US Paperless Copyrights

In July 2008, the US Copyright Office has implemented the next significant phase toward reaching its goal of a paperless office, and has begun accepting online applications for copyright registrations. Inducements to use the online filing system include a lower filing fee ($35 for a basic claim, as opposed to $45 for a paper filing), an earlier effective date of registration, and the ability to upload files electronically directly into the US Copyright Office files. Initially, the types of copyright filings are limited to basic claims to copyright for literary-, visual arts-, and performing arts works, including books, motion pictures, sound recordings and single serials. Basic claims are defined as either a single work, multiple unpublished works if they are by the same author(s) and owned by the same claimant, or multiple published works if they are all first published together in the same publication on the same date and owned by the same claimant.