618.4 (A) The Online Application: Author Created Field
When completing an online application, the applicant should identify the authorship that the applicant intends to register on the Authors screen by checking one or more of the boxes in the Author Created field that accurately describe the authorship that is owned by the copyright claimant.
The options for each type of work are listed below:
Literary Works
• Text
• Computer program
• Photograph(s)
• Artwork
Works of the Visual Arts
• Photograph
• 2-Dimensional artwork
• Jewelry design
• Sculpture
• Map
• Architectural Work
• Technical Drawing
Works of the Performing Arts
• Music
• Lyrics
• Other text (includes script, screenplay, dramatic work)
• Musical Arrangement
Sound Recordings
• Sound Recording
Motion Pictures and Audiovisual Works
• Entire motion picture
• Production
• Cinematography
• Direction
• Editing
• Script/Screenplay
Single Issue of a Serial Publication
• Collective work authorship
• Collective work authorship and component work(s) authored or fully owned by the Collective Work Author
For a definition and discussion of these terms, see Section 618.4 (C). For representative examples that demonstrate how to complete the Author Created field, see Section 618.4 (D).
As a general rule, the U.S. Copyright Office will accept any of these terms or any combination of these terms, provided that they accurately describe the copyrightable authorship being claimed. If the information provided in the Author Created field is contradicted by the information provided elsewhere in the registration materials, and if the issue cannot be addressed with an annotation, the registration specialist will communicate with the applicant.
The applicant should check the boxes that describe the authorship created by the author(s) named in the application that is owned by the individual(s) or entity(ies) who are named in the application as the copyright claimant(s). The applicant should not assert a claim in material created by authors who are not named in the application, material that is not owned by the copyright claimant, material that will not be submitted for registration, or material that does not appear in the work. Likewise, the applicant should not assert a claim in any material that is uncopyrightable or de minimis. For information concerning claims in uncopyrightable or de minimis material, see Sections 618.8 (C) and 618.8 (D).
Example:
• An application is submitted for a multimedia work that contains artwork, photographs, and a map. The copyright claimant owns the copyright in the artwork, but does not own copyright in the other material that appears in the work. In the Author Created field the applicant should check the box for “2-D artwork,” but should not check the boxes for “photograph” or “map.” Instead, the applicant should exclude that material from the claim using the procedure described in Section 621.8.
The applicant should check the boxes that identify the specific type of authorship that the applicant intends to register. For example, if the applicant intends to register a screenplay or a computer program, the applicant should check the boxes marked “script/screenplay” or “computer program,” rather than the boxes marked “editing” or “text.” Likewise, if the applicant intends to register an atlas or a necklace, the applicant should check the boxes marked “map” or “jewelry design,” rather than the boxes marked “sculpture” or “2-D artwork.”
If the terms provided in the checkboxes do not fully describe the copyrightable authorship that the applicant intends to register, the applicant should provide a more specific description in the “Other” field.
Examples:
• The applicant intends to register the introduction to a travel guide. The applicant may assert a claim to copyright in this authorship by checking the box marked “text” in the Author
Created field or by stating “text of introduction” in the Author
Created / Other field.
• The applicant intends to register a short story which was published on pages 59– “77 of an anthology. The applicant may assert a claim to copyright in this authorship by checking the box marked “text” in the Author Created field or by stating “text of story appearing on pages 59– “77” in the Author Created / Other field.
• The applicant intends to register a fabric design. The applicant may assert a claim to copyright in this authorship by checking the box marked “2-D artwork” in the Author Created field or by stating “fabric design” in the Author Created / Other field.
• The applicant intends to register the artwork that appears on the surface of a handbag. The applicant may assert a claim to copyright in this authorship by checking the box marked “2-D artwork” in the Author Created field or by stating “artwork applied to handbag” in the Author Created / Other field.
• The applicant intends to register a collective work, including the text and some of the photographs that appear in the book. The applicant may assert a claim to copyright in this authorship by stating “collective work” in the Author/Created Other field and checking the boxes marked “text” and “photograph(s).”
• The applicant intends to register a comedy sketch. The applicant may assert a claim to copyright in this authorship by checking the box marked “script/screenplay” or by stating “comedy sketch” in the Author Created / Other field.
• The applicant intends to register a ballet. The applicant may assert a claim to copyright in this authorship by stating “choreographic work” in the Author Created / Other field.
Currently, the total amount of text that may be provided in the Author Created / Other field is limited to 100 characters. If more space is required, the applicant should provide the additional information in the Note to Copyright Office field.