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# Circulars

Circulars are published by the Copyright Office to provide up-to-date and authoritative information to a general audience. Circulars are arranged below by topic and cover the basics and fundamental concepts of copyright law, highlights of policies and procedures of the Copyright Office, and registration issues for specific categories of works. For full details regarding the Office’s policies and procedures, refer to the *Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, Third Edition*.

Circulares en español

**Please note:** in September 2017, the Office began releasing refreshed and updated circulars. A complete guide to circular updates can be found here. 

## Circulars

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### Foundations of Copyright

          -  Copyright Basics  ( Circ. 1 )						
          -  Copyright Registration  ( Circ. 2 )						
          -  Copyright Notice  ( Circ. 3 )						
          -  Copyright Office Fees  ( Circ. 4 )						
          -  Copyright Office Deposit Account  ( Circ. 5 )						
          -  Renewal of Copyright  ( Circ. 6A )   
          -  Duration of Copyright  ( Circ. 15A )   
          -  Extension of Copyright Terms  ( Circ. 15T )   

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### Office Practices and Procedures

          -  Best Edition of Published Copyrighted Works for the Collections of the Library of Congress  ( Circ. 7B )   
          -  Responding to a Mandatory Deposit Notice  ( Circ. 7C )						
          -  Mandatory Deposit of Copies or Phonorecords  ( Circ. 7D )						
          -  Supplementary Registration  ( Circ. 8 )						
          -  Special Handling  ( Circ. 10 )						
          -  Using the Single Application  ( Circ. 11 )						
          -  Recordations of Transfers and Other Documents  ( Circ. 12 )						
          -  Calculating Fees for Recording Documents in the Copyright Office  ( Circ. 12A )						
          -  Obtaining Access to and Copies of Copyright Records and Deposits  ( Circ. 6 )						
          -  How to Obtain Permission  ( Circ. 16A )						
          -  Limitations on Information and Services Provided by the Copyright Office  ( Circ. 17 )						
          -  Privacy: Public Copyright Registration Records  ( Circ. 18 )						
          -  Deadlines for Replying to Copyright Office Correspondence  ( Circ. 19 )						
          -  Requests for Reconsideration  ( Circ. 20 )						
          -  How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work  ( Circ. 22 )						
          -  The Copyright Card Catalog and the Online Files of the Copyright Office  ( Circ. 23 )						
          -  Group Registration of Unpublished Works  ( Circ. 24 )						

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### Copyright Concepts

          -  Copyright Registration for Derivative Works  ( Circ. 14 )						
          -  Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians  ( Circ. 21 )						
          -  Works Made for Hire  ( Circ. 30 )						
          -  Works Not Protected by Copyright  ( Circ. 33 )						
          -  Multiple Works  ( Circ. 34 )						
          -  International Copyright Relations of the United States  ( Circ. 38A )						
          -  Copyright Restoration under the URAA  ( Circ. 38B )						
          -  Federal Statutory Protection for Mask Works  ( Circ. 100 )						
          -  Pseudonyms   ( Circ. 32 )						

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### Visual Arts Works

          -  Copyright Registration for Pictorial, Graphic, and Sculptural Works  ( Circ. 40 )						
          -  Deposit Requirements for Registration of Claims to Copyright in Visual						  Arts Material  ( Circ. 40A )						
          -  Copyright Registration of Architectural Works  ( Circ. 41 )						
          -  Copyright Registration of Photographs  ( Circ. 42 )						

