Circular 14 COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION FOR DERIVATIVE WORKS DERIVATIVE WORKS A "derivative work"--that is, a work that is based on (or derived from) one or more already existing works--is copyrightable if it includes what the copyright law calls an "original work of authorship." Derivative works, also known as "new versions," include such works as translations, musical arrangements, dramatizations, fictionalizations, art reproductions, and condensations. Any work in which the editorial revisions, annotations, elaborations, or other modifications represent, as a whole, an original work of authorship is a "derivative work" or "new version." A typical example of a derivative work received for registration in the Copyright Office is one that is primarily a new work but incorporates some previously published material. This previously published material makes the work a derivative work under the copyright law. To be copyrightable, a derivative work must be different enough from the original to be regarded as a "new work" or must contain a substantial amount of new material. Making minor changes or additions of little substance to a preexisting work will not qualify the work as a new version for copyright purposes. The new material must be original and copyrightable in itself. Titles, short phrases, and format, for example, are not copyrightable. Examples of Derivative Works The following examples show some of the many different types of derivative works: Television drama (based on a novel) Motion picture (based on a play) Novel in English (a translation of a book originally published in Russian) Sound recording (long-playing record in which two of the 10 selections were previously published on a 45 rpm single) Sound recording (long-playing record in which several of the previously released tracks have been remixed with new instrumentation) Sculpture (based on a drawing) Drawing (based on a photograph) Book of maps (based on public domain maps with some new maps) Lithograph (based on a painting) Biography of John Doe (which contains journal entries and letters by John Doe) Drama about John Doe (based on the letters and journal entries of John Doe) Words and music (some of the words are from the Bible) Words and musical arrangement (arrangement is based on a piece by Bach) Musical arrangement (based on a work by Bach) Compilations and Abridgments Compilations and abridgments may also be copyrightable if they contain new work of authorship. When the collecting of the preexisting material that makes up the compilation is a purely mechanical task with no element of editorial selection, or when only a few minor deletions constitute an abridgment, copyright protection for the compilation or abridgment as a new version is not available. Some examples of copyrightable compilations are: Book of "Best Short Stories of 1991" (selected from stories published in magazines and literary journals in 1991) Sound recording of "Biggest Pop Hits of 1991" (selected from recordings released in 1991) Book of "Great News Photos of 1991" (selected from newspapers and newsmagazines published in 1991) In the above examples, original authorship was involved in deciding which were the best stories, the biggest hits, or greatest photos and in what order to present the respective works within the compilation. COPYRIGHT PROTECTION IN A DERIVATIVE WORK The copyright in a derivative work covers only the additions, changes, or other new material appearing for the first time in the work. It does not extend to any preexisting material and does not imply a copyright in that material. One cannot extend the length of protection for a copyrighted work by creating a derivative work. A work that has fallen in the public domain--that is, which is no longer protected by copyright--may be used for a derivative work, but the copyright in the derivative work will not restore the copyright of the public domain material. Neither will it prevent anyone else from using the same public domain work for another derivative work. In any case where a protected work is used unlawfully--that is, without the permission of the owner of copyright--copyright will not be extended to the illegally used part. WHO MAY PREPARE A DERIVATIVE WORK? Only the owner of copyright in a work has the right to prepare, or to authorize someone else to create, a new version of that work. The owner is generally the author or someone who has obtained rights from the author. Anyone interested in a work who does not know the owner of copyright may search the records of the Copyright Office. Or, the Office will conduct a search at a fee of $20 per hour. For further information, request Circular 22, "How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work." NOTICE When a derivative work is published under the authority of the copyright owner, a notice of copyright may be placed on all publicly distributed copies and phonorecords to identify the year of publication and the name of the copyright owner and to inform the public that the work is protected by copyright. For works published on or after March 1, 1989, use of the copyright notice is optional, though highly recommended. Works first published before March 1, 1989, must bear a notice of copyright or risk loss of copyright protection. (The Copyright Office takes no position and offers no advice regarding use of the notice on reprints distributed March 1, 1989, or later of works first published with notice before March 1, 1989.) In the case of a derivative work or a compilation, the information in the notice should relate to the new work. Three elements make up the notice: 1. The symbol (C) (the letter c in a circle), or the word "copyright," or the abbreviation "copr." on copies from which the work is visually perceptible with or without the aid of a machine or device; or, the symbol (P) (the letter P in a circle) on phonorecords of sound recordings. 2. The year of first publication of the new work. (See definition of publication under "Space 3" on page 4.) Certain works in the visual arts do not require the year. For further information request Circular 40, "Copyright Registration for Works of the Visual Arts." 3. The name of the owner of copyright in the new work (or compilation) or an abbreviation by which the name can be recognized, or a generally known alternative designation of the owner. Examples: On copies (works fixed in visually perceptible form): (C) 1995 John Doe On phonorecords (for sound recordings): 1995 ABC Corp., Inc. Although not required by law, it is perfectly acceptable (and often helpful) for a work to contain a notice for the original material as well as for the new work. For example, if a previously registered book contains only a new introduction, the notice might be: (P) 1937 John Doe; introduction (C) 1995 Mary Smith APPLICATION FORMS The appropriate application form to use to register a claim to copyright in a derivative work depends upon the type of work for which registration is sought. It does not depend upon the preexisting or public domain material that may have been used to create the derivative work. For example, to register a claim for a screenplay based on a novel, use Form PA (for performing arts), not Form