2122.6 (B) Notice Requirements
The copyright notice for a motion picture or other audiovisual work may consist of any acceptable form of the word “copyright” or the copyright symbol, along with the name of the copyright proprietor and the year date of first publication. Generally, it should be embodied in the motion picture or filmstrip, preferably in the title frames or near them, or embodied in or after the closing credits, and should be clearly visible when projected or broadcast. For more information about copyright notice requirements, see U.S. COPYRIGHT OFFICE, COMPENDIUM OF U.S. COPYRIGHT OFFICE PRACTICES Chs. 4, 8.2, & Supplementary Practice Nos. 18, 19, 27, 29, 35 & 37 (1st ed. 1973), available at http://copyright.gov/comp3/chap2100/doc/appendixA-noticerequirements.pdf.
NOTE: Renewal registration may be possible when a motion picture was first published before 1978 with a copyright notice that lacks a year date, provided that the other required elements are included within the notice. By contrast, registration may be refused if the notice is illegible or otherwise fails to clearly meet the notice requirements.