4. On the date set for publication, copies are for the first time
offered to the public, sold or publicly distributed by the publisher
or his authorized agents. This constitutes the "act of publication,"
on which the registration of copyright depends. The sale of these
copies is recorded on the publisher's books in the same manner as the
sale of any of his books, and this dating of the sale on his books is
often deemed sufficient record of the first publication. In case books
are to be distributed for sale by various booksellers as well as by
the publisher himself, the booksellers must be notified in advance in
order that no copies may be sold previous to the date set for first
publication.
[Illustration: FACSIMILE (reduced) OF A COPYRIGHT APPLICATION BLANK]
5. Either on the same day as the book is first published or promptly
thereafter (but not before), blank Application and Affidavit Form "A 1"
is filled out and sworn to.[25] Two copies of the book for deposit
with the Copyright Office, together with this completed Application
Form and a post-office money-order for the required fee of $1.00 made
payable to the Register of Copyrights, are made up into one package,
and the package addressed to: _The Register of Copyrights, Washington,
D.C._ On the outside of the package is marked: "Books for Copyright
Registration." The package is then delivered to the post-office, and
the postmaster, if requested, will sign a receipt for the package which
the publisher makes out. This receipt should contain the name of the
book, the date, and the fact that the copies are to be transmitted to
the Register of Copyrights in Washington for purpose of registration of
copyright. The postmaster is required by law to forward these copies to
the Copyright Office without expense to the sender.
6. After a few days a receipt under seal will come from the Copyright
Office, certifying that the books have been received, with the
remittance and application, and that the copyright has been duly
recorded.
This is all that needs to be done for twenty-seven years, in case the
copyright has not in the meantime been assigned. In case of assignment
this fact should be recorded in the Copyright Office in accord with the
methods specified.[26]
After twenty-seven years have passed, and within one year of the
expiration of the copyright, the owner may renew it for twenty-eight
years more upon application to the Copyright Office.