TX (for original novels). To register a sound recording based on previously registered words and music, use Form SR (for sound recordings), not Form PA (for original words and music). Application forms: Form TX: for published and unpublished nondramatic literary works (books, poetry, essays, lectures, computer programs, etc.); Form SE: for serials, works issued or intended to be issued in successive parts bearing numerical or chronological designations and intended to be continued indefinitely (periodicals, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, annuals, journals, etc.); Form PA: for published and unpublished works of the performing arts (musical and dramatic works, pantomimes and choreographic works, motion pictures and other audiovisual works); Form VA: for published and unpublished works of the visual arts (architectural, pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works); Form SR: for published and unpublished sound recordings. Instructions for completing each space of the application accompany the form. Nevertheless, registration is often delayed because of mistakes or omissions in filling out the form. The following points should be helpful. They are not, however, a substitute for the instructions. Space 2 Author(s): Name the author(s) of the copyrightable material being claimed. Ordinarily, the author is the person who actually created the work. (Where the work or any contribution to it is a work made for hire, the employer is considered the author. See the instruction form for more information on work made for hire.) Do not name the author of previously published or registered work(s) or public domain material incorporated into the derivative work, unless that person is also the author of the new material. Space 2 should name the author(s) of the copyrightable material described at Space 6b. Nature of authorship: Specify what the author(s) created. Examples include "compilation and editorial revision," "translation," "new text," "music," "words," "arrangement," "screenplay" "dramatization," "artwork," "coauthor of cartographic material." Space 3 Creation: The year of creation is the year in which the new work--the particular version for which registration is sought-- was fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time, even if other versions exist or if further changes or additions are planned. Do not confuse creation with publication. Publication: The copyright law defines "publication" as "the distribution of copies or phonorecords of a work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending. The offering to distribute copies or phonorecords to a group of persons for purposes of further distribution, public performance, or public display, constitutes publication. A public performance or display of a work does not of itself constitute publication." The following do not constitute publication: performance of the work, preparation of phonorecords, or sending the work to the Copyright Office. The date of publication is the month, day, and year when the work for which registration is sought was first published. If the work has not been published, leave this part of Space 3 blank. Space 4 Copyright claimant(s): The copyright claimant is either the author of this work or a person or organization who has obtained from the author all of the rights he or she initially owned. When the claimant named is not the author, a brief transfer statement is required at Space 4 to show how the claimant acquired the copyright. Examples of generally acceptable transfer statements are "by written agreement"; "by assignment"; "by written contract"; "by will." Do not attach copies of documents of transfer to the application. When the name of the claimant is not the name of the author given at Space 2, but the two names identify one person, the relationship between the names should be explained at Space 4. Examples are: "Doe Publishing Company, solely owned by John Doe" or "John Doe doing business as Doe Recording Company." Space 5 Previous registration: If no registration has been made for this version or an earlier version of this work, answer the first question "no" and leave the rest of Space 5 blank. Answer the first question "yes" only if a previous registration for this work or another version of it was completed and a certificate of registration issued. If you answer "yes," check the appropriate box to show why you seek another registration, and give the requested information about the previous registration, if known. Space 6 Derivative work or compilation: Complete this space if the work being registered contains a substantial amount of material that: * was previously published; * was previously registered in the U.S. Copyright Office; * is in the public domain; or * is not included in the claim. Preexisting material (Space 6a): Briefly, in general terms, describe the preexisting material that has been recast, transformed, or adapted. (See examples below.) Do not complete this space for compilations. New material added (Space 6b): Briefly, in general terms, describe all new copyrightable authorship covered by the copyright claim for which you seek this registration. (See examples below.) All elements of authorship described in Space 2 should be accounted for in Space 6b. The statement used in 6b may be used in Space 2 to describe the authorŐs contribution. (Authors of preexisting material identified in Space 6a should not be named in Space 2.) If the claim is in the compilation only, state "compilation" at Space 6b. If the claim is in the compilation and any other material, state both "compilation" and the material that has been compiled, for example, "Compilation and foreword," "Compilation of photographs, additional photography, and foreword," "Compilation of recordings and liner notes," "Compilation of gospel songs, additional music and foreword," "Compilation of 19th Century Political Cartoons, new foreword and index." Examples for Space 6a and 6b entries for derivative works: (motion picture) 6a--original novel "Little Women" 6b--dramatization for television * (musical arrangement) 6a--music 6b--arrangement for piano and orchestra * (drama) 6a--acts l and Il 6b--revisions throughout; act Ill completely new * (book) 6a--ShakespeareŐs "Romeo and Juliet" 6b--new introduction and foreword * (catalog) 6a--1989 catalog 6b--editorial revisions and additional material * (lithographic print) 6a--9th century oil painting 6b--reproduction of 19th century oil painting by photolithography * (book of maps) 6a--U.S. Geological Survey map of southern Virginia 6b--additional cartographic authorship and text * (sound recording) 6a--music 6b--new words, arrangement and sounds * (sound recording) 6a--recorded performances on bands 2, and 4-8 6b--recorded performances on bands 1 and 3 * (sound recording) 6a--1970 recording by Sperryville Symphony of Bach Double Concerto 6b--remixed sounds from original multitrack sound sources FOR MORE INFORMATION To request circulars and application forms, telephone the Publications Hotline at (202) 707-9100 (TTY (202) 707-6737) and leave a recorded message, or write: Publications Section, LM-455 Copyright Office Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 20559-6000. ***11/20/95***