Filing Options for Copyright Office Services

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Library of Congress buildings have been closed and the U.S. Copyright Office has implemented extended telework requirements to reduce the number of onsite staff to essential personnel who come into the Office for the minimum amount of time necessary. In addition, the Office is aware that restrictions impeding mobility and temporary closures of businesses are limiting the public’s ability to access Office services.

To mitigate the impact of these restrictions, the Office is expanding its capabilities to receive electronic submissions for more services. The Office already permits online filing for most types of registration applications, and it strongly encourages applicants to file through the electronic registration system (“eCO”) as the most efficient and cost-effective method of registering claims in copyright.

To further assist persons affected by the national emergency, the Office has implemented new electronic submission options for certain additional services, as indicated below. In addition, the Office recently adopted a final rule to facilitate electronic submission for other Office services as administrative processes are established.

The following charts summarize current submission options, including the new emergency electronic options, for various Copyright Office services. For services where an email submission option is provided, a member of the Office will respond to the request with instructions on how to submit payment. Attachments submitted by email must be submitted in a format that can be accepted through the Office’s email system and processed by staff. Attachments are limited to a maximum total file size of 10MB.

NOTE: As of July 2020, the Copyright Office has begun a phased restoration of onsite operations, including the processing of physical materials received while the Office has been closed to the public. Therefore, members of the public who already have submitted physical materials should NOT resubmit those materials by email. The Office is unable to identify duplicate requests for the same service, and therefore it will treat each submission as a separate request and require payment of a separate fee, as applicable. If you have questions about the status of a prior submission, please contact the Copyright Office at [email protected] for assistance.

Registration Services

Please note:The copyright registration options below provide information on how an application may be submitted to the Office. Applicants using these options still must comply with any applicable best edition requirements, including the submission of a physical deposit where required.

SERVICE TYPE	PHYSICAL SUBMISSIONS	ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS
Most Registration Applications (Standard/Single applications: VA, TX, PA, SR, Single Serial Issues; Group registration applications: GRUW, GRUPH, GRPPH, GRCP, GRTX, GRAM, Group serials, newspapers, newsletters, photographic databases, secure test items); supplementary registrations for these applications	Applicants are strongly encouraged to file electronic applications through the eCO system; paper application permitted for Standard VA, TX, PA, SR, and SE claims, but check the Office’s rules for specific application type and applicable deposit requirements Note: Electronic applications are required for all group registration applications (except databases)	eCO online registration system https://eco.copyright.gov
Preregistration	Electronic only.	eCO online registration system https://eco.copyright.gov https://www.copyright.gov/prereg/
Other registration applications (restored copyrights, renewal claims, vessel designs, mask works, and group registration of updates to non-photographic databases); supplementary registrations or corrections for restored copyrights, renewal claims, or group registration of non-photographic databases	Physical submission required. Complete applicable form and mail to the address provided. Copyright Office forms are available at https://www.copyright.gov/forms/ Applicants also must comply with the applicable deposit requirements.	Electronic submission not available
Special handling requests (when submitting application)	Applicants are strongly encouraged to request special handling through the eCO system If the applicant sends a physical submission and requests special handling, the Office cannot guarantee that the claim will be examined within five working days	eCO online registration system https://eco.copyright.gov
Requests for reconsideration of refusals to register and requests for cancellation	U.S. Copyright Office, MCA Division; P.O. Box 71380, Washington, DC 20024-1380	Email request to: [email protected]
Requests to reopen claims closed as a no reply	Electronic only	Submit online form available at: https://www.copyright.gov/forms/reopen.html
Special relief requests from Copyright Office deposit requirements under 17 U.S.C. § 408	Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Registration Policy and Practice, U.S. Copyright Office, P.O. Box 70400 Washington, DC 20024-0440	eCO online registration system: upload a cover letter or provide request in the “Note to Copyright Office” field Requests also can be made through email correspondence with registration examiner
Special relief requests from mandatory deposit requirements under 17 U.S.C. § 407	Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Registration Policy and Practice, U.S. Copyright Office, P.O. Box 70400 Washington, DC 20024-0440	Requests can be made by email in response to a demand

Recordation Services

SERVICE TYPE	PHYSICAL SUBMISSIONS	EMAILED SUBMISSIONS
Request for special handling of documents submitted for recordation, including notices of termination	Special Handling Copyright RAC Division P.O. Box 71380, Washington, DC 20024-1380	Electronic option no longer available as of June 1, 2021.
Notices of termination (standard, non-expedited processing)	Copyright Office-Notices of Termination P.O. Box 71537, Washington, DC 20024-1537	Electronic option no longer available as of April 11, 2022.
Declarations of Ownership in Musical Works (DOMWs)	Copyright Office–DOMW P.O. Box 71537 Washington, DC 20024-1537	Electronic option no longer available as of June 1, 2021.
Schedules of pre-72 sound recordings	Electronic only	Email cover sheet and schedule to: [email protected]
Notices of Noncommercial Use/ Opt-out notices relating to pre-72 sound recordings	Electronic only	Email cover sheet and notice to: [email protected]

