Applying for your U.S. copyright is becoming easier and less expensive. I recently filed for a copyright for my new novel, Sum of Life – The Worst Kind of Lies, electronically without a glitch. I didn’t intend to apply electronically, but while searching through the Copyright Office’s website fees section, I saw a notice stating:
Effective July 1, 2007:
$45—Basic filing fee. The fee for a paper application.
$35—Electronic filing fee. On a limited basis, a fee of $35 is in effect for electronic filing of a basic copyright registration. Online filing began in a beta test mode last year. Anyone wishing to file their registration claim electronically may submit their request form available online on the beta test page.
http://www.copyright.gov/docs/fees.html
I thought, “By being a beta tester, I would only pay $35 instead of $45, complete my copyright in a matter of minutes, send my electronically written and saved book file over the Internet and not have to ship my self-printed and bound 550 page manuscript to Washington DC? Whoa, I need to look into this!”
After reading through the additional benefits of applying electronically, I learned that I would receive the confirmation receipt much earlier than the 8 months necessary to receive proof in-hand that I applied and I could pay with my credit card.
I thought, “Okay, where’s the down side of this deal?” Well, due to pop-up blockers in some Internet browser software, problems might occur that would prevent getting though all the steps necessary to electronically register. A browser called Safari definitely has problems with the Copyright Office’s system, but Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 and Netscape Navigator 7.02 work fine and I can attest that AOL 9.0 VR works, too. Firefox 2.0 works with some adjustment and Opera and Konqueror may also be okay. Check the FAQ at this link:
http://www.copyright.gov/eco/faq.html
The process is very simple. First you must apply for permission to be a beta tester. Fill out a short online request form:
http://www.copyright.gov/eco/beta-request.html
You will receive an email notice stating that you will receive a notice of approval or rejection in 2-3 working days. My approval as a beta tester arrived within two hours.
Forging ahead, I set up my user name and password and waited to be allowed to register for my copyright. It took only a day for my account to be set up and approved so I could proceed.
The registration process has only three main steps:
1. Complete an application
2. Pay the associated fee (Pay online with your credit or debit card via Pay.gov, a secure web portal operated by the U.S. Treasury Department)
3. Deposit submission (Deposit or deposit copy refers to a copy of the work being registered)
After completing those three steps, you have a choice of either mailing in your work or sending it electronically. If you choose to mail your work, it first arrives at an inspection center where it is examined in ways only the U.S. Postal system knows about. After they are done with it, the package is forwarded to the Copyright Office and then it is stored somewhere within the government catacombs.
Previously, your receipt of delivery was sent out 6 months after your work was received, but, due to the Copyright Office’s efforts to update to an electronic filing system, the waiting period is now 8 months. I registered over a month ago and I still haven’t received my delivery receipt, but I have all the electronic correspondence showing the date that I filed and paid for my copyright. That’s a good paper trail if any questions about my copyright ever pop up.
All in all, I’m very pleased with the whole process of applying for my copyright with the electronic Copyright Office. The service personnel of the eCO quickly answered any questions or problems I had during the process. Will I do it again? Yes! And, it will be easier next time because I have an account already established with them. I encourage everyone to register as a beta tester and take advantage of the benefits of registering electronically.
I hope this helps,
John Patrick Lamont
Great Info...
TRASK