Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

Copyright is created at the time of writing your literary work. However, it is recommended that you register the copyright. Registration is not required, but the need to confirm your copyright will appear when filing a claim in court. There are various methods and basic steps for registering copyright.

The steps below assume that you are a US citizen and would like to register with the US Copyright Office, but there are other services outside the US to do this.A Google request for 'Copyright Registration' (or similar) will return links to tons of pages of endorsement services. Also see the tips at the end of this article.

Steps

1. 1 Fill out the US Copyright Office (KO) Copyright Application. There are 3 ways to register basic claims:
   • Register on the website through ECO (electronic copyright office). This method is preferred because it costs less, it is faster, you can track your status online, and the payment method is secure. Go to http://www.copyright.gov/ and click Register.
   • Submit your main grievances by completing the KO form. This method uses barcode scanning technology. For literary works, fill out the TX form on your computer, print and email. Forms are available at http://www.copyright.gov/forms/.
   • Register using paper forms. You can request copies and they will be mailed to you. You need to request a TX form for literary works and send it to the Library of Congress, US Copyright Office, 101 SE Independence Avenue, Washington 20559-6222.
2. 2 Submit your payment.
   • The ECO registration fee is $ 35 (RUB 1260) for basic requirements. You can either pay by electronic check or use a debit or credit card at Pay.gov.
   • For KO forms, the fee is $ 50 (RUB 1,800) and a paper-filled TX form will cost $ 65 (RUB 2,340). Send a check or money order.
3. 3 Submit your work or work of authorship.
   • For online registration using ECO, you can upload your work or attach it to an email. If you do not have an electronic copy or need to send a paper copy, print the shipping receipt, attach it to your work, and send it to the US Copyright Office at the address above.
   • If you are using one of the Copy Office forms or are applying on paper, you must send the completed form, the fee receipt and your work in one letter to the United States Copyright Office at the above address.

Tips

• It is very often possible to present a collection of poems together as one application (rather than each poem separately), this can be a huge savings, as you can usually register the entire collection by paying the fee once (see the example Registration advice center - collections).
• The World Intellectual Property Organization provides a directory of intellectual property offices for international copyright guidelines and registration requirements.
• For authors outside the United States, most registration services are provided by independent certification companies. Now there are a lot of competing services and the procedure can be complicated - there is an article “where to register copyright”, from which you will learn about further actions for the selection of witnesses.
• If you want to protect copyright in a specific country, check the relationship of that country's copyright relationship with the United States. For a complete list of countries in consultation with the US Copyright Office, see the list of US International Copyright Relations.
• To use ECO, disable your browser's pop-up blocker and close third-party toolbars (Yahoo, Google, etc.).

Warnings

• Do not use screenshots or print screens to create the KO form. You can make photocopies of the forms.

• Do not use your saved copy of completed CR forms for another registration. Each time you register, you will have a unique barcode.