What is Copyright? Learn about the basics of copyright with our online reference page.

This is your starting point for all things related to the registration of copyrights. Choose a category below to find out more about the different works typically registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.

The most recent major overhaul of copyright in the US, the Copyright Act of 1976, extended federal copyright to works as soon as they are created and "fixed", without requiring publication or registration.

If you submit 2 or more unpublished works on the "Standard Application" the Copyright Office may register only 1 of your works and remove the remaining works from the claim. To register those …

A copyright is a form of protection provided by U.S. law to the authors of "original works of authorship" fixed in any tangible medium of expression. Learn more about the basics of copyrights.

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Jun 2, 2026 · Learn what copyright protects, how it starts, what rights it gives you, and what happens when someone infringes on your work.

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

May 5, 2026 · copyright, the exclusive, legally secured right to reproduce, distribute, and perform a literary, musical, dramatic, or artistic work.

May 24, 2026 · Copyright is a form of federal law that gives creators exclusive control over their original works once those works are written down, recorded, or otherwise captured in a fixed format.