Transfer: The statute provides that, if the copyright claimant is not the author,
the application for registration must contain “a brief statement of how the claimant
obtained ownership of the copyright.” If any copyright claimant named in space 4 is
not an author named in space 2, give a brief statement explaining how the claimant(s)
obtained ownership of the copyright. Examples: “By written contract”; “Transfer of all
rights by author”; “Assignment”; “By will.” Do not attach transfer documents or other
attachments or riders.
General Instructions: The questions in space 5 are intended to find out
whether an earlier registration has been made for this work and, if so, whether there is
any basis for a new registration. As a rule, only one basic copyright registration can be
made for the same version of a particular work.
Same Version: If this version is substantially the same as the work covered by a pre-
vious registration, a second registration is not generally possible unless: (1) the work has
been registered in unpublished form and a second registration is now being sought to
cover this first published edition; or (2) someone other than the author is identified as a
copyright claimant in the earlier registration, and the author is now seeking registration
in his or her own name. If either of these two exceptions applies, check the appropriate
box and give the earlier registration number and date. Otherwise, do not submit Form
VA. Instead, write the Copyright Office for information about supplementary registra-
tion or recordation of transfers of copyright ownership.
Changed Version: If the work has been changed and you are now seeking registra-
tion to cover the additions or revisions, check the last box in space 5, give the earlier
registration number and date, and complete both parts of space 6 in accordance with
the instruction below.
Previous Registration Number and Date: If more than one previous registration
has been made for the work, give the number and date of the latest registration.
General Instructions: Complete space 6 if this work is a “changed ver-
sion,” “compilation,” or “derivative work,” and if it incorporates one or more earlier
works that have already been published or registered for copyright, or that have fallen
into the public domain. A “compilation” is defined as “a work formed by the collec
-
tion and assembling of preexisting materials or of data that are selected, coordinated,
or arranged in such a way that the resulting work as a whole constitutes an original
work of authorship.” A “derivative work” is “a work based on one or more preexisting
works.” Examples of derivative works include reproductions of works of art, sculp-
tures based on drawings, lithographs based on paintings, maps based on previously
published sources, or “any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed, or
adapted.” Derivative works also include works “consisting of editorial revisions, anno-
tations, or other modifications” if these changes, as a whole, represent an original work
of authorship.
Preexisting Material (space 6a): Complete this space and space 6b for derivative
works. In this space identify the preexisting work that has been recast, transformed, or
adapted. Examples of preexisting material might be “Grunewald Altarpiece” or “19th
century quilt design.” Do not complete this space for compilations.
Material Added to This Work (space 6b): Give a brief, general statement of the addi-
tional new material covered by the copyright claim for which registration is sought.
In the case of a derivative work, identify this new material. Examples: “Adaptation of
design and additional artistic work”; “Reproduction of painting by photolithography”;
“Additional cartographic material”; “Compilation of photographs.” If the work is a
compilation, give a brief, general statement describing both the material that has been
compiled and the compilation itself. Example: “Compilation of 19th century political
cartoons.”
Deposit Account: If you maintain a deposit account in the Copyright Office, identify
it in space 7a. Otherwise, leave the space blank and send the fee with your application
and deposit.
Correspondence (space 7b): Give the name, address, area code, telephone number,
email address, and fax number (if available) of the person to be consulted if correspon-
dence about this application becomes necessary.
Certification (space 8): The application cannot be accepted unless it bears the date
and the signature of the author or other copyright claimant, or the owner of exclusive
right(s), or the duly authorized agent of the author, claimant, or owner of exclusive
right(s).
Address for Return of Certificate (space 9): The address box must be completed leg-
ibly since the certificate will be returned in a window envelope.
as an atlas, if the parties expressly agree in a written instrument signed by them that the
work shall be considered a work made for hire.” If you have checked “Yes” to indicate
that the work was “made for hire,” you must give the full legal name of the employer
(or other person for whom the work was prepared). You may also include the name
of the employee along with the name of the employer (for example: “Elster Publishing
Co., employer for hire of John Ferguson”).
