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Copyright Services Guide
What is a Copyright and do I need one?
Copyright is a set of exclusive rights granted to the author or creator of an original work, including the right to copy, distribute and adapt the work. Copyright does not protect ideas, only their expression or fixation. In a nutshell, copyright is an exclusive legal right given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same. It's up to you if you feel you need one!
Does my work have to be published to be protected?
Publication is not necessary for copyright protection. Your Manuscript/Published Book creation is protected by copyright as soon as it exists in a tangible form. Under United States law, it is harder to enforce your copyright unless it's registered.
Please be aware that your copyright registration certificate should arrive in the mail between 2-18 months, and will be dated from the date your application was submitted. There is no online system to check your status.
Do I register my copyright on my own or do I do it through my publisher?
Either way, it's your choice. You can follow the links to the website of the U.S Copyright Office and complete the paperwork for your copyright. All transactions will be done through their website and has absolutely nothing to do with Griot Publishing or its affiliates. Now, if you would rather for us to obtain the copyright for you, we will gladly do that here. We still adhere by the rules of the Copyright Office which simply means that Griot Publishing has no control over the time frame of receiving your Copyright certificate nor do we have any control if they decide to raise their fees.
How do I register my copyright?
To register a work, either your Publisher or yourself can submit a completed application form, a nonrefundable filing fee, which is $45 if you register online or $65-$125 if you register using a paper application; and a nonreturnable copy or copies of the work to be registered. U.S. Copyright Office 101 Independence Avenue SE Washington, DC 20559-6000 (202) 707-3000. If Griot Publishing processes your application, you will be assessed a processing fee of $45.00.
Can I make copies of the application form?
You may not make copies of Form CO, which is available only on the Copyright Office website. Form CO is a fill-in form that creates and contains unique 2-D barcodes as you fill it in. The barcodes contain the information you place on the form, and they enable the Office to process your application faster and more efficiently. You may retrieve copies of in-process or completed Copyright Office records or other Copyright Office materials for a fee between $35 - $200.
Do I have to send in my work? Do I get it back?
Yes and No! Yes, you must send the required copy or copies of the work to be registered, but No, Your copies will not be returned. If you register online using eCO eService, you may attach an electronic copy of your deposit. However, even if you register online, if the Library of Congress requires a hard-copy deposit of your work, you must send what the Library defines as the "best edition" of your work. Of the copyright law, all copies and identifying material, including those deposited in connection with claims that have been refused registration, are the property of the U.S. government.
Will my personal information be available to the public?
Yes. Please be aware that when you register your claim to a copyright in a work with the U.S. Copyright Office, you are making a public record. All the information you provide on your copyright registration is available to the public and will be available on the Internet.
The name of an author or claimant can only be removed from the online record if the author or claimant has had a legal name change and the requestor provides documentation of such.
How long does the registration process take?
Please be aware that all mail (U.S. Postal Service and private carrier) sent to the U.S. Copyright Office is being screened off-site prior to arrival on Capitol Hill. This process can add 3 to 5 days to the delivery time for all mail sent to the Copyright Office. The effective date of registration of a work is still the day all the required elements in acceptable form are received, but relief from this may be available under interim regulations on mail disruption (37 CFR 201.8). Please note that our mail service is severely disrupted.(Read more details)
How much do I have to change in my own work to make a new claim of copyright?
You may make a new claim in your work if the changes are substantial and creative, something more than just editorial changes or minor changes. This would qualify as a new derivative work. For instance, simply making spelling corrections throughout a work does not warrant a new registration, but adding an additional chapter would.
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