w

Circular 45

2  45.0712

Copyright Registration 

for Motion Pictures, 

Including Video 

Recordings

Motion pictures are audiovisual works consisting of a series of related images 

that, when shown in succession, impart an impression of motion, together with 

any accompanying sounds. Motion pictures are typically embodied in film, 

videotape, or videodisk.

Copyright in a motion picture is automatically secured when the work is 

created and “fixed” in a copy. Only the expression fixed in a motion picture 

(camera work, dialogue, sounds, and so on) is protected under copyright. 

Copyright does not cover the idea or concept behind a work or any characters 

portrayed in it.

Live telecasts that are not fixed in copies and screenplays or treatments of 

future motion pictures do not constitute fixations of motion pictures.

Publication

Publication of a motion picture takes place when one or more copies are distributed to the public by sale, rental, lease, or lending or when an offering is made to 

distribute copies to a group (wholesalers, retailers, broadcasters, motion picture 

distributors, and the like) for purposes of further distribution or public performance. Offering to distribute a copy of a motion picture for exhibition during a 

film festival may be considered publication of that work.

For an offering to constitute publication, copies must be made and be ready for 

distribution. The performance itself of a motion picture (for example, showing it 

in a theater, on television, or in a school room) does not constitute publication.

When a motion picture is published, all the components embodied in it are 

also considered to be published, including the music, the script, and the sounds. 

Thus, if a motion picture made from a screenplay is published, the screenplay is 

published to the extent it is contained in the published work.

Copyright Notice 

Before March 1, 1989, the use of a copyright notice was required on all published works, and any work first published before that date should have carried 

a notice. For works first published on or after March 1, 1989, use of the copyright notice is optional. For more information, see Circular 3, Copyright Notice.
Copyright Registration for Motion Pictures · 2

Copyright Registration 

An application for copyright registration contains three 

essential elements: a completed application form, a nonrefundable filing fee, and a nonreturnable deposit—that is, a 

copy or copies of the work being registered and “deposited” 

with the Copyright Office.

There are two ways to apply for copyright registration. 

Online registration is the preferred way to register basic 

claims for literary works; visual arts works; performing arts 

works, including motion pictures; sound recordings; and 

single serials. Advantages include a lower fee; the fastest processing time; online status tracking; secure online payment 

by credit or debit card, electronic check, or Copyright Office 

deposit account; and the ability to upload certain categories 

of deposits as electronic files. To access online registration, 

go to the Copyright Office website and click on electronic 

Copyright Office.

You can also apply using paper forms. To access fill-in 

versions of Form PA (performing arts works) and Form 

CON (continuation sheet for paper applications), go to the 

Copyright Office website and click on Forms. Complete the 

form(s) on your personal computer, print them out, sign 

and date them, and mail them with a check or money order 

and a deposit. Blank forms can also be printed out and completed by hand or requested by postal mail (limit two copies 

of any one form by mail). 

Note: Copyright Office fees are subject to change. For current 

fees, check the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov, 

write the Copyright Office, or call (202) 707-3000 or 1-877-476-

0778 (toll free). 

Effective Date of Registration

When the Copyright Office issues a registration certificate, it 

assigns as the effective date of registration the date it received 

all required elements—an application, a nonrefundable 

filing fee, and a nonreturnable deposit—in acceptable form, 

regardless of how long it takes to process the application and 

mail the certificate.

You do not have to receive your certificate before you 

publish or produce your work, nor do you need permission from the Copyright Office to place a copyright notice 

on your work. However, the Copyright Office must have 

acted on your application before you can file a suit for copyright infringement, and certain remedies, such as statutory 

damages and attorney’s fees, are available only for acts of 

infringement that occur after the effective date of registration. If a published work was infringed before the effective 

date of registration, those remedies may also be available if 

the effective date of registration is no later than 90 days after 

the first publication of the work. 

If you apply online for copyright registration, you will 

receive an email notification when your application is 

received. If you apply on a paper form, you will not receive 

an acknowledgment of your application. If you want to 

know the date that the Copyright Office receives your paper 

application or your deposit, use registered or certified mail 

and request a return receipt.

The Copyright Office cannot honor requests to make certificates available for pickup or to send them by express mail.

Deposit Requirements for Registration 

You must send a deposit copy and a description of the work 

being registered. The nature of the copy and description may 

vary, depending on the factors below.

Published Motion Pictures

For all published motion pictures, send

1 a separate description of the nature and general content 

of the work—for example, a shooting script, a synopsis, or 

a pressbook; and

2 one complete copy of the work. A copy is complete if it 

is undamaged and free of splices and defects that would 

interfere with viewing the work. 

For motion pictures first published in the United States, 

send one complete copy of the best edition. Where two or 

more editions are published in the United States, the best 

edition is the one preferred by the Library of Congress. Currently, the Library accepts in descending order of preference:

Film, rather than another medium

1 Preprint material, by special arrangement

2 70mm positive print, if original production negative is greater than 35mm

3 35mm positive prints

4 16mm positive prints

Videotape formats

1 Betacam SP

2 Digital Beta (Digibeta)

3 DVD

4 VHS cassette
Copyright Registration for Motion Pictures · 3

For motion pictures first published abroad, send one 

complete copy as first published or one copy of the best

edition.

Unpublished Motion Pictures

For unpublished motion pictures, send

1 a separate description of the work, and

2 a copy of the work containing all the visual and aural elements covered by the registration. An alternative deposit 

option is available for unpublished motion pictures. For 

information, call (202) 707-8182.