“Anonymous” or “Pseudonymous” Work: An author’s contribution to a work is
“anonymous” if that author is not identified on the copies or phonorecords of the
work. An author’s contribution to a work is “pseudonymous” if that author is identified
on the copies or phonorecords under a fictitious name. If the work is “anonymous”
you may: (1) leave the line blank; or (2) state “anonymous” on the line; or (3) reveal
the author’s identity. If the work is “pseudonymous” you may: (1) leave the line blank;
or (2) give the pseudonym and identify it as such (for example: “Huntley Haverstock,
pseudonym”); or (3) reveal the author’s name, making clear which is the real name
and which is the pseudonym (for example: “Henry Leek, whose pseudonym is Priam
Farrel”). However, the citizenship or domicile of the author must be given in all cases.
Dates of Birth and Death: If the author is dead, the statute requires that the year of
death be included in the application unless the work is anonymous or pseudonymous.
The author’s birth date is optional but is useful as a form of identification. Leave this
space blank if the author’s contribution was a “work made for hire.”
Author’s Nationality or Domicile: Give the country of which the author is a citi-
zen or the country in which the author is domiciled. Nationality or domicile must be
given in all cases.
Nature of Authorship: Categories of pictorial, graphic, and sculptural authorship
are listed below. Check the box(es) that best describe(s) each author’s contribution to
the work.
3-Dimensional sculptures: Fine art sculptures, toys, dolls, scale models, and sculp-
tural designs applied to useful articles.
2-Dimensional artwork: Watercolor and oil paintings; pen and ink drawings; logo
illustrations; greeting cards; collages; stencils; patterns; computer graphics; graphics
appearing in screen displays; artwork appearing on posters, calendars, games, com-
mercial prints and labels, and packaging; artwork applied to useful articles; designs
reproduced on textiles, lace, and other fabrics and on wallpaper, carpeting, floor tile,
wrapping paper, and clothing.
Reproductions of works of art: Reproductions of preexisting artwork made by, for
example, lithography, photoengraving, or etching.
Maps: Cartographic representations of an area, such as state and county maps,
atlases, marine charts, relief maps, and globes.
Photographs: Pictorial photographic prints and slides and holograms.
Jewelry designs: 3-dimensional designs applied to rings, pendants, earrings, neck-
laces, and the like.
Technical drawings: Diagrams illustrating scientific or technical information in
linear form, such as blueprints or mechanical drawings.
Text: Textual material that accompanies pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, such
as comic strips, greeting cards, game rules, commercial prints or labels, and maps.
General Instructions: Do not confuse “creation” with “publication.” Every
application for copyright registration must state “the year in which creation of the
work was completed.” Give the date and nation of first publication only if the work
has been published.
Creation: Under the statute, a work is “created” when it is fixed in a copy or pho-
norecord for the first time. If a work has been prepared over a period of time, the part
of the work existing in fixed form on a particular date constitutes the created work on
that date. The date you give here should be the year in which the author completed the
particular version for which registration is now being sought, even if other versions
exist or if further changes or additions are planned.
Publication: The statute defines “publication” as “the distribution of copies or pho-
norecords of a work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental,
lease, or lending”; a work is also “published” if there has been an “offering to distrib-
ute copies or phonorecords to a group of persons for purposes of further distribution,
public performance, or public display.” Give the full date (month, day, year) when, and
the country where, publication first occurred. If first publication took place simultane-
ously in the United States and other countries, it is sufficient to state “U.S.A.”
Name(s) and Address(es) of Copyright Claimant(s): Give the name(s) and
address(es) of the copyright claimant(s) in this work even if the claimant is the same as
the author. Copyright in a work belongs initially to the author of the work, including, in
the case of a work made for hire, the employer or other person for whom the work was
prepared. The copyright claimant is either the author of the work or a person or orga-
nization to whom the copyright initially belonging to the author has been transferred.
SPACE 3: Creation and Publication
3
SPACE 4: Claimant(s)
4
SPACE 5: Previous Registration
5
SPACE 6: Derivative Work or Compilation
6
SPACE 7,8,9: Fee, Correspondence,
Certication, Return Address
7,8,9
