How To Save Money On Your Copyright Registrations
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008
Today is the first day of the US Copyright Office’s new online registration system. I think. As of 8:11am this morning, July 1, there’s no “portal” evident on their site, despite an announcement declaring that everyone can use electronic, online registration as of July 1. But whatever.
Up until now, the office has offered it’s forms for download on the website, which was helpful, but you still had to actually fill them out and mail them in with a check. Now, all that can be done online, although you will still have to physically mail to them a copy of most registered material. It is helpful, but you may still have truck down to the post office (and maybe to the office supply store to get an envelope first). Works that are being published ONLY in electronic form can be uploaded directly to the Office however. Among other things, this will cover web pages and web graphics, ebooks, and some music. It’s a start.
The incentive to use the electronic registration system is that it is $10 (ten) cheaper than postal registrations. $35 versus $45. That’s a significant enough savings to make it worthwhile. There is a faq page available on the new system, but it’s really pretty easy.
