%

• Mnemonics%

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• Models%

• Object%

• Object%code%

• Object%listing%%

• Organization%

• Peripheral(s)%

• Printout%

• PROM%

• RAM%(Random%Access%Memory)%

• ROM%

• Protocol%

• Software%methodology%

• System%

• System%design(er)%

• Template%

• Text%of%algorithm%

• Thumbdrive%

• Typeface%

• Typefont%%

721.10 Screen Displays

721.10(A) Relationship Between Source Code and Screen Displays

As%a%general%rule,%a%computer%program%and%the%screen%displays%generated%by%that%

program%are%considered%the%same%work,%because%the%program%code%contains%fixed%

expression%that%produces%the%screen%displays.%If%the%copyright%in%the%source%code%and%the%

screen%displays%are%owned%by%the%same%claimant,%the%program%and%any%related%screen%

displays%may%be%registered%with%the%same%application.%The%U.S.%Copyrig ht%Office%will%not%

knowingly%issue%a%separate%registration%for%a%computer%program%and%the%screen%displays%

that%may%be%generated%by %that%program.%Nor%will%the%Office %issue%a%supplementary%

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registration%that%purports%to%add%a%claim%in%screen%displays%to%a%basic%registration%for%a%

computer%program.%

By%contrast,%if%the%copyright%in%the%code%and%the%screen%displays%are%owned%by%different%

parties,%separate%applications%will%be%required.%The%computer%program%should%be%

registered%as%a%literary%work,%while%the%screen%displays%should%be%registered%as%an%

audiovisual%work,%a%pictorial%work,%or%a%graphic%work,%as%appropriate.%

If%the%applicant%states%“computer%program”%in%the%Author%Created/New%Material%

Included%fields%or%in%spaces%2%and%6 (b),%the%registration%will%cover%the%co pyrightable%

expression%in%the%program%code%and%any%copyrightable%screen%displays%that%may%be%

generated%by%that%code,%even%if%the%applicant%did%not%mention%the%screen%displays%and%

even%if%the%deposit%copy(ies)%do%not%contain%any%screen%displays.%By%contrast,%if%an%

applicant%states%“screen%displays”%in%the%application,%the%registration%will%not%co ver%the%

computer%program%unless%the%applicant%also%asserts%a%claim%in%the%“computer%program”%

and%submits%an%appropriate%deposit.%See%Registration%Decision:%Registration%and%Deposit%of%

Computer%Screen%Displays,%53%Fed.%Reg.%21,817,%21,819-20%(June%10,%1988).See%

Registration%Decision:%Registration%and%Deposit%of%Computer%Screen%Displays,%(August,%

1987).%%

This%rule%does%not%apply%to%the%hypertext%markup%language%(“HTML”)%for%a%website,%

because%HTML%is%not%a%computer%program%or%source%code.%If%the%applicant%submits%an%

application%to%register%HTML,%the%registration%may%cover%the%HTML%itself,%but%it%does%not%

cover%any%of%the%content%that%may%appear%on%the%website%unless%the%applicant%submits%a%

copy%of%the%website%content%and%expressly%asserts%a%claim%in%that%material.%For%a%

discussion%of%HTML,%see%Chapter%1000,%Section%1006.1(A).%

721.10(B) Copyrightable Authorship in Screen Displays

When%asserting%a%claim%in%screen%displays,%the%claim%should%be%limited%to%the%new%

material%that%appears%in%the%screen%displays,%the%applicant%should%provide%the%name%of%

the%author%who%created %that%material,%and%the%applicant%sho uld%provide%the%name%of%the %

claimant%who%owns%the%copyright%in%that%material.%The%Literary%Division%may%accept%a%

claim%in%“text”%if%the%screen%displays%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%textual%expression%

that%is%not%a%part%of%the%code,%or%a%claim%in%“artwork”%and/or%“photograph(s)”%if%the%

screen%displays%contain%a%sufficient%amount%of%artwork%or%photos%that%are%not%generated%

by%the%computer%program.%When%completing%an%online%application,%this%information%

should%be%provided%in%the%Author%Created%field,%and%if%applicable,%also%in%the%New%

Material%Included%field.%When%completing%a%paper%application%on%Form%TX,%this%

information%should%be%provid e d%in%space%2,%and%if%applicable,%also%in%space%6(b).%For%

guidance%on%completing%these%portions%of%the%application,%see%Chapter%600,%Sections%

618.4%and%621.8.%

A%registration%for%a%computer%program%covers%the%copyrightable%expression%that%appears%

in%any%screen%that%may%be%generated%by%the%program,%even%if%the%applicant%does%not%

submit%identifying%material%depicting%the%screen%displays%or%merely%submits%a%

representative%sampling%of%those%displays.%If%the%screen%displays%as%a%whole%do%not%

contain%copyrightable%authorship,%the%registration%specialist%may%communicate%with%the%

applicant%or%may%refuse%registration.%For%example,%if%the%claim%is%based%solely%on%the%

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layout%or%format%of%a%screen%or%if%the%deposit%copy(ies)%consist%solely%of%blank%forms,%de#

minimis%menu%screens,%or%other%elements%that%are%purely%functional,%registration%will%be%

refused.%See%Registration%Decision:%Registration%and%Deposit%of%Computer%Screen%

Displays,%53%Fed.%Reg.%21,817,%21,819%(June%10,%1988).%%

See%Registration%Decision:%Registration%and%Deposit%of%Computer%Screen%Displays,%53%

Fed.%Reg.%21,817,%21,819%(August,%1987).%%

721.10(C) Deposit Requirements for Screen Displays

For%a%discussion%of%the%deposit%requirements%for%computer%screen%displays,%see%Chapter%

1500,%Section%1509.1(CF)(6).%

721.11 User Manuals and Other Documentation for a Computer Program

User%manuals,%instructional%booklets,%flowcharts,%and%other%documentation%that%explain%

the%development%or %operation%of%a%computer%pro gram%may%be%registered%with %the%U.S.%

text%is%the%predominant%fo rm%of%authorship,%the%work%m ay%be%registered%as%a%

nondramatic%literary%work.%If%the%predominant%form%of%authorship%consists%of%artwork,%

illustrations,%or%photographs,%the%wo r k%may%be%registered%as%a%work%of%the%visual%arts.%If%

the%predominant%form%of%authorship%consists%of%audiovisual%material,%the%work%may %be%

registered%as%a%work%of%the%performing%arts.%See%37%C.F.R.%§%202.3(b)(1)(i)-(iii).%

If%the%claimant%owns%the%copyright%in%the%program%and%the%user%manual%or%other%

documentation%for%that%program,%and%if%the%claimant%physically%bundled%these%items%

together%and%distributed%th em%to%the%public%as%a%singlein%the%same,%integrated%unit%(such%

as%a%shrink-wrapped%box%containing%a%disk%and%booklet),%it%may%be%possible%to%register%

them%together%with%one%application%and%one%filing%fee.%For%information%concerning%this%

option,%see%Chapter%1100Chapter%1100,%Section%11071103.%By%contrast,%if%the%program%

and%the%documentation%are%distributed%online,%if%they%are%distributed%separately%from%

each%other,%or%if%they%are%owned%by%different%claimants,%each%element%is%considered%a%

separate%work%and%a%separate%application%for%each%element%is%required.%

When%asserting%a%claim%in%a%user%manual%or%other%documentation,%the%claim%should%be%