1105.3 Registration Requirements
An applicant must satisfy certain requirements to obtain a group registration. The specific requirements for each group registration option are discussed in Sections 1106 (unpublished works), 1107 (serials), 1108 (newspapers), 1109 (newsletters), 1110 (contributions to periodicals), 1111 (short online literary works), 1112 (databases), and 1114 (photographs).
Based on its longstanding experience, the U.S. Copyright Office has determined that examining groups of related works imposes administrative costs and burdens on the Office. To examine these claims in an efficient and cost effective manner, the Office strictly applies the requirements for these group registration options. Moreover, the Office does not allow or provide for group registration of works that are not listed in Section 1105.2 or groups of related works that do not satisfy the requirements set forth in Sections 1106 through 1114. See Registration of Claims to Copyright: Group Registration of Serials, 55 Fed. Reg. 50,556, 50,556 (Dec. 7, 1990).
If the Office determines that the relevant requirements have not been met, the registration specialist may refuse to register the claim, and if appropriate, may instruct the applicant to prepare a separate application, filing fee, and deposit for each work and submit them for registration on an individual basis. 37 C.F.R. § 202.4(l). Alternatively, the specialist may communicate with the applicant at his or her discretion, if the specialist determines that the problem(s) with the claim can easily be addressed through correspondence.
Likewise, the Office may cancel a group registration if it subsequently determines that the applicant failed to comply with the relevant requirements for these options. 37 C.F.R. §§ 201.7 (C) (4)(xi), 202.4(m). The practices and procedures for cancelling a registration are discussed in Chapter 1800, Section 1807.