How Much Does It Cost to Get a Copyright?

How much does a copyright cost?

Copyright fees are set by the U.S. Copyright Office (USCO). The filing fees are set high enough to cover service costs but low enough to be fair, equitable, and affordable—even for starving artists.   

At the time of the writing of this article, the following fees are applicable for registration of copyright for a single work of authorship:

• Online registration: $45
• Print registration: $125
• Group Registrations (multiple works per application):
• Unpublished works: $85
• Published photographs or unpublished photographs: $55
• Works published on an album of music: $65
• Serials (minimum two issues): $35
• Newspapers, newsletters, or updates to news websites: $95
• Contributions to periodicals: $85
• Short online literary works: $65
• Other Registrations:
• Renewal claims (Form RE): $125
• Claims in restored copyrights (Form GATT): $100
• Preregistration of certain unpublished works: $200
• Supplementary registration (electronic filing): $100
• Mask work claims (Form MW): $150
• Vessel design claims (Form D/VH): $500

These fees are subject to change. For instance, in 2019, the Copyright Office announced a new group registration for unpublished works (GRUW) that allows creators to register up to ten unpublished works on one application. Check the schedule of fees on the Copyright Office website to get the most current information.

What other fees or costs are associated with copyrights?

The copyright registration fee is the only official fee you have to pay to obtain your certificate. That said, there are other optional add-ons.

Let’s take a look at some situations that would increase your costs:

• Expedited processing (special handling). If you need your certificate of registration faster than the typical processing time because of litigation, customs, or publishing deadlines, you can pay to have your certificate expedited. The fee for special handling is $800 in addition to the application fee. 
• Additional certificates of registration. You can obtain an extra copy of your registration certificate for $55.
• Corrections or amplifications. If you need to correct or add information on your claim, there is a $100 fee for electronic filing ($150 for paper filing). To correct online public catalog data due to an erroneous electronic title submission, it is $7 per title. 
• Preregistration: For $200, you can preregister works that are in progress but not published yet to protect against infringement. This applies to motion pictures, sound recordings, musical compositions, literary works, and more. 

While you don’t need an attorney to file a copyright, they can be useful in certain situations:

• Filing assistance. If you have problems filling out the registration form, whether you're filing online or using a paper form, or if you have a more complicated copyright situation—for example, you're one of several creators of collaborative work—you may want to hire an intellectual property attorney.
• Infringement lawsuits. One of the main benefits of registering your copyright is that you have legal recourse against anyone who copies or misuses your work. If you do end up filing an infringement lawsuit, you will incur any costs associated with that. 
• Licensing. If you're looking to generate an income by licensing your copyright, you will face additional costs to obtain legal advice to help you with the licensing process.

While the additional costs may seem intimidating, these are all circumstantial; most people only have to pay the Copyright Office fees.

What is the process to register a copyright?

Even though you automatically own the copyright to your original, creative work, it's still a good idea to formally register your copyright. You can register either online or by mail:

• Online registration. To register your copyright online, go to the U.S. Copyright Office website.
• Print registration. To register your copyright by mail, download the appropriate form from the Copyright Office's forms page. Fill out the form and send it in along with your payment and any required deposit.

To make the process easier and avoid mistakes, you may decide to work with a copyright service like LegalZoom. We not only do it for less than most attorneys (only $114 + filing fees), but we do it all online so you can do the whole process in your jammies if you choose. Many of our customers are able to complete their copyright registration in under 15 minutes. 

Can I get a copyright for free?

As a matter of basic U.S. copyright law,, you automatically gain copyright for your original creative work from the moment that work is "fixed in a tangible form of expression."

This means that from the moment you set your creation down in some form of a permanent medium, you have copyright over it.

For example, while an improvised performance of a street dance is too fleeting to be considered "fixed in a tangible form of expression," if you record your performance on film, you automatically obtain copyright over that recorded performance.

So, "Can I get a copyright for free?" The answer is yes. Your copyright over your work begins from the moment your original work is expressed in a permanent medium.

But if you want enhanced protections that allow you to better enforce your rights and control how your copyright is used, then registering your copyright is essential.

FAQs

What are the accepted payment methods for copyright fees?

The U.S. Copyright Office accepts credit and debit cards or electronic checks. You can also set up a deposit account. This might be a good option for you if you’re a songwriter or photographer and plan to register many copyrights throughout the year. 

How do I copyright something for free?

You can generally copyright something for free by simply creating/performing/recording it. Enshrined in law by the Copyright Act of 1976, almost anything you create and record in tangible form automatically belongs to you. You can watermark it, add copyright notices, and decide how you want it to be used—it’s yours! Copyright registration is an optional step to add extra legal protection to your work. 

Is a copyright worth the cost?

If you can get a copyright for free, why pay for copyright registration? Formally registering your copyright legally protects your work from infringement. It gives you the right to file a lawsuit against anyone who infringes on your copyrighted materials. And if you do pursue legal action, it gives you a significant advantage in court.

What types of works are eligible for copyright protection?

Almost any type of creative work can be copyrighted. Music, movies, and art are some of the first types that come to mind, but architectural designs and computer software can also be copyrighted. Facts, ideas, systems, methods of operation, words, or phrases cannot be copyrighted (but some of these may be trademarked).

How much does a copyright cost for group registrations?

Group registrations allow you to register multiple published works under one application. If you are a songwriter or comic artist, for instance, this saves you (and the Copyright Office) a lot of time and money. In 2019, the Copyright Office added an option to register a group of unpublished works as well.

Belle Wong, J.D. contributed to this article.