SmallBizResource Blog -- Government

Copyright Office Launches Online Filing System

Posted by Gayle Kesten Monday, Jul 14, 2008, 09:13 AM ET

Applying for a copyright just became a little easier.

The U.S. Copyright Office in the Library of Congress has gone electronic with eCO, an online registration system that promises faster processing and a lower filing fee for basic copyright claims ($35 vs. $45 if you went the paper route). It also cites such advantages as earlier effective date of registration, online status tracking and the ability to upload certain works as electronic files.

Even if you plan to submit a hard copy of your work, you can still get the process started online.

From the press release I received: "Basic claims include (1) a single work, (2) multiple unpublished works if they are by the same author(s) and owned by the same claimant, and (3) multiple published works if they are all first published together in the same publication on the same date and owned by the same claimant."

Let's back up for a second for a look at what you can copyright:

1. literary works;
2. musical works, including any accompanying words
3. dramatic works, including any accompanying music
4. pantomimes and choreographic works
5. pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
6. motion pictures and other audiovisual works
7. sound recordings
8. architectural works

"These categories should be viewed broadly," the Copyright Office says. "For example, computer programs and most 'compilations' may be registered as 'literary works'; maps and architectural plans may be registered as 'pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works.'"

The eCO system works with Internet Explorer 6.0, Netscape Navigator 7.02, and Firefox 2.0. For Firefox, the Office advises you to adjust the Tabs setting to "New pages should be opened in: a new window." (The Tabs setting is under Tools/Options for Firefox for PCs and under Preferences for Firefox for Macs.)

Also of note, you'll have to disable your brower's pop-up blocker and any third-party toolbar, and make sure your security and privacy settings are set to medium.

Nice to see the 111-year-old Copyright Office, as well as the 208-year-old Library of Congress, catching up with the online times.

Government | SmallBizResource