[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 124 (Thursday, June 29, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29410-29414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13548]



[[Page 29410]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

U.S. Copyright Office

37 CFR Parts 201 and 202

[Docket No. 2016-8]


Group Registration of Contributions to Periodicals

AGENCY: U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The United States Copyright Office is modernizing its 
registration practices to increase the efficiency of the registration 
process for both the Office and copyright owners. To further these 
efforts, this final rule adopts modifications to the Office's 
procedures for group registration for contributions to periodicals. 
Specifically, the Office adopts a new requirement that applicants 
seeking copyright registrations for groups of contributions to 
periodicals must submit applications through the Office's electronic 
registration system; modifies the deposit requirement by requiring 
applicants to submit their contributions in a digital format and to 
upload those files through the electronic system; clarifies the 
eligibility requirements; and alters the administrative classes used 
for such registrations.

DATES: Effective July 31, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert J. Kasunic, Associate Register 
of Copyrights and Director of Registration Policy and Practice, or Erik 
Bertin, Deputy Director of Registration Policy and Practice, by 
telephone at 202-707-8040, or Emma Raviv, Barbara A. Ringer Fellow, by 
telephone at 202-707-3246.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On December 1, 2016, the Copyright Office (the ``Office'') 
published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (``NPRM'') setting forth 
proposed regulatory amendments designed to make the procedure for group 
registration of contributions to periodicals (``GRCP'') more efficient. 
See 81 FR 86634 (Dec. 1, 2016). By statute, the Office is required to 
provide for ``a single registration for a group of works by the same 
individual author, all first published as contributions to periodicals, 
including newspapers, within a twelve-month period, on the basis of a 
single deposit, application, and registration fee, under the following 
conditions--(A) if the deposit consists of one copy of the entire issue 
of the periodical, or of the entire section in the case of a newspaper, 
in which each contribution was first published; and (B) if the 
application identifies each work separately, including the periodical 
containing it and its date of first publication.'' 17 U.S.C. 408(c)(2); 
see also 37 CFR 202.3(b)(8).
    The NPRM encompassed--and explained in detail the rationale for--
four major changes to the GRCP registration procedure. First, the NPRM 
proposed amending the regulations to require applicants to register 
their contributions through the Office's electronic registration system 
(instead of submitting a paper application). Second, it proposed 
modifying the deposit requirements for this option by requiring 
applicants to submit a digital copy of each contribution and to upload 
these copies through the electronic registration system (instead of 
submitting a physical copy of each contribution).\1\ Third, the NPRM 
proposed a modification requiring applicants to register their 
contributions either in Class TX or Class VA (but not Class PA), and to 
identify the date of publication for each contribution and the 
periodical where each contribution was first published. Fourth, the 
NPRM proposed modifying the eligibility criteria for the GRCP option by 
providing a more specific definition of the term ``periodical,'' and by 
specifically requiring the contributions to be owned by the same 
copyright claimant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Although the statute specifies the specific kinds of deposit 
the Office must accept for the group option for contributions to 
periodicals--i.e., ``one copy of the entire issue of the periodical, 
or of the entire section in the case of a newspaper, in which each 
contribution was first published''--the NPRM also explained how, 
consistent with the overall statutory scheme, the Office may accept 
deposits other than those set forth in that provision. 81 FR at 
86640. No commenter took issue with the Office's interpretation of 
its authority to expand the deposits that may be accepted under this 
group registration option.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Authors Guild (``AG'') and National Writers Union (``NWU'') both 
submitted comments in response to the NPRM.\2\ The commenters took no 
issue with the Office's proposal to issue all GRCP registrations in 
either Class TX or Class VA,\3\ or the requirement that the 
contributions must be owned by the same claimant. Commenters did 
express some concerns regarding the shift to online-only registration, 
as well as some additional concerns regarding technical aspects of the 
proposed rules, which are addressed below. Having reviewed and 
carefully considered the comments received, bearing on the two other 
changes, the Office now issues a final rule that closely follows the 
proposed rule, with some alterations in response to the comments, as 
discussed below.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The comments received in response to the NPRM can be found 
on the Copyright Office's Web site at https://www.copyright.gov/rulemaking/grcp/.
    \3\ AG supported this proposal outright. AG Comments at 2.
    \4\ The final rule makes a few technical amendments to the rule 
as proposed: The rule will appear in Sec.  202.4(g), rather than 
Sec.  202.4(h) of the regulations, and the statutory definitions for 
``compilation'' and ``derivative work'' have been incorporated by 
reference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Discussion of Comments

