1509.3 (E) Foreign Visual Arts Works 1509.3 (E) (1) Two-Dimensional Works
To register an unpublished, two-dimensional visual arts work that was created by a citizen or national of a foreign country, the applicant may submit identifying material instead of submitting an actual copy of the work. See 37 C.F.R. § 202.20 (C) (2)(iv). For information concerning the requirements for identifying material, see Section 1509.3 (C).
To register a visual arts work that was published solely in a foreign country, the applicant should submit one complete copy of the work as first published in that country. 37 C.F.R. § 202.20 (C) (1)(iv).
If the work was published in a foreign country and then subsequently published in the United States, the applicant may submit one complete copy or phonorecord of the work as first published in the foreign country. Alternatively, the applicant may submit one complete copy of the best edition that was published in the United States, provided that the content of the U.S. edition is identical to the content of the foreign edition. See id.
NOTE: There are several exceptions to these rules, which are discussed in Sections 1509.3 (A) (3) through 1509.3 (A) (11).