619.13(K) Variances Between the Name Provided in the Name of Claimant Field / Space and Elsewhere in the Registration Materials
As a general rule, the individual or legal entity that is identified in the application as the copyright claimant should be consistent with the ownership information that appears on the deposit copy(ies) or elsewhere in the registration materials. Ordinarily, the registration specialist will give greater weight to the information that appears in the Name of Claimant field/space. If appropriate, the specialist may add an annotation to the registration record to clarify the claimant’s name or to add information that appears on the deposit copy(ies) or elsewhere in the registration materials. The specialist may communicate with the applicant if the variance between the name provided in the Name of Claimant field/space is inconsistent with the ownership statements that appear on the deposit copy(ies) or elsewhere in the registration materials.
Example:
• An application is submitted naming Maureen Hope Sullivan as the author and Maureen Sullivan Romagnoli as the copyright claimant. A statement on the deposit copies reads “by Maureen Romagnoli.” The registration specialist may register the claim because Maureen Sullivan appears to be the author’s maiden name or married name. The specialist may add an annotation to the record, such as: “Regarding author information: Name appears on deposit copy as Maureen Romagnoli.”