A. Online Filing Requirement

    After this final rule goes into effect, GRCP applicants will be 
required to use an online application specifically designed for GRCP as 
a condition for using this group option. The Office will no longer 
accept groups of contributions that are submitted with a paper 
application on Form TX, Form VA, Form PA, or Form GR/CP.
    AG stated that it welcomed the introduction of an online 
application and predicted that it would ``greatly increase the 
efficiency of the registration process,'' create a more robust and 
easily-searchable public record, and for most authors will likely 
become the preferred mode for seeking a group registration. AG Comments 
at 1-2, 4. However, AG expressed concern that many authors are ``well-
accustomed'' to the paper application or may not have access to 
broadband Internet service. AG Comments at 2. AG stated that the Office 
should gauge the demand for the paper application before issuing a 
final rule,\5\ and then gradually phase out the application after a 
specified period of time while providing adequate notice during the 
phase-out period. If the Office determined that a cognizable number of 
authors prefer to use the paper application, AG recommended that the 
Office continue to offer this form and offer ``special dispensation'' 
from the online filing requirement ``on a case by case basis.'' Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Authors Guild filed comments on behalf of its 9,000 members 
but apparently did not poll these individuals to determine if they 
would prefer to use a paper application or if they have Internet 
access.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NWU, too, opposed the online filing requirement and urged the 
Office to retain the paper application, contending that the proposed 
rule would increase the burden on writers who use the group option. NWU 
Comments at 4.
    The Office considered AG's and NWU's concerns, but has decided to 
implement the online application requirement and eliminate the paper 
application, with some exceptions and new resources in place to assist 
applicants. When the final rule goes into effect, applicants generally 
will be required to use the online application in

[[Page 29411]]

order to seek a group registration for contributions to periodicals. 
Paper applications submitted on Form TX or VA with Form GR/CP will not 
be accepted.
    The Office recognizes, however, that authors are accustomed to 
using the paper application. To ease the transition to the online 
application, the Office is developing several new resources. The Office 
will revise chapters 1100 and 1400 of the Compendium of U.S. Copyright 
Office Practices, Third Edition (hereinafter ``Compendium''), which 
summarize the procedures for issuing registrations under this group 
option. The Office is also preparing a new circular which provides a 
general introduction to GRCP. The Office has added a notice to the 
instructions for Form GR/CP indicating that this form may not be used 
once the final rule goes into effect.
    In addition, a provision has been added to the final rule 
permitting the Office to waive the online filing requirement in ``an 
exceptional case'' and ``subject to such conditions as the Associate 
Register and Director of the Office of Registration Policy and Practice 
may impose on the applicant.'' Authors who do not have Internet access 
and are unable to use the online application may contact the Office, 
and the Office will review the specific details of their cases and 
determine their eligibility.
    The Office will then make accommodations for applicants who receive 
a waiver under this provision. One accommodation that the Office plans 
to implement will be to allow such applicants to contact the Public 
Information Office (``PIO'') by telephone for assistance in filling out 
the application. A member of the staff will ask the applicant to 
provide the information that is called for in the application, such as 
the titles of the works and the periodicals containing them, the volume 
or issue numbers and pages on which the contributions appeared, and the 
dates of first publication. PIO staff will enter this information into 
the electronic registration system. Then they will print a copy of the 
application and mail it to the applicant for his or her review. If the 
applicant approves the draft, he or she will sign the application and 
mail it back to the Office, along with a check to cover the filing fee. 
In providing this service, members of the PIO staff are not providing 
legal advice; their assistance is merely a service for convenience, and 
applicants remain responsible for providing accurate and complete 
information in their applications. Applicants should be aware that if 
they use this option, the effective date for their group registration 
will be based on the date that the signed application, the filing fee, 
and deposits are received. At this time, the Office does not intend to 
charge an additional fee for applicants who submit applications with 
the assistance of PIO. The Office will track the number of applicants 
who use this option and the amount of time needed to handle these 
requests. The Office will use this information in conducting its next 
fee study.

