623.5 (D) Procedure for Requesting Special Handling for a Pending Application or a Pending Recordation
A request for special handling may be made at any time before the U.S. Copyright Office issues a certificate of registration or certificate of recordation. If an application or a document recordation request is already pending, the applicant or remitter may ask the
U.S. Copyright Office to process the application or document on an expedited basis, provided that the requesting party pays the special handling fee and provided that there is a compelling reason for the request.
To request special handling for a pending application or a pending recordation request,
the applicant or remitter should complete the form posted on the Office’s website. Alternatively, the applicant or remitter may prepare a letter containing the information set forth in Section 623.5 (B).
To facilitate the location of the application that is the subject of the request, it should include the following information:
• The service request number/case number for the work, if known.
• The exact title of the work as it appears in the application.
• The name(s) of the author(s) and claimant(s) named in the application.
• A description of the deposit copy(ies), phonorecords, or identifying material that were submitted to the Office.
• The date that the application and copy(ies) were submitted to the Office.
• The means by which the application and copy(ies) were submitted to the Office (e.g., by electronic submission, first class mail, registered mail, certified mail, commercial carrier, courier, or hand delivery).
To facilitate the location of the document that is the subject of the request, it should include the following information:
• The title of the first work listed in the document.
• The date the document was submitted to the Office.
• The means by which the document was submitted to the Office (e.g., by first class mail, registered mail, certified mail, commercial carrier, courier, or hand delivery).
• The amount of the recordation fee that was submitted to the Office and the type of payment (e.g., by deposit account, by check, by credit card, etc.).
• The name of the person or entity who paid the recordation fee.
The request should be sent to the Office in an envelope that is clearly labeled “Special Handling” together with the special handling fee and, if possible, with a photocopy of the application or a photocopy of the document. The envelope may be delivered in person to the Public Information Office using the procedure described in Section 623.5 (B), or it may be delivered by U.S. mail, commercial carrier, or courier using the procedure described in Section 623.5 (C).
In some cases, the applicant may be required to pay a search fee if the application or document cannot be located immediately. The fee for this service is set forth in the Office’s fee schedule under the heading “Retrieval of in-process or completed Copyright Office records or other Copyright Office material.”