How to Register a Copyright in Rhode Island

Introduction

If you’ve written a book, song, movie script, or other creative work and want to protect it with an official copyright, there’s no need to hire an attorney—the process is simple. Here’s what you need to know about registering copyright in Rhode Island:

Register your Work with the Library of Congress

Registering your work with the Library of Congress gives you important legal protections. When you register your work, you are stating that you are the author of the work and that no one else has any rights to it.

Registering a work does not automatically make it protected under copyright law. It simply provides evidence for use in a court proceeding if someone sues you or uses your material without permission.

How do I Register an Unpublished Collection?

If you are filing a collection of works, it’s the same process. You’ll want to register each individual work as a separate item (the cost is the same). If you’re filing electronically, you can do that as one item in some cases; for example, if all the items came from a single source or were created by one author during the same 12-month period and are closely related in subject matter or form. The Copyright Office encourages us to file them together so they can be easier for them to manage. If your collection is made up of multiple independent works by two or more authors that were not published together as part of one volume, however, you’ll need to file each work separately as an individual electronic registration ($35) or paper application ($85).

If you’re filing by mail and want to register more than one work at once (e.g., if they’re all by the same author), please send copies with separate cover sheets listing each title on its own page in sequential order (e.g., “Number 1,” “Number 2,” etc.). In this case, we would charge $105 per group instead of $35 per individual piece—but again: it’s best if these pieces stay together.

How do I register Multiple Editions of a Single Work?

If you have published a single work in multiple editions, do not worry about the order of the editions. Just list them all. For example, if you have published your book in both print and ebook formats, list each edition separately:

• Book [print]
• Book [ebook]

What will I need to file for copyright?

To register a copyright, you’ll need to submit:

• The work in which you want to secure copyright protection.
• A completed application form. You can download the form from the US Copyright Office website or request one by mail, fax, or phone using Form CO-17.
• Two copies of your work (optional). It’s not necessary to include two copies if your claim covers only one type of medium (for example, books), but if it covers multiple media types—for instance, music recordings and soundtracks—you must submit two copies of each item listed on the registration.

Do I Need to Include Copies of my Work When I Register?

You do not need to include copies of your work when you register, but it may be required if you want to file a lawsuit or enforce your copyright. It can also be helpful if you plan on licensing the work later.

For example, if someone infringes on one of your copyrights and uses it without permission, you will have to provide copies of the infringing work as evidence during court proceedings.

Can Anyone Help me through the Process?

As a creator of original works, you may be wondering: “How do I register my copyright?” It’s a good question. Copyright law protects an author’s right to make copies of his or her work and publish it. The purpose of registering your copyright with the Library of Congress is to put others on notice that you own the work and have made it available for public use.

It’s important to note that there are different types of works protected by copyright. For example, literary works include novels, poems, and other written material, musical compositions include songs, dramatic works consist mostly of plays but also can include dance performances, pictorial art includes paintings and sculptures as well as photographs and digital images (but not drawings). You can learn more about these categories here.

Takeaway

The good news is that you don’t need to hire a lawyer or be a United States citizen. Registering your work is free and easy, and it gives you important legal protections.

The Copyright Office has a list of copyright-related forms for registering works. You can use these forms as-is or as templates for creating your own customized registration form with the information specific to your work.

Conclusion

You now know how to register your copyright in Rhode Island. Before you do so, you should make sure that your work meets the statutory requirements for copyright protection. You also have to decide whether you want to register with the Library of Congress or a state agency like Rhode Island’s Division of Revenue.