B. Deposit Requirements

    The final rule states that applicants must submit a complete copy 
of each contribution that is included in the group, and may satisfy 
this requirement by submitting one copy of the entire issue of the 
periodical in which the contribution was first published, the entire 
section of a newspaper in which the contribution was first published, 
or just a copy of the contribution in the precise form in which it was 
first published in the periodical (i.e., a copy of the particular pages 
within the periodical where the contribution was first published). 
These submissions must be digital copies in Portable Document Format 
(``PDF''), JPEG format, or other electronic format specifically 
approved by the Office, and must be submitted through the electronic 
registration system.
    AG agreed that requiring applicants to upload a copy of their works 
in a digital format would increase the efficiency of the group 
registration option. AG Comments at 4. But AG expressed concern that 
this may be ``overly burdensome'' for authors ``who have not made the 
complete transition from analog to digital.'' Id.
    NWU also objected to this proposal. NWU contended that authors 
would need ``PDF creation software and a flatbed scanner with a platen 
large enough to scan entire pages of a magazine or newspaper.'' NWU 
Comments at 7. NWU contended that this type of equipment is expensive 
and that authors who live outside major metropolitan areas may not have 
access to a copy shop with a scanner large enough to create a PDF of an 
entire page from the newspaper. Id. To avoid this burden, NWU urged the 
Office to allow authors to submit their works in a hard copy form, or 
alternatively, to eliminate the deposit requirement altogether. Id. at 
8-9.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ NWU notes that many authors ``create and submit their works 
to periodicals in word processor, text, or HTML file formats, not as 
the PDF files or page images required by the proposed rules,'' but 
does not suggest that the version of a work as submitted to the 
publisher would suffice. See NWU Comments at 6. In many cases these 
works are further edited by the publisher after being received from 
the author. And as noted in the NPRM, a copy of the work in the 
precise form it was published provides better proof that the work 
was indeed published in a periodical. 81 FR at 86640.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As a preliminary matter, the Office notes that many periodicals 
publish electronic replicas of their periodicals in downloadable or 
printable format.\7\ It may also be possible for authors to obtain a 
digital copy in the precise form it was published in the periodical 
from the periodical publisher directly. As for NWU's contention that 
special equipment would be needed to create a PDF copy of a 
contribution that appeared in a magazine or newspaper, the Office notes 
that even standard home office equipment will generate an acceptable 
deposit. Most magazines fit comfortably on a multi-function printer or 
scanner capable of copying a page sized 8\1/2\ x 11'' or 11 x 17''--
machines many applicants already possess, or can access at a local 
library or copy shop. And a newspaper could be scanned simply by 
folding the page in half and scanning the upper and lower portion of 
that page.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See, e.g., the Washington Post's e-Replica edition, at 
http://thewashingtonpost.pressreader.com/the-washington-post. With a 
subscription, a person can right-click on any article and print it; 
some browsers, including Google Chrome, will allow you to ``print'' 
the article as a PDF file.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Even a scanner is not necessary to generate an acceptable file. The 
vast majority of the U.S. population owns a cell phone; as of 2016, Pew 
Research Center estimated that 77% of American adults owned a 
smartphone, and that number continues to rise.\8\ Most smartphones 
contain a camera that can be used to take a photograph and save that 
image as an electronic file; indeed, 95% of cameras sold in 2014 were 
smartphone cameras.\9\ In addition, there are many free apps that 
permit a smartphone camera to be used as a PDF scanner.\10\ Thus, even 
if an author does not have access to a household scanner, and does not 
have access to a local merchant or library that provides

