In the second partially of this guide to publishing copyright, we ’ ll explain what copyright is and whether you actually need to register it. But for now, let ‘s get into it. here ‘s the simple 7-step process on how to copyright a book .
Table of Contents
1. Go to the U.S. Copyright Office website
You can find the US Copyright Office ’ s landing page at copyright.gov/registrations. There is the option to submit a newspaper application, but the cost is importantly higher ( $ 125 filing fee ) and you may have to wait between 10 and 15 months for processing.
2. Select the “Literary Works” category
Screengrab: copyright.gov
If you ’ re looking to copyright anything chiefly intended to be read — not lyrics, or a screenplay — click on Literary Works then Register a Literary cultivate on the following page .
3. Create a new account
You will be prompted to sign in to the Online Copyright Office if you already have an report. If you haven ’ triiodothyronine registered a work through this locate before, just tap the connection that says If you are a newly exploiter, chink here to register .
Screengrab: copyright.gov
On the following page, you ’ ll be prompted to enter your personal information, vitamin a well as a new USER ID ( user list ) and password .
You can register your copyright under a pen list subsequently, so do n’t worry besides much about using a legal mention or another alias at this point .
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4. Start the copyright registration process
once you ’ ve logged in, tap the Register One Work by One Author connect under Copyright Registration. This will allow you to access the $ 45 registration choice, preferably than the standard $ 65 cost .
Screengrab: copyright.gov
Note: the Copyright Office ’ s web site advises you to use the Firefox browser for best results. Having tested this on all other major browsers, we can confirm that the Copyright Office ‘s web site is just as surly and outdated-looking on all of them. Don ’ thyroxine concern, though. You won ’ thymine be here for retentive .
Assuming that you ’ re barely registering one book ( and that you are the sole author and copyright holder ), hit ‘ Start Registration ’ on the future page .
Screengrab: copyright.gov
5. Fill out the details
The next stage just requires you to fill in the details of your reserve, hitting the Continue button after each degree .
Screengrab: copyright.gov
once all the details are filled in, and you have reviewed your submission, hit the Add to Cart button at the top and you ’ ll be taken to the payment page .
6. Complete the copyright application
In your on-line ‘ haul ’, click the Pay – Credit Card/ACH push button and you ’ ll be directed to the US Treasury ’ mho web site where you can complete your payment either by credit/debit card or direct down payment.
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7. Submit your work to finish copyrighting your book
once your payment has been confirmed, you will be prompted to submit a transcript of your book. The Copyright Office requests authors to send in the “ best version ” available of your book. Depending on how many editions you have, this will mean :
- A paperback version, rather than the digital version
- The hardcover edition, rather than the paperback.
In short, they want the nicest, shiniest translation of your record that you have on offer .
now that you know how to copyright your book, make certain you check out Part Two of this lead .
