1509.1 (A) Literary Monographs
A literary monograph is a literary work that is “published in one volume or a finite number of volumes.” 37 C.F.R. § 202.19 (B) (5). Examples of works that may qualify as a monograph include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, short stories, memoirs, textbooks, and other types of nondramatic literary works.
Most monographs are published in a single volume, rather than a series of successive issues or parts. Some monographs are published in separate volumes with each bearing the same title and successive numerical designations (as in the case of a multi-volume encyclopedia). But typically the entire work is published in a limited number of volumes that, taken together, constitute the work as a whole.
To register an unpublished monograph, applicants should submit one complete copy of the work. To register a published monograph, applicants generally should submit one complete copy of the best edition of the work. See 37 C.F.R. § 202.20 (C) (1) (I), (C) (2) (I)(L).
NOTE: Serials and legal publications are not considered monographs for purposes of registration. For information concerning the deposit requirements for these types of works, see Sections 1509.1 (B) and 1509.1 (C).
See Simplifying Deposit Requirements for Certain Literary Works and Musical Compositions, 82 Fed. Reg. 38,859, 38,860 (Aug. 16, 2017).