U.S. Copyright Office Publishes Final Rule Relating to Group Registration of Newspapers
Issue No. 703 - January 30, 2018
The Copyright Office has adopted a final rule, effective March 1, 2018, to update its regulations governing group registration of newspapers. Among other things, the final rule requires applicants to file an online application rather than a paper application, and upload a complete digital copy of each issue through the electronic registration system instead of submitting them in physical form (although applicants may additionally continue to submit their issues on microfilm on a voluntary basis if the microfilm is received by December 31, 2019). In addition, the rule explains that the Library of Congress plans to incorporate digital copies of these registration deposits into its collections, and provide Library patrons with onsite access to them, subject to restrictions set forth in the final rule.