620.6 Works by Two or More Authors That Do Not Meet the Statutory Definition of a Joint Work
If the work was created by two or more authors but does not meet the statutory definition of a joint work, the applicant should provide a brief statement explaining how the claimant obtained ownership of the work that the applicant intends to register.
Example:
• Katey Pitt is the author of a murder mystery titled A Little Dog Laughed; Mick Anders created the artwork that appears on the dust jacket. Katey and Mick assigned the copyright in their respective works to Pitfall Mystery Publishing. The publisher submits an online application naming Katey Pitt as author of “text,” Mick as author of “artwork,” and Pitfall Mystery Publishing, Inc., as the copyright claimant. The publisher provides a transfer statement explaining that it obtained the copyright in the text and artwork “by written agreement.” The registration specialist will register the claim with an annotation, such as: “Basis for registration: Unit of publication.”