Identifying Material
Copyright Office regulations require the deposit of identifying material instead
of copies for three-dimensional works and for works that have been applied to
three-dimensional objects.
In certain cases, identifying material is permitted; in other cases, it is
required. Identifying material should meet the following specifications:
- Type of identifying material
- The material should consist of photographic prints, transparencies, photocopies,
drawings, or similar two-dimensional reproductions or renderings of the work,
in a form visually perceivable without the aid of a machine or device.
- Color or black and white
- If the work is a pictorial or graphic work, the material should reproduce
the actual colors employed in the work. In all other cases, the material may
be in black and white or may consist of a reproduction of the actual colors.
- Completeness
- As many pieces of identifying material should be submitted as are necessary
to show clearly the entire copyrightable content of the work for which registration
is being sought.
- Number of sets
- Only one set of complete identifying material is required. NOTE:
With respect to three-dimensional holograms, please write the Copyright
Office for additional information.
- Size
- Photographic transparencies must be at least 35 mm in size and, if 3 x 3
inches or less, must be fixed in cardboard, plastic, or similar mounts; transparencies
larger than 3 x 3 inches should be mounted. All types of identifying material
other than photographic transparencies must be not less than 3 x 3 inches
and not more than 9 x 12 inches, but preferably 8 x 10 inches. The image of
the work should show clearly the entire copyrightable content of the work.
- Title and dimension
- At least one piece of identifying material must give the title of the work
on its front, back, or mount and should include an exact measurement of one
or more dimensions of the work.