U.S. Copyright Fees

[Post-Doctorate D]

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Copyright Office is doing its part to spread the pain by raising registration fees effective March 20th.

The standard registration goes from $55 to $65 and the single author/claimant registration goes from $35 to $45.

[LilyBLily]

Thanks for the info. Note that "standard" is not necessary for a single-author novel. I did have to use standard for a book I wrote an introduction for but was not the author of; the Copyright Office site tends to default to standard, so caveat emptor.

[Post-Doctorate D]

I have to use standard for my newsletter.  Even though I am (usually) the only author, it's considered a periodical so has to go under the standard fee.

I do use the $35 (now $45) option for my novels though.

[Jeff Tanyard]

Thanks for the info. Note that "standard" is not necessary for a single-author novel. I did have to use standard for a book I wrote an introduction for but was not the author of; the Copyright Office site tends to default to standard, so caveat emptor.

If you write under a pen name but you want your real name as a claimant, then you have to use the standard registration.  The single-author registration is only for when the name on the cover is the claimant.

It wasn't always like this.  They changed the form a couple of years ago.   

[Post-Doctorate D]

One can hope the increase in fees will support increased staffing or automation systems to process copyright registrations faster.

[LilyBLily]

One can hope the increase in fees will support increased staffing or automation systems to process copyright registrations faster.

Since once I got an email from them on a Sunday, yeah, I think they need more staff. Although, oddly, my last two releases received their copyrights in just a couple of months instead of the usual eight months.

[Jeff Tanyard]

One can hope the increase in fees will support increased staffing or automation systems to process copyright registrations faster.

I've worked for a good-size local government before.  I've seen what they do when they have extra money to spend, and "increasing efficiency" ain't it.

[okey dokey]

QUOTE:
"increasing efficiency ain't it

I agree with you.
My dad was an assistant postmaster when Congress increased the budget to improve mail service.
The Post Office used the extra money (millions of dollars) to repaint the curbside mail deposit boxes from brown to blue.

[Jeff Tanyard]

QUOTE:
"increasing efficiency ain't it

I agree with you.
My dad was an assistant postmaster when Congress increased the budget to improve mail service.
The Post Office used the extra money (millions of dollars) to repaint the curbside mail deposit boxes from brown to blue.

 

Doesn't surprise me at all.