January 24, 2015 Release

• Redesigned process for uploading deposit copies: This release introduces a streamlined process for uploading copies of your work. After confirmation of fee payment, you can select files from your computer, upload them, and confirm completeness all on a single screen. In addition, the maximum size for each file uploaded has been increased from 170 MB to 500 MB. To see a tutorial on the revised process, please go to http://www.copyright.gov/eco/help-upload-tutorial.html.

• Selecting the �Type of Work�: When beginning your application, selecting the �Type of Work� is important both for ensuring you are presented with the appropriate options for identifying the material included in your Copyright registration, as well as routing the application to Registration Specialists experienced in this type of subject matter.
  
  Beginning with this release, a description will be displayed corresponding to each option you click in the �Type of Work� drop-down list. You�ll be required to click a box confirming your selection before proceeding with the application.
  
  You are encouraged to save new versions of previously created templates after clicking the box to confirm the �Type of Work� selected when the template was originally created. The older version of the template should then be deleted.

• Authorship and Limitation of Claim options: Several checkboxes previously provided to identify �Author Created,� �Material Excluded,� and �New Material Included� have been deleted in this release. Applicants who need to identify these types of authorship (for example, �Editing� and �Compilation�) may type the term(s) into the corresponding �Other� space.
  
  You are encouraged to save a new version of any previously saved template created using one or more of these deleted checkboxes after updating it as needed. The older version of the template should then be deleted.

• Applicant�s Internal Tracking Number: If you include an �Applicant�s Internal Tracking Number� on the certification screen when completing your applications, you can now use this number as a search option for locating a printable copy of applications.
  
  Click the �My Applications� or �My Company�s Applications� link on the Home screen. A list of applications will be displayed, including corresponding tracking numbers. To search for a specific tracking number, click the Query button and enter your tracking number in the space provided before clicking �Execute.�

• Certificate of Registration changes: Certificates issued after this release will include the following format changes:
  
  1) The Mailing Address page, previously placed at the end of the certificate, will now be placed at the beginning, printed on plain white paper.
  
  2) Certificates issued prior to this release displayed content in a two- column format. Certificates issued after this release will display all content in a single-column format.

Read Tips for using eCO

May 1, 2014 Release

• New Copyright Office fees become effective on May 1, 2014. (See list of fees.)

• eCO filers will be prompted to answer “yes” or “no” to three statements to determine the appropriate application (Single or Standard) for registering their work. Single Applications are for one work by one author (not made for hire) who is also the sole owner of all rights in the work. Standard Applications are for all other registrations. Filers will have the opportunity to change to the Standard Application if it becomes apparent that the Single Application is not appropriate for the work being registered. Using the Single Application when a work does not meet the requirements will result in processing delays, an additional fee, and a later effective date of registration. 

• If Copyright Office staff determine that a work does not meet the Single Application requirements, the filer will be contacted at the email address listed on the application with instructions on how to pay the additional fee and resubmit on the Standard Application.  
  

June 28, 2013 Release

An alternate streamlined application path for certain claims will be introduced. When beginning a registration application, you will answer three questions to determine whether the information will be entered using the new Single application or with the Standard series of screens.

If you are registering one work, created and solely owned by the same individual (not "made for hire"), you will use the more streamlined Single application screens to enter information. Otherwise, you will use the Standard screens to complete the application.

The following categories of work may not be registered using the Single application: collective works, unpublished collections, units of publication, group registration options, databases, websites, works by more than one author, and works with more than one owner.

To watch a webinar demonstration of the updated application process, click the following link (you'll be asked to login by entering a name and email address): http://login.icohere.com/copyright?pnum=GZL35576

March 15, 2013 Release

• Monthly Copyright Office Deposit Account statements for accounts linked to eCO will be viewable online, beginning with statements generated in April 2013. The statements will also be sent as email attachments to the account holder.


• When entering an email address, you will receive a prompt if it appears that you've entered either an invalid address or multiple addresses.

September 14, 2012 Release

• A "Register a Group Claim" link has been added to the Welcome page to allow online submission of SE/Group claims. Please read the help text provided to determine whether you meet eligibility and other requirements for registering a group claim. If not, return to the Welcome page and use the "Register a New Claim" link to register single issues.


