Guide to Searching Guide to Searching Preregistration RecordsPreregistration Records

This database contains Preregistration Records This database contains Preregistration Records approved by the Copyright Office from October 2005 approved by the Copyright Office from October 2005

to dateto date

What is Preregistration?What is Preregistration?

Preregistration is a service intended for works that have Preregistration is a service intended for works that have had a history of prerelease infringementhad a history of prerelease infringement

The purpose is to allow infringement action to be brought The purpose is to allow infringement action to be brought before the authorized distribution of a work, and upon full before the authorized distribution of a work, and upon full registration, for the copyright owner to receive statutory registration, for the copyright owner to receive statutory damages and attorneys' fees in an infringement action damages and attorneys' fees in an infringement action

The focus is on infringement of movies, recorded music, and The focus is on infringement of movies, recorded music, and certain other copyrighted materials before copyright certain other copyrighted materials before copyright owners have the opportunity to market their productowners have the opportunity to market their product

Preregistration is Not a Substitute for Preregistration is Not a Substitute for RegistrationRegistration

Preregistration is a means of preserving the ability to satisfy Preregistration is a means of preserving the ability to satisfy the requirements of sections 411[a] and 412 of the the requirements of sections 411[a] and 412 of the Copyright Act by advising the Copyright Office prior to the Copyright Act by advising the Copyright Office prior to the publication of a work that the work is being prepared for publication of a work that the work is being prepared for commercial distribution commercial distribution

Registration is required within 1 month after a copyright Registration is required within 1 month after a copyright owner becomes aware of infringement, and no later than 3 owner becomes aware of infringement, and no later than 3 months after first publicationmonths after first publication

Preregistration does not mean the Copyright Office will Preregistration does not mean the Copyright Office will necessarily register the work when an application for necessarily register the work when an application for registration is submittedregistration is submitted

Conditions for PreregistrationConditions for Preregistration

Preregistration is for Preregistration is for unpublishedunpublished works only works only

A work must be in the process of being prepared for A work must be in the process of being prepared for commercial distribution in either physical or digital format, commercial distribution in either physical or digital format, e.g., film copies, CDs, computer programs to be sold online e.g., film copies, CDs, computer programs to be sold online

Work must be a type of work determined by the Register of Work must be a type of work determined by the Register of Copyrights to have had a history of infringement prior to Copyrights to have had a history of infringement prior to authorized commercial distributionauthorized commercial distribution

Types of Work Eligible for Types of Work Eligible for PreregistrationPreregistration

Motion pictures Motion pictures Sound recordings Sound recordings Musical compositions Musical compositions Literary works being prepared for publication in book form Literary works being prepared for publication in book form Computer programs/videogames Computer programs/videogames Advertising or marketing photographs Advertising or marketing photographs

Elements Required for PreregistrationElements Required for Preregistration

Completion of the online application. (Preregistration is Completion of the online application. (Preregistration is available online only– no paper forms are available)available online only– no paper forms are available)

$100 non-refundable filing fee$100 non-refundable filing fee Detailed and specific description of the workDetailed and specific description of the work

Since a copy is not required, the description should Since a copy is not required, the description should contain enough information that a court in an contain enough information that a court in an infringement action can be satisfied that the infringement action can be satisfied that the allegedly infringed work is the work described in the allegedly infringed work is the work described in the applicationapplication

Click “Search Records” to access the Copyright Office CatalogClick “Search Records” to access the Copyright Office Catalog

Click “Search Preregistration Click “Search Preregistration Records” to BeginRecords” to Begin

Search Features Available:Search Features Available:

Keyword searchingKeyword searching

Basic Search screen and Other Search Options screen for Basic Search screen and Other Search Options screen for advanced searchingadvanced searching

Limit your search by date Limit your search by date

Link to online help is available at the top and bottom of Link to online help is available at the top and bottom of each screeneach screen

Overview of the Basic Search ScreenOverview of the Basic Search Screen

By using the Basic Search screen you can:By using the Basic Search screen you can: Specify the search termSpecify the search term Search by either Title, Name, Keyword, Preregistration Search by either Title, Name, Keyword, Preregistration

Number (use the Registration Number index)Number (use the Registration Number index)

Basic Search by TitleBasic Search by Title

A Title search finds works by title in the exact word order A Title search finds works by title in the exact word order of the titleof the title

Use this search when the exact title of the work is knownUse this search when the exact title of the work is known Type the entire title, or the first few words of the titleType the entire title, or the first few words of the title Omit initial articles, A, An, The, El, La, Das, etc.Omit initial articles, A, An, The, El, La, Das, etc.

