U.S. Copyright Preregistration Begins November 15

On October 21, 2005, the U.S. Copyright Office has issued interim regulations governing preregistration of works being prepared for commercial distribution.

Preregistration will be available, by means of applications made online on the Copyright Office website, www.copyright.gov, starting November 15. The Register of Copyrights has determined that preregistration will be available for the following classes of works: motion pictures, sound recordings, musical compositions, literary works being prepared for publication in book form, computer programs (including videogames), and advertising or marketing photographs. To be eligible for preregistration, a work must be in one of these classes and applicant must certify that the work is being prepared for commercial distribution and that he or she has a reasonable expectation that the work will be commercially distributed to the public.

For more information, go to www.copyright.gov/prereg/rulemaking.html.