U.S. Copyright Office Issues Final Rule Relating to the Single Application
Issue No. 740 - December 27, 2018
To reflect technical upgrades to its current electronic registration system, the U.S. Copyright Office has adopted a final rule, effective January 28, 2019, that updates its regulations regarding the eligibility requirements for the Single Application. Among other things, the rule confirms that the Single Application may be used to register one work that is created and solely owned by one author and is not a work made for hire. It also confirms that the Single Application may be used to register one sound recording and one musical work, literary work, or dramatic work—notwithstanding the fact that a sound recording and the work embodied in that recording are separate works. In addition, as explained in the notice of proposed rulemaking, the rule eliminates the “short form” version of the Office’s paper applications. The rule will also allow for paper applications to be certified with an electronic signature by removing the requirement that certification includes a “handwritten” signature of the certifying party. More information can be found here.