804.9 (C) The Author Created Field and the Nature of Authorship Space
When completing an online application, the applicant should identify the copyrightable authorship that the applicant intends to register on the Authors screen. When completing a paper application, the applicant should provide this information on space 2 of the application under the heading Nature of Authorship.
In all cases, the applicant should clearly and accurately describe the author’s contribution to the work. When completing an online application, the applicant may select the boxes marked “text,” “music,” “lyrics,” and/or “musical arrangement” in the Author Created field. If the author created the text that appears in the dramatic work, the applicant may describe that text by writing one or more of the following terms in the field marked Other.
• Play
• Script
• Screenplay
• Musical play
• Adaptation
• Dramatization
• Treatment
• Synopsis
These terms also may be used when completing the Nature of Authorship space on Form PA.
In all cases, the applicant should use terms that describe the authorship that has been submitted for registration, rather than the applicant’s future plans for the work. For example, if the work is a treatment for a future motion picture, the applicant should state “treatment” not “motion picture.”
When completing this portion of the application, the applicant should avoid using ambiguous terms or terms that describe uncopyrightable material, such as:
• Idea
• Plot
• Format
• Characters
• Stage directions
For additional guidance in completing this portion of the application, see Chapter 600, Section 618.