Questions & Answers

What is the fee to designate an agent with the Copyright Office (or to amend, resubmit, or renew a designation)?

The current fee is $6 per designation, amendment, or resubmission. There is no separate fee to renew per se because each time you amend or resubmit, and pay the $6 fee to do so, you are fulfilling the renewal requirement. There is no longer an additional fee for alternate names. For more...

What is the periodic “renewal” requirement?

A service provider’s designation will expire and become invalid three years after it is registered with the Office, unless the service provider renews such designation by either amending it to correct or update all relevant information or resubmitting it without amendment to confirm the designation...

Who can designate an agent with the Copyright Office or manage a service provider’s designation with the Office (e.g., amend, resubmit, or renew a designation)?

Anyone the service provider authorizes to act on its behalf. This can be an employee of the service provider or a third party like a DMCA agent service or law firm. The online system is flexibly designed to allow multiple service provider designations to be managed through a single registration...

Who may serve as a designated agent?

A designated agent may be an individual (e.g., “Jane Doe”), a specific position or title held by an individual (e.g., “Copyright Manager”), a specific department within the service provider’s organization or within a third-party entity (e.g., “Copyright Compliance Department”), or a third-party...

Who must designate an agent?

Any service provider (within the meaning of 17 U.S.C. 512(k)(1)) seeking the safe harbor protections of section 512. Related or affiliated service providers that are separate legal entities (e.g., corporate parents and subsidiaries) are considered separate service providers, and each must have its...

Will I get a reminder when it is time to renew my designation?

Yes. To help ensure that no service provider accidentally forgets to renew its designation, the online system will automatically email reminders to the primary and secondary contacts, service provider, and designated agent at 90 days, 60 days, 30 days, and 1 week prior to each service provider’s...

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