803.2 (B) Sound Recordings Distinguished from the Sounds Accompanying a Motion Picture
There is a legal distinction between a sound recording and the soundtrack for a motion picture or other audiovisual work. The statutory definition for a sound recording specifically states that this category does not include the “sounds accompanying a motion picture or other audiovisual work.” 17 U.S.C. § 101. Thus, when an applicant intends to register the sounds in a motion picture or other audiovisual work, the applicant must state “sounds,” “soundtrack,” or “sounds accompanying a motion picture/audiovisual work,” rather than “sound recording.”
For further information on this issue, see Sections 803.8 (F) (1), 807.2 (B), and 808.2 (B).