Copyright Office | USAGov (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to get a copyright? ›

The Copyright Office administers the national copyright system and provides advice on copyright law to congress, federal agencies, the courts and the public.

The U.S. Copyright Office maintains records of registered works by author and title, some of which may be searched online. More information can be found in the Copyright Office Circular 22 – How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work, or by calling the Copyright Office at (202) 707-9100.

To register a claim to copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office, the claimant must: (1) submit a properly completed application; (2) pay a nonrefundable fee; and (3) deposit the required number of copies of the works to be registered.

To register your content with the US Copyright Office, visit copyright.gov to get started. Online registration usually costs between $35 and $55, and you'll have to send a copy of your completed work to the U.S. Copyright Office either through the mail or via its website.

Artwork is automatically covered by copyright in the US as soon as it is made. This indicates that you can benefit from copyright protection without registering or paying a fee. However, formal registration can come with further advantages, such the capacity to file a lawsuit and demand statutory damages.

Generally, for most works created after 1978, protection lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. For anonymous works, pseudonymous works, or works made for hire, the copyright term is 95 years from the year of first publication or 120 years from creation, whichever comes first.

Registering a logo

You can register a logo with the USPTO by using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) or other online trademark service. If your logo includes design elements, you will need to upload an image, using a . jpg file, of the logo as part of your trademark application.

The basic cost to trademark a business name ranges from $225 to $600 per trademark class. This is the cost to submit your trademark application to the USPTO. The easiest and least expensive way to register your trademark is online, through the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).

The copyright owner can copyright a song or multiple songs on an audio recording. It takes six or more months to process a song copyright. A nonrefundable $35 filing fee for online applications and an $85 filing fee for paper applications as of this date. Fees can change, so always check the U.S. Copyright website.

How much can you be charged for copyright? ›

Willful copyright infringement can result in criminal penalties including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. Copyright infringement can also result in civil judgments.

A copyright owner can transfer the copyright itself, sometimes described in the transfer document as "all right, title, and interest in the work, including all rights under copyright." This type of transfer is also known as an assignment of the copyright, and it is frequently done as part of a sale of the copyright.