What information do you need to file for a copyright?

• Date and creation of the work.
• Date of first publication.
• Was the work for hire? Usually this is work done by an employee. If there is an agreement that a work will be treated as a work for hire, the following specially ordered works can become works for hire: a work as a compilation or pre-existing materials, part of a motion picture or audiovisual work, translation, supplementary work, instructional text or answer material, atlases.

Note that this list does not include ordinary art or writing, hired out, or architect’s plans made for a client. That work is not “work made for hire.” It belongs to the creator, unless it is assigned to the hiring party.

• Is this a derivative work? A derivative work is a new version of something else. If the work is merely a variation, the underlying work must be copyrighted. Slight variations do not necessarily need to have separate copyrights, but if there are major changes, a separate copyright may be obtained. However, a new variation of an old uncopyrighted version may not be copyrightable.
• Is the work entirely original, or is it a compilation or collection that has unique qualities because of your arrangement?
• Year of completion.

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