How to Register a Copyright in Arizona

Introduction

In the United States, copyright protection is automatic and does not require registration. However, if you want to enforce your rights in court or need to prove that you are the owner of a given work, it is important to register a copyright in Arizona with the U.S. Copyright Office.

Register a Copyright in Arizona

To register for copyright, you need to fill out a form and submit it with three copies of your work. You can do this online or by mail. You can also do it in person at the Library’s Copyright Office in Washington, DC.

You cannot register a work that is published on the date it’s submitted or within 30 days before that date (unless special rules apply). For example, if you want to register an article written for publication in July 2017 and mailed or delivered to the publisher on June 15th, then you have until July 31st – 30 days from submission – to send your paperwork over so that it arrives by then.

File the Application

File the application. If you’re filing a copyright for your work, the application is available online and it’s free. Once you’ve filled out all of the information on the application, you must submit it to the U.S. Copyright Office in person at their Phoenix office, or by mail if you reside outside of Arizona. Because this process intends to prevent fraud, it is mandatory to submit all applications in person or by mail before the publication or distribution of any copies or reproductions of your work.

Pay the Fees

Once you’ve come up with a title, it’s time to file your application with the US Copyright Office. The fee is $35 if you’re registering a single work, which includes books, pictures, and artwork of any kind. It’s also $55 for groups of works that relate to each other or are part of an overall project (for example a compilation CD-ROM). If you want to take advantage of their online services—or if you can’t meet the physical requirements for filing in person—the fee is $85 per title. Finally, if your work involves an audiovisual medium like CDs or DVDs along with written material (for example computer game manuals), then they’ll charge an extra $100 per title.

Send in Two Copies of your Work

You’ll need to send in two copies of your work. One copy will be sent on to the Copyright Office and one will stay with you so that you can keep track of who has access to the work and where they are allowed to use it.

Takeaway:

The benefits of registering your copyright are too numerous to list here, but they include the following:

  • You will be able to sue for damages if someone infringes on your work. Without registration, you can only sue for actual damages (i.e., what it cost you to create the work).
  • If a work is registered within three months of publication or before an infringement occurs—whichever comes first—you can collect attorney’s fees from the infringer.
  • Your copyright lasts for 70 years after the death of its author and can last even longer if there are multiple authors who died more than 70 years ago.

Conclusion

We hope that this guide has given you the information you need to register copyright in Arizona. If you have any questions about how to start registering your work, please feel free to contact us.

Start your Trademark
Registration
Now

Register Your Trademark & Get The Delivery of your USPTO Serial No. In 24 Hours

Related Posts

How to Copyright a Brand Name?
How to Copyright a Brand Name?
register copyright in Mississippi
How to Register Copyright in Mississippi
How to Register a Copyright for Leather Goods
How to Register a Copyright for Lace and Embroidery

USPTO Trademark Filing in Just $49

Register Your Trademark with USPTO Today & Get Serial No. in 24 Hours