[[Page 29412]]

scanning services, he or she can take a digital photograph or scan of 
that excerpt and submit it as the deposit, so long as the work is 
legible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See Aaron Smith, Record shares of Americans now own 
smartphones, have home broadband, Pew Research Center (Jan. 12, 
2017), http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/12/evolution-of-technology/.
    \9\ Tomi T. Ahonen, Camera Stats: World has 5.8B Cameras by 4B 
Unique Camera Owners: 89% of camera owners use a cameraphone to take 
pictures; This year first time 1 Trillion pictures are taken, 
Communities Dominate Brands Blog (Aug. 11, 2014), http://communitiesdominate.blogs.com/brands/2014/08/camera-stats-world-has-48b-cameras-by-4b-unique-camera-owners-88-of-them-use-cameraphone-to-take-pic.html.
    \10\ Sarah Mitroff, The best scanning apps for Android and 
iPhone, CNET (Sept. 8, 2015), https://www.cnet.com/how-to/best-scanning-apps-for-android-and-iphone/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To facilitate the use of these various options, the final rule 
clarifies that applicants may upload an electronic copy of their works 
in any of the formats listed on the Office's Web site. The list 
includes PDF as well as common formats used in digital photography such 
as .jpg and .tiff. See eCO Acceptable File Types, U.S. Copyright 
Office, https://www.copyright.gov/eco/help-file-types.html.
    The Office recognizes that there may be rare cases where an author 
does not have access to any of these resources. The Office also 
recognizes AG's concerns that some authors may not be comfortable using 
this type of technology even if it is readily available. The final rule 
addresses these concerns by clarifying, as mentioned in the NPRM, that 
applicants may request special relief under Sec.  202.20(d) if they are 
unable to comply with the deposit requirements for this group option.
    The Office, however, is unable to eliminate the deposit requirement 
entirely, as NWU recommends. NWU Comments at 8. NWU notes that 
electronic works published in the United States and available only 
online have been exempted ``from the general deposit requirement.'' Id. 
at 13. NWU contends that the Register of Copyrights has similar 
authority to exempt online works from the deposit requirement for 
registration. Id. NWU appears to confuse mandatory deposit under 
section 407 with the deposit requirement for registration under section 
408. The Register has the statutory authority under section 407(c) to 
exempt certain categories of works from mandatory deposit, and recently 
created a broad exemption for online works. The Register also has the 
authority under section 408(c)(1) to specify the nature of the copies 
or phonorecords to be submitted for registration. But the Register does 
not have the authority to waive the registration deposit requirement 
altogether. NWU also contends that the Office's application forms have 
not been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for approval 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act, citing 44 U.S.C. 3507. Id. at 7. 
These requirements do not apply to the Office; the Office is a 
component of the Library of Congress, which is not an agency ``in the 
executive branch of the Government'' under that statute. 44 U.S.C. 
3502(1); see Ethnic Employees of the Library of Congress v. Boorstin, 
751 F.2d 1405, 1416 n.15 (D.C. Cir. 1985) (noting that the Library of 
Congress is not subject to the Administrative Procedure Act or the 
Freedom of Information Act).\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ The Copyright Office is subject to the APA and FOIA only 
because there is a specific statutory provision in title 17 
providing so, although it carves out certain actions from the scope 
of even those provisions. See 17 U.S.C. 701(e). There is no 
equivalent provision specifically rendering the Copyright Office 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Definition of ``Periodical''

