Copyright Registration

• Meeting with an attorney to discuss your music-related copyright application(s) with the United States Copyright Office.

• Preparation and submission of your application(s).

• Respond to any clarification inquiries from the Copyright Office.

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• Initial meeting to obtain legal advice on U.S. copyright law in connection with your music-related application(s), including discussing how many applications you’ll need and total filing fees.

• If needed, during a follow-up meeting after preparation of the application(s), discuss any questions or comments with an attorney via email or scheduled phone/video meeting. 

• After submission, if needed, an attorney will respond to any clarification or non-refusal inquiries from the Copyright Office in connection with the submitted application(s) based on prior or subsequent discussion meeting(s).

Fees

• The above price is the fee for legal services per application.

• In addition to the legal fee described above, there are additional filing fees to submit an application with the U.S. Copyright Office.  In general, such fees are currently $65 or $85 per application.

• The total price of legal fees and filing fees will be discussed and agreed upon in advance.

Why should I register my copyright?

• Copyright protection exists automatically in original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. However, there are many benefits to registering works with the U.S. Copyright Office, including:

• Public Record of Copyright Ownership. Registration of a work with the Copyright Office establishes a public record of a copyright claim. Such record includes key facts about authorship and ownership, the name and address of the copyright owner, the year of creation, and whether the work has been published.

• Ability to Enforce Your Rights.  Federal copyright registration allows copyright owners to enforce their rights in court because an official copyright registration (or refusal) is required to file a claim for copyright infringement in the U.S.

• Eligibility for Statutory Damages and Attorney’s Fees. A copyright owner is eligible for statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringement and attorney’s fees associated with a copyright infringement action if the work at issue was timely registered with the Copyright Office. In general, timely registration means prior to infringement or within three (3) months after publication.

Why should I work with an attorney to register my copyright instead of doing it myself?

• Less mess, less stress. Our music attorneys have experience registering music copyrights. Rather than trying to figure out how to register alone, let us help you navigate the registration process.

• Receive valuable advice to ensure the strongest protection. There are many important legal implications to consider when preparing a copyright application. Our music attorneys can guide you through the application to ensure your music is best protected.

When might I need more than one application?

More than one application may be necessary based on practices of the Copyright Office. The number of copyright applications needed depends on a number of factors, including whether works are published or unpublished, the authors of the works, and the copyright owners. During the initial discussion meeting, one of our knowledgeable attorneys will discuss each of the above factors with you along with the U.S. Copyright Office’s policies to determine how many copyright applications you need. At that time, you’ll also discuss the total cost of legal fees (less the amount already paid for one application) and government filing fees.