News
US Copyright Office begins beta testing for online registration
The US Copyright Office has for several years been undergoing an extensive business process reengineering initiative in order to streamline its registration process and begin offering an online registration system. All of the efforts are beginning to bear fruit as the copyright office has begun the Beta test phase of the electronic Copyright Office (‘‘eCO’’) in July 2007 with two separate test groups comprising a total of 112 applicants. Participants in the Beta test have been selected based upon a set of criteria designed to identify individuals with a wide variety of claims. The initial phase of the Beta test will cover basic registration claims for literary works, visual arts works, performing arts works and sound recordings submitted electronically. At a later date, additional participants will be added to cover all options for submitting applications.
An extensive restructuring of the US Copyright Office began approximately seven years ago in order to address the long processing times and mechanical problems with outdated office machinery. In addition to updating the registration process, The Copyright Office is reengineering all of the Office’s IT systems, mandatory deposit submissions under section 407 of the copyright law, the recordation of documents pertaining to copyrights, vessel hull designs, and mask works, and to administrative actions for cable, satellite, and other compulsory licensing.
For more information related to the beta test online visit www.copyright.gov/eco/update/ or www.copyright.gov.
Posted in: Legal / Copyright, News, Photographers, Stock Photo Companies
