Jeffrey Barr

Copyright Legal Coach is a quick reference for individuals, who have created original material, to understand U.S. copyright registration, rules, and statutes.

The full statute, Title 17 of the United States Code (USC), is provided as a guide to the copyright system. Selected provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which supplements the USC, is available in the "Registration Guide" to fully describe the registration process. Provisions from Title 18 of the USC is also included that pertain to criminal infringement of copyrighted material.

For example, 17 USC 408 specifies that the applicant shall deposit "in the case of an unpublished work, one complete copy". 37 CFR 202.20 provides specific requirements. If the original material is a three-dimensional hologram (sample scenario), the applicant must submit "precise instructions for displaying the image fixed in the hologram" and "photographs or other identifying material ... clearly showing the displayed image".

A "Registration Guide" was designed to highlight the most important aspects of registration that include (a) the basics, (b) categories of material, (c) exclusive rights, (d) material that is not copyrightable, (e) registration & application guidelines, (f) preregistration, (g) deposit requirements, (h) notice, (i) duration, (j) fees, (k) pictorial, graphical, & sculptural works, (l) sound recordings, (m) architectural works, (n) designs, (o) nondramatic material, (p) fair use, (q) limitations, (r) internet service providers, (s) circumvention, and (t) civil & criminal infringement.

Flip back-and-forth between three tabs. For example, open the "Registration Guide" to read the CFR provision pertaining to deposit requirements that describe how to register the contents of a CD-ROM disc or game inside a box. Then open the "Full Statute" to read Section 409 that explains what to submit for registration.

Michael Elliot Byczek is a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois and formally trained computer science professional. His consulting company in Chicago assists individuals with registering a copyright with the federal government as a legal coach.

Current as of December 30, 2008; subject to recent amendments that the government may not have incorporated into the official statute or regulations. For example, the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act of 2008, Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008, and Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008 were not amended to the official release of the USC as of December 30th. Copyright Legal Coach includes these amendments.