How do I know whether to submit electronic or hard copies of my work?
An electronic copy can be uploaded and is strongly encouraged when:
- Your work is unpublished.
- Your work was published ONLY in electronic format (such as an ebook released solely as a download) and NOT in a physical format (such as a hardcover or paperback book).
- Your work was published and identifying material is permitted or required (instead of sending a complete copy of the work). For more information, see section 1506, chapter 1500, of the Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices Third Edition.
- Your work is first published abroad in electronic format regardless of whether it was later published in a physical format.
- You are registering a musical work that was published solely in an audio format (such as a CD, LP, or digital audio file) but was not published in a printed format, such as sheet music.
- You are registering an architectural work.
- You are seeking a group registration for:
- Up to 20 musical works that were published on the same album
- Up to 20 sound recordings and any photographs, artwork, or liner notes that were first published on the same album, if the album was distributed solely in a digital format and was not distributed in a physical format (such as CD, LP, etc.)
- Up to 750 photographs (published or unpublished)
A electronic deposit must be submitted when:
- You are seeking a group registration for:
- Up to 10 unpublished works
- Up to 3 months of issues from a serial publication, such as a magazine or journal
- A month of issues from the same newspaper or newsletter
- A group of works created by an individual author that were first published in a periodical
- A group of short online literary works created by an individual authors that were first published online
- A group of items prepared for use in a secure test
A physical deposit must be submitted when:
- Your work was first published in the United States BEFORE you submitted your claim to the Copyright Office, and the work was published in a physical format, such as a compact disc, DVD, or a paperback book
- You work was first published in the United States BEFORE you submitted your claim to the Copyright Office, and the work was published BOTH in a physical AND an electronic format (such as a sound recording that was released both on compact disc and as a download)
- Your work was first published abroad BEFORE you submitted your claim to the Copyright Office, and the work was first published in a physical format, such as a compact disc, DVD, or a paperback book