Follow these steps to register your musical work, dramatic work, script, pantomime, choreography, motion picture, or other audiovisual work with the U.S. Copyright Office:

Step 1

Make sure your work is a performing arts work. Performing arts works are intended to be "performed" directly before an audience or indirectly "by means of any device or process." Included are (1) musical works, including any accompanying words; (2) dramatic works, such as scripts, including any accompanying music; (3) pantomimes and choreographic works; and (4) motion pictures and other audiovisual works.

Note: Copyright registration for a sound recording alone is neither the same as, nor a substitute for, registration for the musical, dramatic, or literary work recorded. The underlying work may be registered in its own right apart from any recording of the performance, or in certain cases, the underlying work may be registered together with the sound recording. To register sound recordings, see the Sound Recordings page instructions.

Put into one envelope or package:

1. A completed application Form PA or Short Form PA.

2. A $30 payment to "Register of Copyrights."

3. Non-returnable copy(ies) of the material to be registered. (Read details on Special Deposit Requirements for musical compositions and motion pictures)

Step 3

Send the package to:

Library of Congress
Copyright Office
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20559-6000

Your registration becomes effective on the day that the U.S. Copyright Office receives your application, payment, and copy(ies) in acceptable form. If your submission is in order, you will receive a certificate of registration in 4 to 5 months.

For more details, please see Circular 45, Copyright Registration for Motions Pictures Including Video Recordings; Circular 50, Copyright Registration for Musical Compositions; Circular 55, Copyright Registration for Multimedia Works; and other informational circulars.

The Copyright Office is changing the format of certain copyright registration certificates, as part of a pilot project that involves registrations for motion pictures and other audiovisual works. (read more)