611.1 (B) Year of Completion for Multiple Versions of the Same Work
If the author created multiple versions of the same work, each version is considered a separate work. 17 U.S.C. § 101 (definition of “created”). As a general rule, the applicant must submit a separate application and filing fee for each of those versions. See 17 U.S.C. §§ 408 (A), 409. In preparing each application, the applicant should provide the year of completion for the specific version that is being registered.
Example:
• An application is submitted for a French translation of an English novel. The application states that the work was completed in 2007, but the deposit copies state, “English edition published 2007; French translation ¬© 2011.” The registration specialist will ask the applicant to provide the year of completion for the French translation.
In some cases it may be possible to register multiple versions of the same work with one application, provided that the works qualify for a group registration option. For information concerning these options, see Chapter 1100.