Read all of the instructions below before completing this form.
When to use this form
Use Form DCS to submit a document that
is a transfer of copyright ownership or other document pertaining
to a copyright that you wish to have recorded under section 205 of
the Copyright Act. Use of Form DCS is mandatory, and a properly
completed Form DCS must accompany all documents submitted
to the Copyright Office for recordation under 17 U.S.C. § 205. A
properly completed Form DCS must also be used to submit a doc-
ument for recordation pertaining to a mask work under 37 C.F.R.
§ 211.2, a vessel design under 37 C.F.R. § 212.6, or a U.S. sound re-
cording fixed before February 15, 1972 under 37 C.F.R. § 201.35.
When not to use this form
Do not use Form DCS when submit-
ting any other type of document to the Office, such as notices of
termination, DMCA online service provider agent designations,
identification of anonymous/pseudonymous authors, author
death statements, visual arts registry statements, shareware regis-
try statements, or any Licensing Division documents.
How to use this form
Follow these instructions to complete
Form DCS. All fields are required to the extent applicable, and all
information should be typed or printed. Include one completed
and signed Form DCS for each document being submitted for
recordation. The Office may reject any document submitted for
recordation that is not accompanied by Form DCS or is accom-
panied by an incomplete or improperly prepared Form DCS.
Submission requirements
Submit together in the same envelope
or package: (1) a properly prepared Form DCS; (2) the document
to be recorded; (3) the proper filing fee; and (4) any additional
material being provided in connection with your submission,
such as an electronic title list, English translation of non-English
material, written justification for certain redacted material, or an
additional copy of this completed form and a self-addressed post-
age-paid envelope for a return receipt. Absent special arrange-
ment with the Office, the Office reserves the right to not process
your submission unless all of the items necessary for processing
are received together. Mail your submission to:
Library of Congress
Copyright Office–DOC, LM 433
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20559-6000
Electronic title lists
In addition to identifying the works to which
a document pertains in the paper submission, an electronic title
list may also be submitted. An electronic title list is an Excel file
containing certain indexing information about the relevant works,
such as their titles, types of work, registration numbers, and au-
thorship information. Submitting an electronic title list is optional,
but can significantly shorten the Office’s processing time for re-
cording a document. Consequently, the Office offers a reduced
filing fee for submissions that include them. For more informa-
tion about electronic title lists, including the requirements and
instructions for completing and submitting them, see https://www.
copyright.gov/recordation/etl.
Declarations of Ownership in Musical Works (DOMWs)
A DOMW is a special type of recordable document available to
certain copyright owners of musical works. For more information
about DOMWs, including the requirements and instructions for
completing and submitting them, see https://www.copyright.gov/
recordation/domw.
note:
Among other requirements, a DOMW
must be accompanied by an electronic title list and be submitted
to a different mailing address than other documents submitted for
recordation. Mail DOMWs to:
Copyright Office–DOMW
P.O. Box 71537
Washington, DC 20024-1537
Recordation process
To be recorded, your submission must com-
ply with the Copyright Act’s statutory requirements (17 U.S.C. §
205) and the Office’s regulations (37 C.F.R. § 201.4) and instruc-
tions. The Copyright Office will examine, process, and index the
document in the public record based on the information you sub-
mit to the Office. The Office will rely on the certifications and in-
formation provided on Form DCS and, if provided, in an accom-
panying electronic title list. The Office will not necessarily confirm
the accuracy of such certifications or information against the sub-
mitted document. The fact that the Office has recorded a docu-
ment is not a determination by the Office of the document’s valid-
ity or legal effect. Recordation of a document by the Copyright
Office is without prejudice to any party claiming that the legal or
formal requirements for recordation have not been met, including
before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Privacy Act Advisory Statement
Please review the Privacy Act
notice at the top of the form. The principal uses of the requested
information are the establishment and maintenance of a public
record and the examination of the form for compliance with the
requirements for recordation. Other routine uses include public
inspection and copying, preparation of public indexes, prepara-
tion of public catalogs of recorded documents, and preparation of
search reports upon request.
note:
Form DCS will be imaged with the submitted document as
part of the public record. Please keep a copy of these instructions
and the completed form so that you may refer to them if the Of-
fice communicates with you regarding your submission.
6
Form DCS (
Document Cover Sheet)
·
Basic Information