Dear Rich: I have a question. How long does it take to get a certificate of registration after using the Copyright Office's new electronic filing system? I'm so glad you asked, because on December 31, 2007, I received a certificate of registration for a work that I filed on September 27, 2007. So the turnaround is approximately three months. And don't expect the traditional double-sided certificate with the red seal and examiner's initials. The Copyright Office is unveiling some new formats for the certificate including a just-the-facts form and a more detailed, Web 2.0-style form. You can read the whole story on the new forms at the Copyright Office.
Grand total spent on electronic filing: 15 minutes to file; 90 days for receipt of certificate of registration.
To learn more about the process of protecting your works from copycats, pick up a copy of The Copyright Handbook: What Every Writer Needs to Know, by Attorney Stephen Fishman (Nolo).
