618.4 (B) Paper Applications: Nature of Authorship Space
When completing a paper application, the applicant should identify the authorship that is owned by the copyright claimant that the applicant intends to register. The applicant should not assert a claim in material that is not owned by the copyright claimant, material that was not created by the author(s) named in the application, 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).
When completing a paper application using Form VA, the applicant should check one or more of the boxes in space 2 that accurately describe the authorship that the applicant intends to register. When completing a paper application using Forms TX, PA, SR, or SE, the applicant should provide a brief statement that accurately describes the authorship that will be submitted for registration. This statement should be provided in space 2 of the application under the heading Nature of Authorship. If the applicant needs more space to provide a complete and accurate description of the claim, the applicant should complete and submit as many continuation sheets as necessary.
The U.S. Copyright Office may accept any of the terms listed below or any combination of those terms that are not redundant or duplicative (e.g., “text” and “computer program” when support for each term is nonexistent), provided that they accurately describe the copyrightable authorship being claimed. In some cases, the Office may accept variant forms of these terms. If the statement provided in the Nature of Authorship space is contradicted by the information provided in the deposit copy(ies) or elsewhere in the registration materials, the registration specialist will communicate with the applicant.
For a definition and discussion of the following terms, see Section 618.4 (C). For representative examples that demonstrate how to complete the Nature of Authorship space, see Section 618.4 (D).
Literary Works / Form TX
• Text
• Photograph(s)
• Artwork
• Computer program
Works of the Visual Arts / Form VA. When completing a paper application using Form VA, the applicant should check one or more of the boxes in space 2 that accurately describe the authorship that the applicant intends to register. The options include:
• 2-dimensional artwork
• Photograph
• 3-dimensional sculpture
• Jewelry design
• Map
• Technical drawing
• Reproduction of work of art
• Text
Works of the Performing Arts / Form PA
• Music
• Lyrics
• Text
• Musical arrangement
• Choreographic work
• Pantomime
Sound Recordings / Form SR
• Sound recording
Motion Pictures or Audiovisual Works / Form PA
• Entire motion picture
• Production
• Cinematography
• Direction
• Script
• Screenplay
• Audiovisual material
Single Serial Issue (i.e., a single issue of a serial publication) / Form SE
• Collective work authorship
• Collective work authorship and component work(s) authored or fully owned by the Collective Work Author