For representative examples of works that contain unclaimable material, see Sections 503.5(A) through 503.5(D) below. For guidance in completing the Material Excluded field and space 6(a) of the application, see Chapter 600, Section 621.8(B).
503.5(A) Unclaimable Material: Previously Published Material
The following chart provides a representative example of a work that contains previously published material.
| Work of Authorship | Excluded Material | New Authorship |
|---|---|---|
| Textbook (second edition) | Text, artwork, and photographs published in the first edition of this textbook | New text that the author created for the second edition of this textbook |
In this example, the applicant may register the new text that the author contributed to the second edition of this textbook. The applicant should exclude the text, artwork, and other material that was published in the first edition of this work using the procedure described in Chapter 600, Section 621.8.
503.5(B) Unclaimable Material: Previously Registered Material
The following chart provides a representative example of a work that contains previously registered material.
| Work of Authorship | Excluded Material | New Authorship |
|---|---|---|
| Feature film based on an unpublished screenplay | Unpublished screenplay (Reg. No. PAu 9-999-999) | Motion picture |
In this example, the unpublished screenplay has been previously registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, but the feature film has not. The applicant may register the new authorship that the author contributed to the motion picture. The previously registered screenplay should be excluded from the claim using the procedure described in Chapter 600, Section 621.8(F).
503.5(C) Unclaimable Material: Public Domain Material
The following chart provides a representative example of a work that contains public domain material.