----

### Performing Arts Works

          -  Copyright Registration for Motion Pictures Including Video Recordings  ( Circ. 45 )						
          -  Copyright Registration of Musical Compositions  ( Circ. 50 )						
          -  Copyright Registration of Choreography and Pantomime  ( Circ. 52 )						
          -  Copyright Registration for Multimedia Works  ( Circ. 55 )						
          -  Copyright Registration of Sound Recordings  ( Circ. 56 )						
          -  Musical Compositions and Sound Recordings  ( Circ. 56A )						 Pre-1972 Sound Recordings (**Circ. 57**)						  Group Registration for Works on an Album of Music (**Circ. 58**)  Compulsory License for Making and Distributing Phonorecords (**Circ. 73A**)						  Compulsory License for Making and Distributing Digital Phonorecords (**Circ. 73B**)    Literary Works-  Copyright Registration of Computer Programs  ( Circ. 61 )						
-  Copyright Registration for Single Serial Issues  ( Circ. 62 )						
-  Group Registration of Newspapers  ( Circ. 62A )						
-  Copyright Registration for Group of Serial Issues  ( Circ. 62B )						
-  Copyright Registration of Contributions to Periodicals  ( Circ. 62C )						
-  Copyright Registration for Secure Tests and Test Items  ( Circ. 64 )						
-  Copyright Registration for Automated Databases  ( Circ. 65 )						
-  Copyright Registration of Websites and Website Content  ( Circ. 66 )						
-  Group Registration of Short Online Literary Works  ( Circ. 67 )						
  Licensing- How to Make Statutory License Royalty EFT Payments Using Pay.gov  ( Circ. 74 )                                   						
- The Licensing Division of the Copyright Office  ( Circ. 75 )						
-  Copyright Office Licensing Division Service Fees  ( Circ. 76 )						
         Circular 1: Copyright Basics×
Overview of basic facts about copyright and copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office, covering works eligible for protection, rights of copyright owners, who can claim copyright, and copyright duration.		
PDF (109 KB)CloseCircular 2: Copyright Registration×
Guidelines for submitting a complete, accurate copyright claim, covering online and paper applications, filing fees, deposit copies, communicating with the Office, and determining when registration takes effect.						
PDF (98 KB)Close		Circular 3: Copyright Notice×
Introduction to copyright notice, covering the elements of notice, where notice is required and where it is optional, legal formalities, and advantages to including notice. 		
PDF (125 KB)Close		Circular 4: Copyright Office Fees×
Details regarding the Office’s fee schedule, services, and acceptable methods of payment.                
PDF (127 KB)Close		Circular 5: Copyright Office Deposit Account×
The U.S. Copyright Office maintains a system of deposit accounts for the convenience of frequent users of the Office’s services. This circular outlines the regulations for opening and using an account.                
PDF (98 KB)CloseCircular 6A: Renewal of Copyright×
Basic information regarding renewal registration for works that first secured federal protection between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1977, covering incentives for renewal registration, ownership during the renewal term, and procedure for registering a renewal claim. 		
PDF (99 KB)Close		Circular 7B: Best Edition of Published Copyrighted Works for the Collections of the Library of Congress×
Discussion of the “best edition” requirements for works submitted for copyright registration or for the mandatory deposit provision in the copyright law. 		
PDF (121 KB)Close		Circular 7C: Responding to a Mandatory Deposit Notice×
Instructions for when you respond to a mandatory deposit notice by registering your work.		
PDF (80 KB)Close		Circular 7D: Mandatory Deposit of Copies or Phonorecords×
The copyright law’s “mandatory deposit” provision requires that two copies of the “best edition” of a copyrightable work published in the United States be sent to the Copyright Office within three months of publication. This circular covers general mandatory deposit requirements, special rules and exemptions, submission procedures, penalties, and special relief.		
PDF (230 KB)Close		Circular 8: Supplementary Registration×
Policies and procedures for correcting or amplifying information in an existing copyright registration, including new online application process.		
PDF (135 KB)Close		Circular 10: Special Handling×
See 
temporary procedures for special handling during COVID-19 pandemic.				Practices and procedures for special handling, a service to expedite claims for applicants with pending or prospective litigation, customs matters, or contract or publishing deadlines.		PDF (116 KB)Close		Circular 11: Using the Single Application×
Eligibility and guidelines for submitting a complete, accurate copyright claim using the Single Application. 		
PDF (95 KB)Close		Circular 12: Recordations of Transfers and Other Documents×
Introductory information regarding recordation of transfers of copyright ownership and other documents pertaining to copyright. Note that some of the information in this Circular, in particular the requirements for recordation, have been superseded by the Copyright Office’s final rule on fees for recording documents with electronic title lists and interim rule on document recordation. For information regarding current practices, please visit the Office’s Recordation web page.
The procedural requirements for recordation have been superseded by the Office’s interim rule on document recordation and final rule on fees. For information on current practices see https://www.copyright.gov/recordation.PDF (1.06 MB)Close		Circular 12A: Calculating Fees for Recording Documents and Notices of Termination in the Copyright Office×
Information for calculating the fee to record documents and notices of termination with the Copyright Office. 		
PDF (104 KB)Close		Circular 16A: How to Obtain Permission×
Outline for how to make sure your intended use of a copyrighted work is lawful by obtaining permission or a license from the copyright owner. 		
PDF (95 KB)Close		Circular 17: Limitations on Information and Services Provided by the Copyright Office×
Limitations on information and services provided by the Copyright Office. The Copyright Office cannot provide legal advice, enforce copyright, assist in the use of copyrighted works, compare works, or grant access to certain records. 		
PDF (94 KB)Close		Circular 18: Privacy: Public Copyright Registration Records×
Overview of how information you provide on your copyright application is available to the public and procedures for substituting and—in limited cases—removing information from the online record.                		