Licensing Division Services

SERVICE TYPE	PHYSICAL SUBMISSIONS	ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS
Section 111 filings	Library of Congress U.S. Copyright Office Licensing Division 101 Independence Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20559-6000	[email protected]
Section 112 and 114 notices of use	Library of Congress U.S. Copyright Office Licensing Division 101 Independence Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20559-6000	[email protected] (For inquiries only)
Section 115 notices	Library of Congress U.S. Copyright Office 101 Independence Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20559-6000	[email protected]
Sections 119 and 122 statements of account	Library of Congress U.S. Copyright Office Licensing Division 101 Independence Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20559-6000	[email protected]
Chapter 10 (DART) statements of account	Library of Congress U.S. Copyright Office Licensing Division 101 Independence Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20559-6000	[email protected] (For inquiries only)

Records Research and Certification Services

SERVICE TYPE	PHYSICAL SUBMISSIONS	ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS
General requests (registration certificates, copies of applications, recorded documents, recordation certificates, etc.)	U.S. Copyright Office, Records Research and Certification Section; P.O. Box 70400, Washington, DC 20559-0400	[email protected] To request a copy estimate, use the online form: https://www.copyright.gov/forms/copy_estimate.html
Search requests	U.S. Copyright Office, Records Research and Certification Section; P.O. Box 70400, Washington, DC 20559-0400	[email protected] To request a search estimate, use the online form: https://www.copyright.gov/forms/search_estimate.html
Litigation statements (requests for deposit materials)	U.S. Copyright Office, Records Research and Certification Section; P.O. Box 70400, Washington, DC 20559-0400	Submit the form available at: https://www.copyright.gov/forms/formlitigation.pdf by email to [email protected]

SERVICE TYPE

PHYSICAL SUBMISSIONS

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS

General requests

(registration certificates, copies of applications, recorded documents, recordation certificates, etc.)

U.S. Copyright Office,
Records Research and Certification Section;
P.O. Box 70400,
Washington, DC 20559-0400

[email protected]

To request a copy estimate, use the online form:

https://www.copyright.gov/forms/copy_estimate.html

Search requests

U.S. Copyright Office,
Records Research and Certification Section;
P.O. Box 70400,
Washington, DC 20559-0400

[email protected]

To request a search estimate, use the online form:

https://www.copyright.gov/forms/search_estimate.html

Litigation statements

(requests for deposit materials)

U.S. Copyright Office,
Records Research and Certification Section;
P.O. Box 70400,
Washington, DC 20559-0400

Submit the form available at:

https://www.copyright.gov/forms/formlitigation.pdf by email to [email protected]

Other Services

SERVICE TYPE	PHYSICAL SUBMISSIONS	ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS
Requests to remove PII from registration records (registration certificates, copies of applications, recorded documents, recordation certificates, etc.)	U.S. Copyright Office, Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of the Office of Public Information and Education; P.O. Box 70400, Washington, DC 20024-0400	Fill out the web form at https://www.copyright.gov/forms/remove_pii.html.
Section 512 DMCA designation of agent directory	No physical submissions permitted	Submit online at https://dmca.copyright.gov/osp/login.html
Requests to waive physical address requirement and substitute with P.O. Box in Section 512 DMCA agent directory	U.S. Copyright Office, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Copyright Office, P.O. Box 70400, Washington, DC 20024-0400	Email request to: [email protected]
Complaints served on the Register of Copyrights pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 411(a) Court requests to the Register of Copyrights pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 411(b)	If submission of a request via email is not feasible, please contact the Office of the General Counsel by telephone during normal business hours at 202-707-8380.	Email: [email protected]
Court notices to the Register of Copyrights pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 508	If submission of a notice via email is not feasible, please contact the Office of the General Counsel by telephone during normal business hours at 202-707-8380.	Email: [email protected]
FOIA requests and appeals	P.O. Box 70400, Washington, DC 20024-0400; clearly labeled “Freedom of Information Act Request” or “Freedom of Information Act Appeal” as appropriate.	Email: [email protected]
Notice to Libraries and Archives of Normal Commercial Exploitation or Availability at Reasonable Price	Library of Congress, U.S. Copyright Office—NLA, 101 Independence Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20559-6000	Email: [email protected]