Motion Pictures Not Viewable by Copyright Office Staff

The Copyright Office does not have equipment to view 

motion pictures in certain formats, including 1" open-reel 

videotapes and 8mm videocassettes. If you send one of these 

formats, please include the credits in the separate written 

description. If the work was first published before March 1, 

1989, the Copyright Office must examine the work for the 

required copyright notice. In this case, please send the best 

edition copy and a copy that the Copyright Office can view—

for example, a half-inch VHS videocassette.

Exceptions to Normal Deposit Requirement 

In certain circumstances, special relief from the normal 

deposit requirement is available. In addition, the Motion 

Picture Agreement provides for alternative deposit procedures for published motion pictures.

Special Relief

Where it is unusually difficult or impossible to comply with 

the deposit requirement for a particular motion picture, 

you can submit a written request for special relief from the 

normal requirement. Address the request to the chief of the 

Performing Arts Division, state why you cannot provide 

the required copy, and describe the nature of the substitute 

copy being deposited. Include this letter with the registration 

material. 

The decision to grant or deny special relief is based on 

the acquisitions policies and archival considerations of the 

Library of Congress and the examining requirements of the 

Copyright Office.

Motion Picture Agreement

The Motion Picture Agreement establishes several alternative 

deposit procedures for published motion pictures. How well 

it will serve a particular applicant depends on several factors, including how often the applicant files registrations. For 

details, call the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded 

Sound Division at (202) 707-8572 or write to

Library of Congress

Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division

attn: Reference Assistant

101 Independence Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20540

Mandatory Deposit for Published U.S. Works

The owner of copyright or the owner of the exclusive right 

of publication of a motion picture published in the United 

States has a legal obligation to deposit in the Copyright 

Office within three months of publication in the United 

States one complete copy of the best edition of the work 

and a description of it. Failure to deposit this copy after the 

Copyright Office demands it can result in fines and other 

penalties.

Depositing the required copy with an application and 

fee for copyright registration simultaneously satisfies any 

mandatory deposit requirement for the motion picture. Satisfying the mandatory deposit requirement alone does not 

provide the benefits of copyright registration. For details, see 

Circular 7d, Mandatory Deposit of Copies or Phonorecords for 

the Library of Congress. 

Motion Picture Collection

The Library of Congress holds the nation’s central collection of 

books, recordings, photographs, maps, audiovisual works, and 

other research materials. Many of the Library’s acquisitions are 

obtained through copyright deposits. The material acquired 

by this means is critical to the Library’s recognized success in 

maintaining superior and comprehensive collections.

Motion pictures form an essential part of the Library’s 

holdings. As feature films, television programs, videos, and 

other audiovisual media become increasingly popular as a 

means of communication, education, and entertainment in 

our society, they also form a greater part of our historical 

record. The preservation facilities and bibliographic control 

provided by the Library ensure that many of these works will 

be available to future generations.
Copyright Registration for Motion Pictures · 4

U.S. Copyright Office · Library of Congress · 101 Independence Avenue SE · Washington, DC 20559 · www.copyright.gov

Motion Pictures First Published Before 1978

Works first published with notice before 1978 had an original 

28-year term of copyright, and registration had to be made 

within that first term. The copyright could then be renewed 

in the 28th year for an additional term. Legislation enacted 

in 1992 made renewal automatic for works copyrighted 

between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1977, and made 

it possible to register such works during their renewal term 

provided they were published with an acceptable notice. 

Such registrations must be made on Form RE accompanied by Form RE/Addendum. If such works were registered 

during their original term, their registrations can be renewed 

at any time during their renewal terms with just Form RE.

To access fill-in versions of Form RE and Form RE/Addendum, go to the Copyright Office website, www.copyright.gov, 

and click on Forms. Complete the form(s) on your personal 

computer, print them out, sign and date them, and mail 

them with a check or money order and deposit (see below). 

Blank forms can also be printed out and completed by hand 

or requested by postal mail (limit two copies of any one form 

by mail).

Deposit Requirement

If you register a claim in a motion picture first published 

before 1978 using Form RE and Form RE/Addendum, 

deposit one copy of the work as first published, that is, one 

of the first prints or tapes made from the master and 

distributed. If that is not available, deposit one complete 

copy of the original footage as first published that is 

reproduced in an acceptable format showing the copyright 

notice. See Circular 3, Copyright Notice, for notice 

requirements.

If you renew the registration of a work registered in 

its original term using Form RE, no additional deposit is 

required. For more information, see Circular 15, Renewal of 

Copyright.

Form GATT

A 1994 amendment to the U.S. copyright law included in the 

Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA) restored copyright 

in certain foreign works that had previously been in the 

public domain (including those that had entered the public 

domain because of publication without the required notice). 

Works whose copyrights have been restored can be registered 

on Form GATT. See Circular 38b, Highlights of Copyright 

Amendments Contained in the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, 

for more information.

For Further Information

By Internet

Circulars, announcements, regulations, application forms, 

and other materials are available on the Copyright Office 

website at www.copyright.gov.

By Telephone

For general information about copyright, call the Copyright 

Public Information Office at (202) 707-3000 or 1-877-476-

0778 (toll free). Staff members are on duty from 8:30 am to

5:00 pm, eastern time, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. Recorded information is available 24 hours a 

day. To request paper application forms or circulars, call (202) 

707-9100 or 1-877-476-0778 and leave a recorded message. 

By Regular Mail

Write to

Library of Congress

Copyright Office–COPUBS

101 Independence Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20559

circular 45 reviewed: 03 ⁄ 2014 Printed on recycled paper u. s. government printing office: 2014-xxx-xxx ⁄ xx,xxx