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As a writer or an artist, you want to make sure that your work is protected. While registering with the US Copyright Office is not required in Massachusetts, it can be beneficial if you ever have an issue with others using or copying your work. Although Massachusetts is not a “copyright state,” you can still register a copyright in Massachusetts with the US Copyright Office. It will help you enforce your rights in federal court.
In addition to suing for damages and injunctive relief (court orders), you can also sue for attorney’s fees, statutory damages, and other remedies available under the law.
The Copyright Office requires that you pay a fee and provide a copy of your work to be registered. The fee is paid at the time of registration and can be submitted online or by mail.
To register online, simply select “Online Copyright Office” from their homepage and follow the steps to fill out an application form. If you would rather pay via mail, send in a check or money order payable to “Register of Copyrights” along with a completed application form (available here). For individuals who do not have access to either of these options, there are third-party companies that will help you complete your application for a fee. However, it is better to do this yourself if possible because it is relatively straightforward.
The USCO will inspect your work after you have filed it before accepting it for registration. Their inspection might reveal any problems with its copyrightability. In that case, they will notify you immediately in order to address any issues before proceeding further with registration efforts.
When submitting works containing multiple editions (e.g., hardcover/trade paperback/mass market paperback), make sure all editions are included on one application form. You must also include enough copies of each edition submitted. This helps each examiner to easily read them without having to squint through tiny text—one copy per 25 pages is recommended as long as both sides are legible when folded over horizontally into thirds vertically within reasonable margins around them (i.e., no more than two inches).
The Copyright Office charges a fee for registering copyright that ranges from $35 to $85 depending on how you file. The size of your work and whether you file electronically or on paper determine the amount due. For example, if you’re submitting an electronic application and your work has 25 pages or more, the fee is $35. If it has fewer than 25 pages, the cost is $30. If it has 10 pages or less, then it costs nothing at all!
The Copyright Office also offers several ways to pay these fees. You can mail in a check or use online payment methods like PayPal, Venmo, and Google Pay (formerly called Google Wallet).
To register your copyright in Massachusetts, go to the US Copyright Office website and fill out an application called Form PA. You’ll need to provide a copy of your work as well as a fee. The fee is about $35 for most works. But it can be more or less depending on how many copies you’re registering and what else you might want to be included with the registration (like copies of contracts or other legal documents related to your work).
Form PA is available in PDF format on their website here: https://www.copyright.gov/forms/. It’s a fillable PDF document that will ask you several questions while also providing some space for additional notes if needed; just make sure all the information is accurate before submitting!
You can register the copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office or with the Massachusetts Secretary of State. It’s not required, but a registered copy is more likely to be recognized by courts than an unregistered one.
Registering with the US Copyright Office is not a requirement in Massachusetts. However, it can be beneficial if you ever have an issue with others using or copying your work.
The Copyright Act of 1976 governs copyright law in the United States. The act defines copyright as follows:
“Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) to authors of “original works of authorship” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works”.
In order to register a copyright in Massachusetts, you will have to file an application and pay a specific amount of filing fee. This article includes all the details. Make sure you fulfill all the requirements for registering a copyright.
Register Your Trademark & Get The Delivery of your USPTO Serial No. In 24 Hours
Register Your Trademark with USPTO Today & Get Serial No. in 24 Hours