    The NPRM proposed a definition of ``periodical'' consistent with 
the one that has appeared in in the Compendium since December 22, 2014. 
It states that a periodical is a collective work that is issued or 
intended to be issued on an established schedule in successive issues 
that are intended to be continued indefinitely. It also recognizes that 
each issue of a periodical usually bears the same title, as well as 
numerical or chronological designations.\12\ See Compendium, section 
1115.1; 37 CFR 202.3(b)(1)(v); 56 FR 7812, 7813 (Feb. 26, 1991). 
Contributions to an electronically printed (``ePrint'') publication may 
be registered under GRCP if that publication fits within the regulatory 
definition of a ``periodical.'' The NPRM clarified that a Web site 
would not be considered a periodical, since they may be updated on a 
continual basis rather than on an established schedule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ The proposed rule provided examples of the types of 
publications that typically qualify as a periodical, such as 
newspapers, newsletters, magazines, annuals, and other similar 
works. 81 FR at 86643. To avoid confusion, the Office decided not to 
include these examples in the final rule, because those examples may 
not always qualify as ``periodicals.'' For instance, a weekly 
``newsletter'' consisting of a single article written by a single 
author would not be a ``collective work,'' and thus would not 
qualify as a periodical.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AG objects to this definition, calling the distinction between 
``ePrint'' publications and Web sites ``arbitrary.'' AG Comments at 3. 
AG is concerned that the distinction ``would have the effect of 
disqualifying a great number of electronically-published works from 
GRCP eligibility.'' Id. Specifically, AG notes that nearly all news 
sites on the internet are updated ``on a continual basis,'' and as 
such, contributions to those would not be eligible for GRCP. Id. The 
Office has considered these concerns, but notes that at this time, GRCP 
is a group registration option intended for a specific class of 
copyrightable works--one that is specifically mandated by the Copyright 
Act. When developing its priorities for future upgrades to the 
electronic registration system, the Office will take these concerns 
into account.
    Finally, AG states that the Office should not ``restrict the 
definition [of ``periodical''] to works that bear the same `numerical 
or chronological designations.' '' Id. The rule here is not as 
restrictive as AG suggests. It offers only guidance that ``in most 
cases,'' periodicals will bear those designations. Sec.  202.4(g)(4) 
(emphasis added). Where a periodical does not bear those designations, 
but otherwise bears the features of a periodical, the Office is likely 
to conclude that it falls within the definition.
    In a similar vein, NWU seeks a new group registration method for 
contributions to Web sites, as well as other categories of works. 
Specifically, NWU submitted a petition urging the Office to create 
additional group registration options for the following categories of 
works: ``(a) Multiple works first distributed electronically on 
multiple dates, regardless of whether they constitute contributions to 
periodicals or a database and regardless of whether they might be 
deemed to have been, at the time of registration, published or 
unpublished, and (b) multiple works that would otherwise be eligible 
for group registration except that they were not first published as 
contributions to periodicals.'' NWU Comments at 4, 11-12. The Office is 
considering the NWU's requests and will take them into account when 
developing its priorities for future upgrades to the electronic 
registration system.

D. Additional Objections

    NWU raises an additional objection to the proposed rule. NWU 
contends that requiring authors to register their works in a timely 
manner and to deposit a copy of the work with the Office as a condition 
for filing an infringement action or seeking attorneys' fees or 
statutory damages constitutes an impermissible formality that is 
prohibited by the Berne Convention. They also contend that these 
statutory requirements deny authors an ``effective remedy'' for 
infringement, which is required by the WIPO Copyright Treaty. NWU 
Comments at 4-5. Although the Office does not agree that these 
requirements violate Berne or the WCT, this rulemaking is not the 
proper forum in which to address these concerns in detail. The 
statutory requirements that NWU complains of are part of the Copyright 
Act and the Office cannot create exceptions to them as part of this 
rulemaking.

