Bert Swope
The United States Copyright Office is a Library of Congress service unit. It registers and records copyright claims, provides information to the public, and helps Congress and other federal agencies on a wide range of copyright issues, both simple and complex.
Its headquarters are in the Library’s James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC. Its offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., eastern time, except federal holidays.
Origins and History of the US Government Copyright Office
The Copyright Office has been at the forefront of copyright law in the United States for over 150 years. As a department of the Library of Congress, and recognized by Congress as a separate department since 1897, the Copyright Office registers copyright claims, records information about copyright ownership, and provides information to the public, all helping fulfill the Constitutional purpose of copyright protection.
In 1790, Congress enacted the first federal copyright law, protecting books, pamphlets, maps, and charts. These works were registered in the United States District Court where the author or proprietor lived. In 1870, copyright functions were centralized in the Library of Congress at the encouragement of Librarian of Congress Ainsworth Rand Spofford.
Spofford appointed Thorvald Solberg as the first dedicated Register of Copyrights. He used the deposit copies of registered works to help build the Library’s collection. The Copyright Office also assisted the Librarian in establishing the library’s main catalog.
Today, the Copyright Office protects copyrighted works and promotes creativity and free expression. It registers copyright claims; records information about copyright ownership; provides information to the public; and assists Congress and other parts of the government on a wide range of copyright issues, both simple and complex.
The copyright system has undergone many changes during the past century. For example, the term of protection for a copyrighted work has increased from life plus 50 years to life plus 70 years.
Moreover, under the current federal law, copyright is protected by a combination of originality, fixation, and minimal creativity criteria. Those criteria are determined based on factors including whether the work is published or not, notice of the copyrighted work and registration of the work with the Copyright Office.
Additionally, the Copyright Office develops regulations that govern different areas of copyright law. These rules govern things like behavior by private parties in the music licensing industry, or circumvention of technological measures that protect copyrighted material, among others.
The Copyright Office also helps the courts resolve copyright disputes. It has a number of services, including the Copyright Claims Board, which began operating in June 2022 as a voluntary alternative to district court litigation for infringement claims of $30,000 or less.
Purpose of the US Government Copyright Office
The purpose of the Copyright Office is to promote the Constitutional goal of promoting creativity and free expression in order to benefit society. The Office does this through its registration and recording functions and by providing information to the public about copyrights. The Copyright Office also administers a wide range of compulsory licenses that enable certain works to be made, used, and distributed in the United States.
The Register of Copyrights has overall responsibility for the Office, including the legal interpretation of the copyright law; administration of the provisions of title 17 of the U.S.C.; promulgation of regulations; and advising Congress and other government officials on domestic and international copyright policy and other intellectual property issues. He is assisted by a General Counsel, an Associate Register of Copyrights, and an Office of Policy and International Affairs.
In addition, he represents the Copyright Office in meetings of foreign intergovernmental organizations and in meetings with government officials concerned with the international aspects of copyright protection. In these capacities, he participates in the negotiation of trade agreements and the development of other global intellectual property policies.
Among other things, the Register of Copyrights is responsible for registering and recording copyrighted works; researching and certifying copyright ownership, both analog and digital; maintaining and servicing copyright-related records; and making official copies of recorded documents. He is also the chief administrative officer of the Office and advises on core business functions such as human capital, finances, the administration of certain statutory licenses, mandatory acquisitions and deposits, product management, and materials control and analysis.
He is also one of the Register’s top legal advisors and a leading expert in copyright and intellectual property law. He is a member of the Advisory Committee on Copyright and Patents, the Board of Governors of the Library of Congress, and the Council of Representatives.
The Office is divided into five divisions: Operations, Legal, Policy and International Affairs, Financial Management, and Materials Control and Analysis. Each of these divisions carries out important functions, including supervision of the human capital, finances, the administration of certain mandatory acquisitions and deposits, and product management.
Major Functions of the US Government Copyright Office
A copyright is a legal protection that protects an individual’s creations from infringement by other people. To obtain this protection, an individual must register a copyrighted work with the Copyright Office. This registration process is the first step to bringing a legal action against someone who is infringing on a copyright. The Copyright Office also maintains a database of all registered works, called the copyright catalog.
The Copyright Office is the main administrator of copyrights in the United States; organized as a department of the Library of Congress. It administers the nation’s copyright law and provides impartial, expert advice on copyright law to Congress, federal agencies, courts, and the public.
One of the primary responsibilities of the Office is to serve as the principal copyright policy advisor to Congress on national and international copyright matters. As such, the Register of Copyrights testifies on copyright issues before the House and Senate committees and regularly prepares substantive reports to Congress on a wide range of copyright-related topics.
As part of this responsibility, the Copyright Office conducts numerous studies to help shape copyright policy. In 2021, the Office completed three of its ongoing studies and began several new ones at the request of Congress.
The Office also examines applications and deposits submitted to the Copyright Office for the registration of original and renewal copyright claims and records documents related to copyright ownership. The Office also reviews claims to mask work protection filed under the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984 and claims in vessel hull designs filed under the 1998 Vessel Hull Design Protection Act.
In addition, the Office provides public information and reference services concerning copyrights and recorded documents; produces and supplies forms and publications; furnishes search reports based on Copyright Office records; prepares certifications and other legal documents; and preserves, maintains, and services copyright-related records. It also administers the mandatory deposit requirement of the Copyright Act and other Copyright Office regulations that acquire materials needed for the collections of the Library of Congress.
The Office has two major service areas, the Materials Control and Analysis Division (MCA) and the Product Management Division (PMD). The MCA processes incoming mail and creates initial records; dispatches electronic and hardcopy materials to the appropriate service areas; and manages outgoing mail functions. The PMD advises on business process integration and improvements in connection with technology initiatives affecting the Copyright Office.
Official URL of the US Government Copyright Office
The official copyright office URL is a tad confusing, but it’s not hard to figure out. The site’s main page is home to the Copyright Office’s most recognizable incarnation, as well as the offices of several other notable offices, including the aforementioned CFO, the CBO, and the CFTC. Nevertheless, the most important part of any web experience is finding the right page on which to start. The Copyright Office’s main page is the best place to start. The main page is a good place to start for copyrighted material, and it’s a good idea to bookmark the Copyright Office’s most relevant pages to minimize the time and effort required to find the content you’re after. Whether you’re looking for a free download, a fee-paying courtesy appointment or want to see what’s new, the Copyright Office is here to help.
