Group Registration of Unpublished Works: Type of Works
You must identify the type of works being registered. To do so, select one of the categories listed below that best describes your works.
All of the works must fit within the same category. If the works do not fit within the same category, you must prepare a separate application for each type of work. For example, poems are considered “literary works” and cartoons are considered “works of the visual arts.” If the author created 5 poems and 5 cartoons, you should submit one application for the 5 poems (selecting the option for “Literary Work”) and a separate application for the 5 cartoons (selecting the option for “Work of the Visual Arts”).
NOTE: There is a limited exception for claims involving sound recordings. As discussed below, a group of sound recordings may be registered together with the musical work, literary work, or dramatic work embodied in each recording. But to do so, you must select the option for “sound recordings.”
Literary Work
Select Literary Work if you are registering a group of nondramatic literary works, such as a group of unpublished poems, short stories, essays, manuscripts, or computer programs.
Work of the Visual Arts
Select Work of the Visual Arts if you are registering a group of pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, such as a group of unpublished paintings, drawings, illustrations, posters, comic strips, logos, sculptures, jewelry designs, fabric designs, textile designs, wallpaper designs, technical drawings, or other types of artwork.
Sound Recording
Select Sound Recording if you are registering a group of sound recordings. Likewise, you should select Sound Recording if you are registering a group of sound recordings and the musical works that are embodied in each recording.
Note: To register a sound recording and the musical work contained in that recording, the author(s) and claimant(s) for both the sound recording and the musical work must be the same person(s).
Under the copyright law, the sounds that accompany a motion picture or other audiovisual work are not considered a “sound recording.” To register the sounds accompanying a group of motion pictures or audiovisual works you should select “Motion Picture/AV” as the “Type of Work.”
Work of the Performing Arts
Select Work of the Performing Arts if you are registering a group of musical works (with or without lyrics), a group of dramatic works (such as a screenplay, play, or other script), or a group of pantomimes or choreographic works.
Note: To register a musical work and a recording of that work you should select Sound Recording. To register a sound recording and the musical work contained in that recording, the author(s) and claimant(s) for both the sound recording and the musical work must be the same person(s).
Motion Picture/AV Work
Select Motion Picture/AV Work if you are registering a group of motion pictures or other audiovisual works, such as films, documentaries, television shows, animated features, videos, videogames, or similar types of works.