List of Subjects in 37 CFR Parts 201 and 202

    Copyright.

[[Page 29413]]

Final Regulations

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Copyright Office 
amends 37 CFR parts 201 and 202 as follows:

PART 201--GENERAL PROVISIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 201 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 17 U.S.C. 702.


0
2. In Sec.  201.3, revise paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  201.3  Fees for registration, recordation, and related services, 
special services, and services performed by the Licensing Division.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Registration of a claim in a group of contributions               85
 to periodicals or a group of database updates..........
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

0
3. Amend Sec.  201.7 as follows:
0
a. In the last sentence in paragraph (c)(4) introductory text, add the 
phrase ``examples of'' after the phrase ``The following are''.
0
b. In paragraph (c)(4)(i), remove the semicolon and add a period in its 
place.
0
c. In paragraph (c)(4)(ii), remove ``1989,'' and add in its place 
``1989'' and remove ``notice;'' and add in its place ``notice.'' .
0
d. In paragraphs (c)(4)(iii) through (viii), remove the semicolon and 
add a period in its place.
0
e. Remove paragraph (c)(4)(ix) and redesignate paragraphs (c)(4)(x) and 
(xi) as paragraphs (c)(4)(ix) and (x), respectively.
0
f. In newly redesignated paragraph (c)(4)(ix), remove the term ``; and 
'' and add a period in its place.
0
g. Add new paragraph (c)(4)(xi).
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  201.7  Cancellation of completed registrations.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (xi) The requirements for registering a group of related works 
under section 408(c) of title 17 of the United States Code have not 
been met.
* * * * *

PART 202--PREREGISTRATION AND REGISTRATION OF CLAIMS TO COPYRIGHT

0
4. The authority citation for part 202 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 17 U.S.C. 408(f), 702.

0
5. Amend Sec.  202.3 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraph (b)(4)(ii).
0
b. Remove and reserve paragraph (b)(8).
0
c. In paragraph (b)(11)(ii), redesignate footnote 4 as footnote 2.
0
d. In paragraph (c)(2) introductory text, remove the reference to 
footnote ``6'' and add the phrase ``or Sec.  202.4, as applicable'' at 
the end of the second sentence.
0
e. In paragraph (c)(2)(iv), remove footnote 5.
0
f. Designate the undesignated sentence following paragraph (c)(2)(iv) 
as paragraph (c)(3).
    The revision read as follows:


Sec.  202.3  Registration of copyright.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (ii) In the case of an application for registration made under 
paragraphs (b)(4) through (10) of this section or under Sec.  202.4, 
the ``year of creation,'' ``year of completion,'' or ``year in which 
creation of this work was completed'' means the latest year in which 
the creation of any copyrightable element was completed.
* * * * *

0
6. Add Sec.  202.4 to read as follows:


Sec.  202.4  Group registration.

