U.S. Copyright Office, Circular 12A (rev. 03/2021)
Calculating Fees for Recording Documents and Notices of Termination in the Copyright Office
Calculating Fees for Recording Documents and Notices of Termination
in the Copyright Office (Fees in effect as of March 20, 2020)
Copyright Office fees for recording documents and notices of termination vary depending on the number of legal transactions and works and alternate identifiers contained in the document as well as how the works and alternate identifiers are submitted to the Office. This circular describes how to calculate these fees.
The information below explains how to calculate fees for recording documents via paper filing under Title 17 of the United States Code sections 205 (transfers of copyright ownership and other documents pertaining to a copyright), 903 (mask works), and 1320 (vessel hulls), as well as notices of termination under sections 203 and 304.¹
For more information about recordation, please visit the Office's website.
Fee for Recording a Document or Notice of Termination
The proper fee for recording a document or notice of termination depends on the number of legal transactions and works and alternate identifiers (titles and/or registration numbers) contained in the document and whether the document is accompanied by an electronic title list. The first title and/or registration number provided for a particular work constitutes a work. If a work is identified by more than one title or registration number, every additional title and registration number provided beyond the first counts as an alternate identifier.
1. The basic recordation fee is $125 if only one legal transaction and one title and/or registration number provided for a particular work are involved.
2. If more than one legal transaction is contained in the document, then the fee is $95 for each transaction.
3. The $125 fee covers the first work contained in a document. There is a charge of $60 for each group of one to ten additional works and alternate identifiers provided beyond the first work. However, if the document is accompanied by an electronic title list, a generally discounted charge for additional works and alternate identifiers is assessed as follows:
- 1 to 50 additional works and alternate identifiers are charged a flat fee of $60
- 51 to 500 additional works and alternate identifiers are charged a flat fee of $225
- 501 to 1,000 additional works and alternate identifiers are charged a flat fee of $390
- 1,001 to 10,000 additional works and alternate identifiers are charged a flat fee of $555
- 10,001 or more additional works and alternate identifiers are charged a flat fee of $5,550
NOTE: To submit an electronic title list, the document must be a transfer of copyright ownership or other document pertaining to a copyright that is recordable with the Copyright Office under section 205. Notices of termination are ineligible. For more information about electronic title lists, please visit the Office's website.
For documents not accompanied by an electronic title list, additional works and alternate identifiers are counted by groups of ten. If there are fewer than ten titles in a group, the fee for the group still applies.
Examples:
- A document or termination notice containing 1 transaction and 1 work is $125.
- A document containing 2 transactions and 1 work is $220 ($125 + $95).
- A document containing 1 transaction and 2-11 works and alternate identifiers is $185 ($125 + $60). » If the document is submitted with an electronic title list, the fee is $185 ($125 + $60).
NOTE: Fee savings are realized where documents have more than eleven titles.
- A document containing 1 transaction and 12 works and alternate identifiers is $245 ($125 + $60 + $60). » If the document is submitted with an electronic title list, the fee is $185 ($125 + $60).
- A document containing 1 transaction and 501 works and alternate identifiers is $3,125 ($125 + ($60 x 50)). » If the document is submitted with an electronic title list, the fee is $350 ($125 + $225).
- A termination notice containing 65 titles is $545 ($125 + $60 + $60 + $60 + $60 + $60 + $60 + $60).
For more information about how to calculate the total number of titles for multiple-title documents, review the instructions for completing Item 2 on Form DCS or Form TCS.
Fee for Special Handling
The fee for special handling of recordation of a document or a notice of termination is $550 in addition to regular recordation fees. Special handling is a request for expedited service to meet contractual deadlines or for pending litigation. See chapter 2300, section 2307 of the Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices for more information.
Fee for Correcting the Public Catalog Due to an Erroneous Electronic Title List
The fee to correct online public catalog data due to an erroneous electronic title list submission is $7 per title. For more information about this process, please visit the Office's website.
NOTE: Copyright Office fees are subject to change. For current fees, please check the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov, write the Copyright Office, or call (202) 707-3000 or 1-877-476-0778 (toll free).
