Legal Definitions - copyright application

A copyright application is a formal request submitted to the U.S. Copyright Office by the creator of an original work. This request seeks official legal protection for their creative work, granting them exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or adapt it. To be complete, the application must include a filing fee and a copy of the work itself, or suitable identifying materials if the work is not easily submitted in its entirety.

• Example 1: A Novelist's First Book

  Imagine a novelist who has just completed their debut manuscript. To ensure no one else can copy or publish their story without permission, they visit the U.S. Copyright Office website. There, they fill out the online application form, upload a digital copy of their finished novel, and pay the required registration fee. This entire process constitutes their copyright application, formally requesting legal protection for their literary work.

• Example 2: Software Code for a New App

  A small tech startup has developed groundbreaking new software that powers their innovative mobile application. To safeguard their intellectual property, the lead developer compiles the essential portions of the source code, completes the official application paperwork, and submits it along with the filing fee to the U.S. Copyright Office. This submission is their copyright application, aiming to secure exclusive rights over the unique code they created.

• Example 3: A Photographer's Exhibition Collection

  A professional photographer has spent months capturing a breathtaking series of images for an upcoming gallery exhibition. Before the show opens, they want to ensure their artistic creations are legally protected. They prepare high-resolution digital files of all the photographs in the series, complete a single application form covering the entire collection, and submit it with the appropriate fee to the U.S. Copyright Office. This action represents their copyright application, establishing their legal ownership and control over their visual art.