1. A _printed_ copy of the title (besides the two copies to be deposited
after publication) of the book, map, chart, dramatic or musical
composition, engraving, cut, print, photograph, or a _description_ of
the painting, drawing, chromo, statue, statuary, or model or design for
a work of the fine arts, for which copyright is desired, must be sent by
mail or otherwise, _prepaid_, addressed:
_Librarian of Congress,
Washington, D. C._
This must be done before publication of the book or other article.
The _printed title_ required may be a copy of the title page of such
publications as have title pages. In other cases, the title must
be printed expressly for copyright entry, with name of claimant
of copyright. The style of type is immaterial, and the print of a
type-writer will be accepted. But a separate title is required for each
entry, and _each_ title must be printed on paper as large as commercial
note. The title of a _periodical_ must include the date and number.
2. A fee of 50 cents, for recording the title of each book or other
article, must be enclosed with the title as above, and 50 cents in
addition (or one dollar in all) for each certificate of copyright under
seal of the Librarian of Congress, which will be transmitted by early
mail.
3. Within ten days after publication of each book or other article, two
complete copies of the best edition issued must be sent, to perfect the
copyright, with the address:
_Librarian of Congress,
Washington, D. C._
The postage must be prepaid, or else the publications inclosed in parcels
covered by printed Penalty Labels, furnished by the Librarian, in which
case they will come FREE by mail, according to rulings of the Post Office
Department. Without the deposit of copies above required the copyright
is void, and a penalty of $25 is incurred. No copy is required to be
deposited elsewhere.
4. No copyright is valid unless notice is given by inserting in every
copy published, on the title-page or the page following, if it be a
book; or, if a map, chart, musical composition, print, cut, engraving,
photograph, painting, drawing, chromo, statue, statuary, or model
or design intended to be perfected as a work of the fine arts, by
inscribing upon some portion thereof, or on the substance on which the
same is mounted, the following words, viz.: “_Entered according to act
of Congress, in the year ⸺, by ⸺ ⸺, in the office of the Librarian of
Congress, at Washington_,” or, at the option of the person entering the
copyright, the words: “_Copyright, 18—, by ⸺_.”
The law imposes a penalty of $100 upon any person who has not obtained
copyright who shall insert the notice “_Entered according to act of
Congress_,” or “_Copyright_,” etc., or words of the same import, in or
upon any book or other article.
5. Any author may reserve the right to translate or to dramatize his own
work. In this case, notice should be given by printing the words “_Right
of translation reserved_,” or “_All rights reserved_,” below the notice
of copyright entry, and notifying the Librarian of Congress of such
reservation, to be entered upon the record.
Since the phrase, _all rights reserved_, refers exclusively to the
author’s right to dramatize or to translate, it has no bearing upon any
publications except original works, and will not be entered upon the
record in other cases.
6. The original term of copyright runs for twenty-eight years. _Within
six months before_ the end of that time, the author or designer, or
his widow or children, may secure a renewal for the further term of
fourteen years, making forty-two years in all. Applications for renewal
must be accompanied by explicit statement of ownership, in the case
of the author, or of relationship, in the case of his heirs, and must
state definitely the date and place of entry of the original copyright.
Advertisement of renewal is to be made within two months of date of
renewal certificate, in some newspaper, for four weeks.
7. The time within which any work entered for copyright may be issued
from the press is not limited by any law or regulation, but depends
upon the discretion of the proprietor. A copyright may be secured for a
projected work as well as for a completed one.
8. A copyright is assignable in law by any instrument of writing, but
such assignment must be recorded in the office of the Librarian of
Congress within sixty days from its date. The fee for this record and
certificate is one dollar, and for a certified copy of any record of
assignment one dollar.
9. A copy of the record (or duplicate certificate) of any copyright entry
will be furnished, under seal, at the rate of fifty cents each.
10. In the case of books published in more than one volume, or of
periodicals published in numbers, or of engravings, photographs, or other
articles published with variations, a copyright is to be entered for each
volume or part of a book, or number of a periodical, or variety, as to
style, title, or inscription, of any other article. But a book published
serially in a periodical, under the same general title, requires only one
entry. To _complete_ the copyright on such a work, two copies of each
serial part, as well as of the complete work (if published separately),
must be deposited.
11. To secure a copyright for a painting, statue, or model or design
intended to be perfected as a work of the fine arts, so as to prevent
infringement by copying, engraving, or vending such design, a definite
description must accompany the application for copyright, and a
photograph of the same, at least as large as “cabinet size,” should be
mailed to the Librarian of Congress within ten days from the completion
of the work or design.
12. Copyrights cannot be granted upon trade-marks, nor upon mere names
of companies or articles, nor upon prints or labels intended to be used
with any article of manufacture. If protection for such names or labels
is desired, application must be made to the Patent Office, where they are
registered, at a fee of $6 for labels and $25 for trade-marks.
13. Citizens or residents of the United States only are entitled to
copyright.
14. Every applicant for a copyright should state distinctly the full
name and residence of the claimant, and whether the right is claimed as
author, designer, or proprietor. No affidavit or formal application is
required.
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS,
_Washington, 1885_.
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