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Frequently Asked Questions

What is group registration of unpublished works?
What does "GRUW" stand for?
How do I register two or more unpublished works with the same application?
Where can I learn about this group registration option?
In the past, I registered my work as an "unpublished collection". Can I still do this?
When does this change go into effect?
When was this change announced?
What has the Office done to notify the public about this change?
Do I need to submit my claim through the electronic registration system?
Can I use a paper application to register two or more unpublished works?
Where do I find information about the online registration system?
What if I need help completing the online application for a "Group of Unpublished Works"?
I've been using a paper application to register my works as an "unpublished collection". Can I still use a paper form?
I've been using the "Standard" online application to register my works as an "unpublished collection". Can I still use the "Standard" application?
How can I tell the difference between the online application for a "Group of Unpublished Works" and the "Standard" online application?
Can I register more than ten unpublished works with the same application?
Can I register published and unpublished works with the same application?
Can I register multiple works with different authors?
What if someone else owns the copyright in the works?
I want to include the current owner's name in the registration record. How can I do that?
Do I need to provide a title for each work?
What if my works don't have titles?
Where do I enter the title for each work?
Should I enter all of the titles in the same space?
Can I provide a title for my "collection"?
Do I need to upload an electronic copy of my works?
Where do I find information about how to upload my works?
Do I need to submit my works in a particular format?
Can I submit all of my works in one electronic file?
Can I upload individual pages from each work?
I've been sending physical copies to the Copyright Office. Can I still do this?
My works were created in a physical format. Do I still need to upload an electronic copy of each work?
I registered a group of unpublished works. I found an error in my certificate. I also want to add some additional information to the certificate. Can I do this?
Where do I find the application for supplementary registration?
Where can I learn more about supplementary registration?

What is group registration of unpublished works?

What does “GRAM” stand for?

How do I register musical works (with or without lyrics) with the same application?

How do I register sound recordings with the same application?

Can I register a work that was previously published as a single before it was published on the album?

How do I register photographs, artwork, or liner notes with the same application?

What’s the difference between a “musical work” and a “sound recording”?

Can I register a musical work (with or without lyrics) and sound recordings with the same group registration application?

Can I register musical works (with or without lyrics), photographs, artwork, and liner notes with the same application?

Where can I learn about this group registration option?

When did this change go into effect?

When was this change announced?

Do I need to submit my claim through the electronic registration system?

Where do I find information about the online registration system?

Where do I find the online application for “Musical Works from an Album”?

Where do I find the online application for “Sound Recordings from an Album”?

What if I need help completing the online application?

Can I register two or more musical works or sound recordings under the group registration option by using a paper application?

How many works can I submit with this group registration option?

Can I submit more than twenty musical works or more than twenty sound recordings with the same application?

Is there a limit on the number of photographs, artwork, or liner notes that can be submitted with the same application?

Who is the author of a musical work?

Who is the author of a sound recording?

Can I register a “work made for hire” with this option?

Do I need to identify all of the authors of the works being registered?

Do the works need to be created by the same author?

Can I register works with multiple co-authors?

I want to register some photographs, artwork, and liner notes, along with my sound recordings. Do the authors of the works need to be the same?

Who is the copyright claimant?

Do all of the works need to have the same claimant?

I want to name the authors as the copyright claimants. Can I do that?

I want to name a third party as the copyright claimant, such as a music publisher or record label. Can I do that?

A third party may be named as the copyright claimant if that party owns all of the exclusive rights initially belonging to an author of all of the works in the group being registered. What are the “exclusive rights” that must be fully owned by the third party?

The author transferred their right to reproduce and distribute the work to a third party (such as a music publisher or record label). The author retained the remainder of the exclusive rights in their work. Can the third party be named as a copyright claimant?

The author transferred 50 percent of their distribution rights to a third party (such as a music publisher or record label). The author retained the rest of the distribution rights in their works. Can the third party be named as a copyright claimant?

The author transferred their exclusive rights to a third party (such as a music publisher or record label). Can the author still be named as the copyright claimant?

The author transferred some—but not all—of their exclusive rights to a third party (such as a music publisher or record label). I want to include the copyright owner’s name in the registration record. Can I do that?

Can I register published and unpublished works with the same application?

Can I register musical works or sound recordings that were published on different dates?

Can I register photographs, artwork, or liner notes that were published on different dates?

Do I need to provide a title for each musical work and each sound recording?

Do I need to provide a track number for each work?

I want to register the photographs, artwork, and liner notes that were first published on the album. How do I provide a title for this material?

If I upload a copy of my musical works or sound recordings, do the file names need to match the titles listed in the application?

I plan to upload a copy of my photographs, artwork, and liner notes to the electronic registration system. Does the file name for each work need to match the titles listed in the application?

Can I register “hidden tracks” that were published on the same album? How do I provide titles for these works?

Do I need to provide the title of the album?

Do I need to identify the record label that released the album?

Do I need to provide the cataloging number that was assigned to the album by the record label?

Do I need to provide a title for the group as a whole?

Can I provide a title for my “collection” of works?

A “group title" was automatically assigned to my claim. Can I change this title?

Can I upload an electronic copy of my works?

I plan to upload a copy of my musical works or sound recordings. Does the file name for each work need to match the titles listed in the application?

I plan to upload a digital copy of my works to the electronic registration system. Can I submit all the works in one electronic file?

Do I need to submit a physical copy of my works?

Do I just need to submit a copy of the works that I’m registering? Or do I need to submit all of the tracks that were published on the album?

One of my works was first published as a single before it was published on the album. Do I need to submit a copy of both the single and the album?

Where do I find information about how to upload my works?

Do I need to upload my works in a particular format?

I need to submit a physical copy of my works. Where do I find information about how to do that?

Do I need to submit a lyric sheet for each work?

Can I use the group registration application to register a claim in an entire album as a collective work?

What is a collective work?

Does a collective work registration cover the musical works and/or sound recordings that are included within the album?

Where do I find the Standard Application?

Where can I learn about collective work registrations?

I registered a group of works that were published on the same album. I found an error on my certificate. I also want to add some information to the certificate. Can I do this?

Where do I find the application for supplementary registration?

Where can I learn more about supplementary registration?