Fee Calculation for Multiple Work Alternate Identifier Documents
Effective as of March 20, 2020
Basic Fee (document with one transaction and no more than one work): $125
| No. of works and alternate identifiers | Without Electronic Title List | With Electronic Title List | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee for works and alternate identifiers | Fee + $125 | Fee for works and alternate identifiers | Fee + $125 | |
| 2-11 | $60 | $185 | $60 | $185 |
| 12-21 | $120 | $245 | $60 | $185 |
| 22-31 | $180 | $305 | $60 | $185 |
| 32-41 | $240 | $365 | $60 | $185 |
| 42-51 | $300 | $425 | $60 | $185 |
| 52-61 | $360 | $485 | $225 | $350 |
| 62-71 | $420 | $545 | $225 | $350 |
| 72-81 | $480 | $605 | $225 | $350 |
| 82-91 | $540 | $665 | $225 | $350 |
| 92-101 | $600 | $725 | $225 | $350 |
| 102-111 | $660 | $785 | $225 | $350 |
| 112-121 | $720 | $845 | $225 | $350 |
| 122-131 | $780 | $905 | $225 | $350 |
| 132-141 | $840 | $965 | $225 | $350 |
| 142-151 | $900 | $1,025 | $225 | $350 |
| 152-161 | $960 | $1,085 | $225 | $350 |
| 162-171 | $1,020 | $1,145 | $225 | $350 |
| 172-181 | $1,080 | $1,205 | $225 | $350 |
| 182-191 | $1,140 | $1,265 | $225 | $350 |
| 192-201 | $1,200 | $1,325 | $225 | $350 |
| 202-211 | $1,260 | $1,385 | $225 | $350 |
| 212-221 | $1,320 | $1,445 | $225 | $350 |
| 222-231 | $1,380 | $1,505 | $225 | $350 |
| 232-241 | $1,440 | $1,565 | $225 | $350 |
| 242-251 | $1,500 | $1,625 | $225 | $350 |
| 252-261 | $1,560 | $1,685 | $225 | $350 |
| 262-271 | $1,620 | $1,745 | $225 | $350 |
| 272-281 | $1,680 | $1,805 | $225 | $350 |
| 282-291 | $1,740 | $1,865 | $225 | $350 |
| 292-301 | $1,800 | $1,925 | $225 | $350 |
| 302-311 | $1,860 | $1,985 | $225 | $350 |
| 312-321 | $1,920 | $2,045 | $225 | $350 |
| 322-331 | $1,980 | $2,105 | $225 | $350 |
| 332-341 | $2,040 | $2,165 | $225 | $350 |
| 342-351 | $2,100 | $2,225 | $225 | $350 |
| 352-361 | $2,160 | $2,285 | $225 | $350 |
| 362-371 | $2,220 | $2,345 | $225 | $350 |
| 372-381 | $2,280 | $2,405 | $225 | $350 |
| 382-391 | $2,340 | $2,465 | $225 | $350 |
| 392-401 | $2,400 | $2,525 | $225 | $350 |
Calculating More Than 401 works and alternate identifiers
For more than 401 works and alternate identifiers without an electronic title list, calculate the fee using combinations of the fees above.
Example:
If a document has 730 works and alternate identifiers, the total fee is $4,505. This fee is calculated as follows:
$2,525 (the basic fee of $125 plus the cost for 400 works and alternate identifiers, which is $2,400)
+ $1,980 (the cost for 330 works and alternate identifiers) equals
$4,505 total
For more than 401 works and alternate identifiers with an electronic title list, the fee is as follows
| No. of works and alternate identifiers | Fee for works and alternate identifiers | Fee + $125 |
|---|---|---|
| 402-501 | $225 | $350 |
| 502-1,001 | $390 | $515 |
| 1,002-10,001 | $555 | $680 |
| 10,002+ | $5,550 | $5,675 |
---NOTE
1. This circular is intended as an overview of calculating fees for recording documents and notices of termination in the Copyright Office. The authoritative source for U.S. copyright law is the Copyright Act, codified in Title 17 of the United States Code. Copyright Office regulations are codified in Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Copyright Office practices and procedures are summarized in the third edition of the Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, cited as the Compendium. The copyright law, regulations, and the Compendium are available on the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov.
For Further Information
By Internet
The copyright law, the Compendium, electronic registration, application forms, regulations, and related materials are available on the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov.
By Email
To send an email inquiry, click the Contact Us link on the Copyright Office website.
By Telephone
For general information, call the Copyright Public Information Office at (202) 707-3000 or 1-877-476-0778 (toll free). Staff members are on duty from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, eastern time, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. To request application forms or circulars by postal mail, call (202) 707-9100 or 1-877-476-0778 and leave a recorded message.
By Regular Mail
Write to
Library of Congress
U.S. Copyright Office
Outreach and Education Section
101 Independence Avenue, SE #6304
Washington, DC 20559-6304