Clear Guidance on Protecting Creative Works

Original works of authorship receive copyright protection. That covers literary pieces, dramas, music, art, software, architecture, films, and many other creative creations.

Original creative works fall under copyright. Inventions and discoveries are covered by patents. Words, phrases, symbols, or designs that signal where goods or services come from are protected by trademarks.

Formal protection begins when you submit a Copyright Application to the U.S. Copyright Office, which operates as a division of the Library of Congress.

After you file, registration typically arrives within two to three months. Paying a higher government fee can open the door to expedited processing.

U.S. copyright protection ordinarily continues for the author’s lifetime plus an additional 70 years.

Authorship belongs to whoever actually creates the work—such as the writer of a book, the composer of a song, the creator of artwork, or the performer of recorded music.

No. When copyright protection ends, the work moves into the public domain, where anyone may generally copy and distribute it.

Yes. Treaties linking the United States with many other nations extend U.S. copyright protection under international law in those participating countries.

Yes. Registration is available for any work covered by U.S. copyright law, including foreign-origin works and works made by non-U.S. citizens.

Thousands of copyrights have been registered through our team. Experience plus proprietary systems let us follow your application at the U.S. Copyright Office through to registration.