PDF (325 KB)Close		Circular 19: Deadlines for Replying to Copyright Office Correspondence×
Overview of the time frames to respond to Copyright Office correspondence and introduces some of the consequences of failing to reply in a timely manner, including permanent closure of a registration application and delay in the effective date of registration or recordation.  		
PDF (98 KB)Close		Circular 20: Requests for Reconsideration×
Overview of administrative process for requesting reconsideration of a refused application.                
PDF (102 KB)Close		Circular 24: Group Registration of Unpublished Works×
Requirements and registration issues for group registration of unpublished works, including eligibility, registration procedure, and deposit requirements. 
PDF (407 KB)Close		Circular 30: Works Made for Hire×
Introduction to “work made for hire,” covering the legal requirements for a work made for hire and who is considered the author and the copyright owner.		
PDF (110 KB)Close		Circular 32: Pseudonyms×
Introduces the role of pseudonyms in copyright law, including effect on duration and registration procedures                		
PDF (83 KB)Close		Circular 33: Works Not Protected by Copyright×
Highlight of different types of works and subject matter that do not qualify for copyright protection, including ideas, methods, and systems; names, titles, and short phrases; typeface, fonts, and lettering; blank forms; and familiar symbols and designs.		
PDF (91 KB)Close		Circular 34: Multiple Works×
Introduction to the Office’s practices and procedures for the limited cases when multiple works can be registered on one application, including collective works, group registrations, unpublished collections, and works packaged as a single unit.		
PDF (98 KB)Close		Circular 38A: International Copyright Relations of the United States×
Brief overview of the international conventions, treaties, and other bilateral instruments that the United States has concluded with other countries, and it details the participation of other countries in these same instruments.		
PDF (361 KB)Close		Circular 41: Copyright Registration of Architectural Works×
Requirements and registration issues involving architectural works, including authorship, completing the application, and submitting a deposit.		
PDF (93 KB)Close		Circular 42: Copyright Registration of Photographs×
Requirements and registration issues involving photographs, including publication and group registration.		
PDF (84 KB)Close		Circular 50: Copyright Registration of Musical Compositions×
Requirements and registration issues involving musical compositions, including completing the application, submitting a deposit, and registering multiple unpublished musical compositions.		
PDF (133 KB)Close		Circular 52: Copyright Registration of Choreography and Pantomime×
Requirements and registration issues involving choreography and pantomime, including works published before January 1, 1978, fixation, works not protected as choreography or pantomime, compilations, and derivative works.		
PDF (97 KB)Close		Circular 56: Copyright Registration of Sound Recordings×
Requirements and registration issues involving sound recordings, including the distinction between sound recordings and other works, completing the application, deposit requirements, registering multiple sound recordings, and the scope of copyright protection in sound recordings.		
PDF (199 KB)Close		Circular 58: Group Registration of Works on an Album×
Requirements and registration issues for group registration of musical works on an album, including eligibility, registration procedure, and deposit requirements.		
PDF (119 KB)Close		Circular 61: Copyright Registration of Computer Programs×
Requirements and registration issues involving computer programs, including HTML, deposits and trade secrets, derivative computer programs, CD-ROMs, computer screen displays, user manuals, video games, and object code.		
PDF (103 KB)Close		Circular 62: Copyright Registration for Single Serial Issues×
Requirements and procedures for registration of a single serial issue.		
PDF (181 KB)Close		Circular 62a: Group Registration of Newspapers×
Requirements and registration issues involving newspapers, including group registration eligibility, registration procedure, and deposit requirements.		
PDF (87 KB)Close		Circular 62b: Copyright Registration for Group of Serial Issues×
Requirements and registration issues involving group registration of serials.		
PDF (99 KB)Close		Circular 62C: Copyright Registration of Contributions to Periodicals×
Requirements and registration issues involving contributions to periodicals, such as articles, artwork, poetry, or photographs.		
PDF (133 KB)Close	   Copyright Registration for Secure Tests and Test Items×
Requirements and registration issues involving secure tests and secure test items, including eligibility for secure test and test item procedures, scope of registration, and overview of registration process.		
PDF (150 KB)Close		Circular 66: Copyright Registration of Websites and Website Content×
Requirements and registration issues involving websites and website content, including authorship, copyrightable content, publication, and deposit requirements for website content. 		
PDF (104 KB)Close		Circular 67: Group Registration of Short Online Literary Works×
Requirements and registration issues for group registration of short online literary works, including eligibility, registration procedure, and deposit requirements.		
PDF (98 KB)Close		Circular 73: Compulsory License for Making and Distributing Phonorecords×
On October 11, 2018, the Orrin G. Hatch–Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act (MMA) was signed into law. Among other things, it makes significant changes to the section 115 compulsory license.  The Office will be updating Circulars to account for the new law.  Please visit the Office’s MMA 
homepage  for more information.		Close		Circular 74A: How to Make Statutory License Royalty Payments by Wire×
Instructions for wire royalty payments.                		
PDF (122 KB)Close		Circular 74B: How to Make Statutory License Royalty Payments by ACH Credit×
Instructions for ACH credit royalty payments.		
PDF (110 KB)Close		Circular 74: How to Make Statutory License Royalty EFT Payments Using Pay.gov×
Instructions for Pay.gov royalty payments.                		
PDF (107 KB)Close		Circular 75: The Licensing Division of the Copyright Office×
Overview of the Licensing Division of the U.S. Copyright Office .              			
PDF (76 KB)Close		Circular 76: Copyright Office Licensing Division Service Fees×
Details regarding the Office’s fee schedule, services, and acceptable methods of payment for the Licensing Division.		
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