Prior Editions of the Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices
The Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, Third Edition (September 29, 2017)
The third edition of the Compendium was updated on September 29, 2017. Registrations or recordations issued between September 29, 2017, and January 27, 2021, are generally governed by this version of the Compendium, except in cases where it has been superseded by an amendment to the regulations, intervening case law, or previously announced changes in practice.
Federal Register Notice Announcing September 29, 2017 Final Release
Revision History for the 2017 Update
List of Sections Added, Amended, Revised, or Removed in the 2017 Update
Redlines Comparing the 2014 and 2017 Versions of the Compendium
Public Draft for the 2017 Update (Released June 1, 2017)
The Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, Third Edition (December 22, 2014)
The third edition of the Compendium was first released on December 22, 2014. Registrations or recordations issued between December 22, 2014, and September 28, 2017, are generally governed by this version of the Compendium, except in cases where it has been superseded by an amendment to the regulations, intervening case law, or previously announced changes in practice.
Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, Third Edition (Dec. 22, 2014) (1288 pages plus index)
Acknowledgements (Dec. 22, 2014)
Federal Register Notice Announcing Adoption of Compendium (Third)
Federal Register Notice Announcing First Public Draft of Compendium (Third)
The Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, Second Edition (1984)
The second edition of the Compendium (commonly referred to as Compendium II) reflects the U.S. Copyright Office's general practices for registration, recordation, and other matters arising under the Copyright Act of 1976, prior to the adoption of the Third Edition. It was first published in 1984 and revised in part in 1988, 1995, and 1998.
Compendium II – 1984 (394 pages plus index)
Compendium II – 1988 adding Chapters 600 and 1900 (607 pages plus index)
1995 Policy Decision amending Section 606.04 of Compendium II
Compendium II – 1998 revising Chapters 1600 and 1900 (595 pages plus index)
The Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, First Edition (1967)
The first edition of the Compendium (commonly referred to as Compendium I) governed the U.S. Copyright Office's general practices for registration, recordation, and other matters arising under the Copyright Act of 1909. It was made available to the public for the first time in 1967, and it was last revised in 1973.
Compendium I, 1973 revision (135 pages plus index & updates)