Transfer of Copyright
From LegalLanding
All or some of the rights of a copyright may be transferred through a copyright license. Only the transfer of exclusive rights can be filed with the U.S. Copyright Office; anything less can not be filed. Filing a transfer of copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office does not officiate the transfer, the contract does. Filing, however, does create an official record of the transfer, as well as the rights explained under Filing for Copyright. Also, a notarization or certificate of acknowledgment is not necessary but is prima facie evidence of the execution.
Example of a License of Copyright (author maintains exclusive property rights and does not get registered by the copyright office)
Examples of an Assignment of Copyright (author grants exclusive copyright and can be filed with the copyright office)
Regardless of whether or not the copyright has already been filed the following things must be sent to the copyright office along with the fee of $105:
- The Assignment of Copyright agreement
- An original copy of the document by the author. If not an original, the signature of the author on copy of the document, as well as a signed sworn certification such as: “I declare under penalty of perjury that the accompanying document is a true and correct copy of the original document. Executed on __(date)_ (signature of author or recipient of Copyright).”
- Include two (2) copies of the cover sheet
- Mail to:
- Library of Congress
- Copyright Office-DOC
- 101 Independence Avenue SE
- Washington, DC 20559-6216
Also See
- Copyrightable Material
- Copyright Notice
- Protection Provided By A Copyright
- Duration of a Copyright
- Benefits Of Filing A Copyright
- Registering Multiple Copyrights