How to Register a Copyright in Oklahoma

Introduction

Registering a copyright is not difficult, but there are steps you need to take. Follow these instructions to make sure your work is registered correctly:

Choose the Correct Form

Download the form TX (literary works), VA (visual arts works), or PA (performing arts works) from the U.S. Copyright Office site.

Fill in the Required Information on the Form

The form will ask you to provide the following information:

• The name and address of the copyright claimant. This is usually the person who owns the rights to the work. If you are a sole owner, this is you. If it’s in a group setting, such as for works created by an LLC or corporation, then it could be any number of people listed on your certificate of formation or articles of incorporation.
• Title of work. This should be short but precise: “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” instead of “My Favorite Book.” (You can include longer titles if necessary)
• Brief description if appropriate: You may choose not to list one here—this is optional—but many people find it helpful when describing their work to others who may not have read it or heard about it before now.
• Date(s) on which the first publication occurred/will occur (you must select one), along with whatever additional information we need if they differ from what was provided above (such as the country where the first publication occurred).

Put your Work in the Final Form

The next step is to make sure that your work is in final form. This means that it has been created or fixed into a tangible medium. In other words, it must be “a physical embodiment of an idea or expression,” and not just a concept or idea.

For example, the following items qualify as “works” under the Copyright Act:

• A musical composition (e.g., music on paper).
• A dramatic work (e.g., a play).
• A choreographic work (e.g., dance choreography).

Mail the Completed Application

Mail the completed application, fee, and a nonreturnable copy or copies of the work to be registered to the Copyright Office at 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20559-6000.

The application must include:

• a signed authorization from you authorizing us to forward an image of your work for identification purposes.
• two copies (or three if they are on different media) of each work you wish registered.

Copyright Registration Benefits

Copyright registration is a great way to protect your work, but it’s not the only way.

If you’re not sure if you should register your copyright, here are some of the benefits of doing so:

1. Registration is a prerequisite for filing a lawsuit for copyright infringement.

2. Registration is proof that you own the work and can sue for infringement.

3. The law requires that infringers give notice of their infringement to the copyright owner, who must register before sending a demand letter or filing a lawsuit.

Conclusion

We hope you found this post helpful! As always, we’d like to remind readers that the information contained herein is for informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional legal advice.