Basic Search by NameBasic Search by Name

Search by all names, such as author, claimant, etc.Search by all names, such as author, claimant, etc. To search by a personal name, type the last name first nameTo search by a personal name, type the last name first name To search by a corporate name, type the name in word orderTo search by a corporate name, type the name in word order

Basic Search by KeywordBasic Search by Keyword

A Keyword search finds words, or phrases located A Keyword search finds words, or phrases located anywhereanywhere in the in the recordrecord

Use “ ” to surround exact phrasesUse “ ” to surround exact phrases Type words or phrases in any order. All words will be searched, Type words or phrases in any order. All words will be searched,

including “and”, “the”, etc.including “and”, “the”, etc. Use ? to search for a variation of a word, for example comput? Use ? to search for a variation of a word, for example comput?

finds compute, computer, computationfinds compute, computer, computation Use + before words that must appear in every record retrievedUse + before words that must appear in every record retrieved Use ! before words that must not appear in any record retrievedUse ! before words that must not appear in any record retrieved Results will be ranked by relevanceResults will be ranked by relevance

Basic Search by Preregistration NumberBasic Search by Preregistration Number

All Copyright registration numbers must have a total of All Copyright registration numbers must have a total of 12 characters12 characters

Type 3 letters followed by 9 numbers Type 3 letters followed by 9 numbers Omit spaces and hyphens when typing the numberOmit spaces and hyphens when typing the number Add leading zeroes to the numeric portion of the Add leading zeroes to the numeric portion of the

preregistration numberpreregistration number

To retrieve Type

Pre000000001Pre000000001 Pre000000001Pre000000001

Pre000000020Pre000000020 Pre000000020Pre000000020

Setting Search LimitsSetting Search Limits

Select methods of limiting your search below. Select methods of limiting your search below. Limit by “Item Type” is not necessary, as the catalog currently Limit by “Item Type” is not necessary, as the catalog currently

contains only Preregistration Recordscontains only Preregistration Records Limit your search by Date in 4 waysLimit your search by Date in 4 ways

Search only one yearSearch only one year Search a range of yearsSearch a range of years Search for all years before a dateSearch for all years before a date Search for all years after a dateSearch for all years after a date

Click on “Click on “Set Search LimitsSet Search Limits.” The message “.” The message “Search limits are Search limits are in effect until you click on in effect until you click on Clear Search Limits”Clear Search Limits” will appear. will appear.

Search limits will remain in effect until you specifically clear them Search limits will remain in effect until you specifically clear them or until you close your browser. or until you close your browser.

To Perform a Search:To Perform a Search:

Type your search term in the Type your search term in the “Search for:”“Search for:” box box Select the type of search from the “Search by:” screenSelect the type of search from the “Search by:” screen

Click the “Begin Search” button to perform the searchClick the “Begin Search” button to perform the search

Click a title to view a record from the titles list displayClick a title to view a record from the titles list display

Sample Search ResultsSample Search Results

Sample Preregistration RecordSample Preregistration Record

Overview of “Other Search Options”Overview of “Other Search Options” Search for specific preregistration records without knowing Search for specific preregistration records without knowing

the complete title or full personal or corporate namethe complete title or full personal or corporate name Search by keyword using Boolean operators to combine or Search by keyword using Boolean operators to combine or

exclude words and phrasesexclude words and phrases

How to Use “Other Search Options”How to Use “Other Search Options”

Type a word or phrase in the “Search for:” boxType a word or phrase in the “Search for:” box

Select “all of these”, “any of these”, “as a phrase” from the Select “all of these”, “any of these”, “as a phrase” from the drop-down listdrop-down list

““All of these”: all of the words you type in the “Search for:” box All of these”: all of the words you type in the “Search for:” box must appear in the recordmust appear in the record

““Any of these”: at least one of the words you type in the “Search Any of these”: at least one of the words you type in the “Search for:” box will appear in the recordfor:” box will appear in the record

““As a phrase”: the words you type in the “Search for:” box must As a phrase”: the words you type in the “Search for:” box must appear in the record in the order typedappear in the record in the order typed

Select an index name (Keyword anywhere is the default Select an index name (Keyword anywhere is the default index and performs the broadest search)index and performs the broadest search)

Click the “Begin Search” button to perform the search, ORClick the “Begin Search” button to perform the search, OR

Click AND, OR, NOT and fill in the next set of “Search for:” Click AND, OR, NOT and fill in the next set of “Search for:” boxesboxes

Boolean SearchingBoolean Searching Use Boolean operators to search for combinations of words or Use Boolean operators to search for combinations of words or

phrases. Enter Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) in either phrases. Enter Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) in either uppercase or lowercase uppercase or lowercase

Boolean operators Boolean operators maymay be used with the be used with the Basic SearchBasic Search Command KeywordCommand Keyword or with or with Other Search OptionsOther Search Options. .

Boolean operators Boolean operators may notmay not be used with the be used with the Basic SearchBasic Search types types Title, Name, Keyword, Registration Number or Document Title, Name, Keyword, Registration Number or Document NumberNumber

How to Use Boolean OperatorsHow to Use Boolean Operators

ANDAND narrows the search by requiring all terms to be narrows the search by requiring all terms to be found in the recordfound in the record

OROR broadens the search by retrieving records if one or broadens the search by retrieving records if one or more of the terms is presentmore of the terms is present

NOTNOT excludes terms from the search (use carefully, excludes terms from the search (use carefully, because NOT may eliminate relevant material because NOT may eliminate relevant material inadvertently)inadvertently)

Sample SearchSample Search

Search for “Search for “inner peaceinner peace” as “” as “all of theseall of these” ” in a title field and “in a title field and “weissweiss” as a claimant.” as a claimant.

Thank You for Viewing This TutorialThank You for Viewing This Tutorial

For additional help, please contact us at For additional help, please contact us at copysearch@loc.govcopysearch@loc.gov or telephone or telephone

Copyright Reference & Bibliography Copyright Reference & Bibliography Section at (202) 707-6850Section at (202) 707-6850

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