Copyright Office, Library of Congress June 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress is publishing a final rule establishing a lower basic registration fee of $35 for copyright claims submitted electronically. This fee applies to all registrations where the application is submitted electronically, including those registrations where the deposit materials cannot be sent electronically together with the application. At the same time, the Office is retaining its current fee of $45 for processing paper applications for basic copyright registration of a copyright claim. The dual fee structure reflects the reduced cost of processing electronic claims and serves as an incentive to the public to utilize the new online, electronic registration system. On or after July 1, 2007, the Copyright Office will begin accepting a limited number of electronic submissions of copyright claims through the Internet and the new fee will apply to these applications. The adoption of the new rule assumes that no legislative action will take place before July 1, 2007.

In July 2007, the Copyright Office will initiate a beta testing phase in the development of its automated registration system, electronic Copyright Office (eCO). Requests to participate in eCO beta testing are being accepted from the public at this time. Participants will be selected in the order that requests are received and based on an array of submission criteria, and basic registration claims will be accepted at a reduced rate established for electronic filings.