    (a) General. This section prescribes conditions for issuing a 
registration for a group of related works under section 408(c) of title 
17 of the United States Code.
    (b) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the terms 
compilation, collective work, copy, derivative work, and work made for 
hire have the meanings set forth in section 101 of title 17 of the 
United States Code, and the terms claimant, Class TX, Class VA, and 
works of the visual arts have the meanings set forth in Sec.  
202.3(a)(3) and (b)(1)(i) and (iii).
    (c) [Reserved]
    (d) [Reserved]
    (e) [Reserved]
    (f) [Reserved]
    (g) Group registration of contributions to periodicals. Pursuant to 
the authority granted by 17 U.S.C. 408(c)(2), the Register of 
Copyrights has determined that a group of contributions to periodicals 
may be registered in Class TX or Class VA with one application, one 
filing fee, and the required deposit, if the following conditions are 
met:
    (1) All the contributions in the group must be created by the same 
individual.
    (2) The copyright claimant must be the same person or organization 
for all the contributions.
    (3) The contributions must not be works made for hire.
    (4) Each work must be first published as a contribution to a 
periodical, and all the contributions must be first published within a 
twelve-month period (e.g., January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015; 
February 1, 2015 through January 31, 2016). For purposes of this 
section, a periodical is a collective work that is issued or intended 
to be issued on an established schedule in successive issues that are 
intended to be continued indefinitely. In most cases, each issue will 
bear the same title, as well as numerical or chronological 
designations.
    (5) If any of the contributions were first published before March 
1, 1989, those works must bear a separate copyright notice, the notice 
must contain the copyright owner's name (or an abbreviation by which 
the name can be recognized, or a generally known alternative 
designation for the owner), and the name that appears in each notice 
must be the same.
    (6) The applicant must complete and submit the online application 
designated for a group of contributions to periodicals. The application 
must identify each contribution that is included in the group, 
including the date of publication for each contribution and the 
periodical in which it was first published. The application may be 
submitted by any of the parties listed in Sec.  202.3(c)(1). The 
application should be filed in Class TX if a majority of the 
contributions predominantly consist of text, and the application should 
be filed in Class VA if a majority of the contributions predominantly 
consist of photographs, illustrations, artwork, or other works of the 
visual arts.
    (7) The appropriate filing fee, as required by Sec.  201.3(c) of 
this chapter, must be included with the application or charged to an 
active deposit account.
    (8) The applicant must submit one copy of each contribution that is 
included in the group, either by submitting the entire issue of the 
periodical where the contribution was first published, the entire 
section of the newspaper where it was first published, or the specific 
page(s) from the periodical where the contribution was first published. 
The contributions must

[[Page 29414]]

be contained in separate electronic files that comply with Sec.  
202.20(b)(2)(iii). The files must be submitted in a PDF, JPG, or other 
electronic format approved by the Office, and they must be uploaded to 
the electronic registration system, preferably in a .zip file 
containing all the files. The file size for each uploaded file must not 
exceed 500 megabytes; the files may be compressed to comply with this 
requirement.
    (9) In an exceptional case, the Copyright Office may waive the 
online filing requirement set forth in paragraph (g)(6) of this section 
or may grant special relief from the deposit requirement under Sec.  
202.20(d), subject to such conditions as the Associate Register of 
Copyrights and Director of the Office of Registration Policy and 
Practice may impose on the applicant.
    (h) [Reserved]
    (i) [Reserved]
    (j) [Reserved]
    (k) Refusal to register. The Copyright Office may refuse 
registration if the applicant fails to satisfy the requirements for 
registering a group of related works under this section or Sec.  
202.3(b)(5) through (7), (9), or (10).
    (l) Cancellation. If the Copyright Office issues a registration for 
a group of related works and subsequently determines that the 
requirements for that group option have not been met, and if the 
claimant fails to cure the deficiency after being notified by the 
Office, the registration may be cancelled in accordance with Sec.  
201.7 of this chapter.
    (m) The scope of a group registration. When the Office issues a 
group registration under paragraph (g) of this section, the 
registration covers each work in the group and each work is registered 
as a separate work. For purposes of registration, the group as a whole 
is not considered a compilation, a collective work, or a derivative 
work under sections 101, 103(b), or 504(c)(1) of title 17 of the United 
States Code.


Sec.  202.20   [Amended]

0
7. Amend Sec.  202.20 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (d)(1)(i), remove ``section;'' and add in its place 
``section; or'' .
0
b. In paragraph (d)(1)(iii), remove ``section; or'' and add in its 
place ``section or Sec.  202.4; or'' .
0
c. In paragraph (d)(1)(iv), remove ``Sec.  202.21.'' and add in its 
place ``Sec.  202.4 or Sec.  202.21.''.

    Dated: May 31, 2017.
Karyn Temple Claggett,
Acting Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright 
Office.
    Approved by:
Carla D. Hayden,
Librarian of Congress.
[FR Doc. 2017-13548 Filed 6-28-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-30-P