Re: Copyright Formalities

On Mon, 12 Apr 1999, Doug Lipstone <dlip[_at_]worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
> A question on US registration formalities...
>
> A US designer designs 40 or so fabric designs for each seasonal line.
> In the past he has filed separate US copyright applications for each
> design (some 150 applications a year). If the application is filed
> pre-publication, one Form VA application containing the entire seasonal
> line can be filed. My question is, is there any detriment (especially
> as regards enforcement) to filing the one application for the seasonal
> line?
>
> I thank you for your thoughts on this question.

i've never worked specifically with the formVA, but i can't see why the same principals wouldn't apply to the forms i *have* used. the closest example i can refer to in this instance is the use of formPA's to register musical works.

if i've got ten songs to register and they all contain the same info (i.e. same songwriter info, all are 'words&music', or all are just 'words', same copyright claimant), then i can submit one formPA (which only costs 20 bones) and list the songs as song1, song2, song3, etc. 'as contained on [deposit copy] name.

the only drawback to this practice is if one tries to look up song2 in the lib. of cong. database, it won't appear. but, just because it doesn't appear, doesn't mean song2's protection under the law is any weaker than song1 (which is the only title which can be looked up when registering multiple works this way). song1 is then (for all practical purposes) the suite title of the entire list of works included on the formPA.

again, this way, to register 10 songs, instead of spending $200 ($20 x 10) to register them, i've only spent $20. however, if the ability to look up all 10 of these songs in the lib.of cong. db is essential to your needs, then a file formCA can be filed (for another $20). this form amplifies the works in the original PA registration. after this is filed, all 10 songs can be looked up. the end result is you've spent $40 instead of $200.

hope this helps.

fyi: i'm back with a new email address. doliver[_at_]fantasyjazz.com is no longer valid, as i no longer work there. i've moved from san francisco to san diego.

derric

Derric G. Oliver
<derric[_at_]mill.net> Received on Tue Apr 13 1999 - 17:25:46 GMT