• For submissions accompanied by electronic copies of the work being registered: You will receive an error message if you attempt to upload a copy of the work using a file name or description that will result in an unsuccessful upload. The message will include instructions for renaming the file before uploading it.

June 15, 2012 Release

• For submissions accompanied by electronic copies of the work being registered You will be prompted to click an “Upload Complete“ button after you have finished uploading all electronic files for the work being registered. Once you have clicked the button, the system will not allow you to upload additional files for that application.

• The effective date of your registration will be delayed and Copyright Office staff will not be able to process your claim until you confirm completeness of your submission.  If you don’t click “Upload Complete,” you will receive an email reminder after 60 days has elapsed.

• For submissions accompanied by physical copies of the work being registered The system will send you an email reminder if we have not received the material within 60 days after receipt of your application and payment.

Jul 29, 2011 Release

• Single Serial Issue application changes: We have made changes to the eCO screens to give the public an opportunity to clarify the extent of the registration for collective works. Previously, the “Author Created” screen included the option “collective work that may include text, editing, compilation, and contribution(s) in which copyright has been transferred to the claimant”. Because some courts have concluded that certificates of registration that do not name the authors and titles of each contribution to a collective work do not extend to those individual contributions, we have amended the screens to clarify whether an application is intended to cover the compilation (that is, the selection and arrangement of contributions), the contribution(s) to a collective work, or both. You will now be asked to check one or both of the following boxes: “Compilation” and “Contribution(s) to a Collective Work (e.g., an article).” You may also check “Other” to briefly state (in general terms) authorship that is not covered by the boxes provided and for which you seek this registration, or to specify the title(s) of one or more specific contributions by the named author. For more information and instructions, please click on the Help links on the Author and Claimant screens.
  
  The Copyright Office has had a longstanding practice of accepting “collective     work” as an authorship statement for serial registrations. These registrations may cover (a) the collective work authorship, (b) any contribution created by an   employee or other party commissioned by the author of a work made for hire, and (c) any other contributions that the claimant of the serial as a whole obtained by transfer.
  
  Recently, several lower federal courts have ruled that that certain database registrations did not extend to any contributions by authors who were not explicitly named on the application. Two of those decisions have been appealed. Although the Copyright Office has not changed its practice because of these rulings, we wanted to give you the opportunity to determine whether you wish to name all of the authors of independent contributions in which all rights have been transferred to the claimant in the serial publication in order to avoid the possibility that a court may conclude that your registration does not extend to the individual contributions in the serials.

• Author and Claimant screens will no longer include a “Doing Business As” field. In instances where the author or claimant is known by another name, this information may be entered as a “Note to Copyright Office” on the Certification screen.
  
  Note: if you use a previously saved template that included names in the “Doing Business As” field, these will not be visible when you review the application. Follow the instructions above to add the information. See below for instructions on replacing the previous template with a new one.

• On the Author Created and Limitation of Claim screens for Works of the Visual Arts, “Map” and “Technical Drawing” will be separate check boxes (previously a single “Map/Technical Drawing” check box). The “Sculpture/3D artwork” checkbox will be updated to “Sculpture.”

• “Translation” will no longer be included as a check box on the Author Created and Limitation of Claim screens for Literary Works. If you are registering a translation, type “Translation” in the blank “Other” field.
  
  
• Several of the above changes may render existing templates invalid. To save a revised template:
  
  
  • Use the existing template to create a new application, making any required corrections.
  • After reviewing all application information for accuracy, click on the “Save Template” button at the top of the Review Submission screen.
  • Enter a name for the revised template in the blank field provided on the resulting Template Cases screen, then click on the “Save” button.
  • You will be returned to the Review Submission screen where you may add the application to your cart or save it for later.
  • Delete the previous version of the template: Return to the Home screen, click on the “Use a Template” link under Copyright Services, then click on the “Discard” link for the previous version of the template.

• When creating new Copyright Office Deposit Accounts, you will be required to supply contact information, including a valid email address. To update existing Deposit Account information, click on the Organization/DA link under the list of Copyright Services on the left side of the Home screen.

February 4, 2011 Release

For claims submitted after the February 4, 2011 release, the printable eCO application will include the following information when provided by the applicant:

• Alternate Telephone in the Rights and Permissions section
• Email, Telephone, Alternate Telephone, and Fax in the Correspondent section
• Priority (Routine or Special Handling)
• Note to Copyright Office