How Much Does a Copyright Registration Cost?

Author:  Karen Y. Kim

There is no one answer to the question of what a copyright registration costs.  There are a number of different forms for filing a copyright application, each with a different fee.  There are also additional services available to copyright applicants and registrants, including special handling for a fee.

A basic copyright application can cost either $45 or 65 for an electronic filing, depending on the form.  Paper filed copyright applications cost $125.  For registrations of groups of works or other special applications, there are various other fees ranging from $35 to $500.  Preregistration of certain unpublished works is also available for $200.

Recording documents, such as a notice of intention to enforce a restored copyright or transfer of ownership, is recommended to ensure that there is a clear chain of title to the copyright.  The Copyright Office charges fees starting at $95 for electronic recordation or $125 for a paper filing.

Processing a copyright application can often take many months, but the Copyright Office offers expedited handling of a copyright application for $800.  Expedited handling for the recordation of a document is $550.

Copies of your copyright registration certificate can be had for $55.

Sometimes, the Copyright Office refuses registration to a work.  The applicant then has the option to appeal the decision of the Copyright Office.  The first request for reconsideration is $350, and the second is $700.  At this point, it is advised that you seek the assistance of an attorney, if you have not already, so that you can avoid any additional errors or setbacks in securing your copyright registration.  Of course, if you decide to use an attorney to handle your copyright registrations, there’s the attorney’s fees to factor in as well.

A full list of the current fees charged by the U.S. Copyright Office can be found at the Copyright.gov website.