Will The US Copyright Office Accept a Copy of My Work in any Form?

Question: Will The US Copyright Office Accept a Copy of My Work in any Form?

Answer: No. You have to send the US Copyright Office a copy called a "deposit" of your work in the form they want it in. Below are a few examples of what the copyright office does and does not want.

Manuscripts On A Computer Floppy Disk Or Zips

No. There are many different software formats and the Copyright Office does not have the equipment to accommodate all of them. [hh3]My Work Is A CD-ROM Yes. The deposit requirement must consists of the best edition of the CD-ROM package of any work, including the accompanying operating software, instruction manual and a printed version, if included in the package. See Copyright Registration for Multimedia Works

Unpublished Novels

There is no specific requirement as to the printing, binding, format, or paper size and quality of unpublished manuscript material. Typewritten, photocopied, and legibly handwritten manuscripts, preferably in ink, are all acceptable for deposit.

Unpublished Songs

Deposit one complete, clean, and neat copy of the lead sheet or sheet music on properly formated archival paper or deposit a CD-Rom of the song.

Look for the "deposit requirements" that apply to your work (i.e. painting, novel etc) described in detail for every category of work listed under Copyright Registration Procedures.

Always submit the best edition of your published work as your deposit.