Get Cpy Document - U.s. Copyright Office - Copyright

Copyright is a type of intellectual property that protects original works of authorship as soon as an author fixes the work in a tangible form of expression.

Welcome to the Copyright Public Records Portal. This is your starting point for finding copyright records held by the Copyright Office. Here, you can search our online records, learn about our searching and retrieval services, and view educational videos and materials.

Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1986 (17 U.S. Code § 107) states that fair use of copyrighted material "for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright."

The Copyright Office cannot grant permission to use copyrighted works. In many situations, securing permission is the most certain way to ensure an intended use is not an infringement of the copyright owner's rights. For more information about limitations to copyright law, see fl 102, Fair Use.

The three basic elements of copyright: originality, creativity, and fixation. There are three basic elements that a work must possess in order to be protected by copyright in the US: Originality: To get a copyright, a work must be the original work of the author.

In general, the permissions process involves a simple five-step procedure: Determine if permission is needed. Identify the owner. Identify the rights needed. Contact the owner and negotiate whether payment is required. Get your permission agreement in writing.

For example, a photographer might permit the use of one of their photographs on a book jacket. A software company might permit customers to use its software program. In both cases, the copyright owner grants permission to use the copyrighted work and retains ownership of the copyright.

In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work.

To register a claim to copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office, the claimant must: (1) submit a properly completed application; (2) pay a nonrefundable fee; and (3) deposit the required number of copies of the works to be registered. How long does copyright protection last?