1706 Final Agency Action
A decision issued by the Review Board in response to a second request for reconsideration constitutes the final agency action with respect to the issues addressed therein. 37 C.F.R. § 202.5 (G).
If the U.S. Copyright Office upholds the refusal to register following a request for reconsideration, an applicant may appeal that decision under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”) by instituting a judicial action against the Register of Copyrights in federal district court. See 5 U.S.C. § 500 et seq.
An applicant does not need to appeal a refusal to register under the APA in order to institute an infringement action in federal district court. See 17 U.S.C. § 411 (A). However, the applicant must serve a copy of the infringement complaint on the Register, and “[t]he Register may, at his or her option, become a party to the action with respect to the issue of registrability of the copyright claim by entering an appearance within sixty days after such service … .” Id.