512.2(B) Registering Multiple Versions of a Published Work: Less Complete Version Published First
If one version contains some—but not all—of the copyrightable material that appears in other versions of the same work and if that version was published first, the applicant may register any or all of those versions. When completing the application for the more complete version(s) the applicant should exclude any material that appeared in the previously published versions of the same work using the procedure described in Chapter 600, Section 621.8.
Example:
- The Block Island Press published a calendar on June 1, 2011 that contains a number of photographs. On June 15, 2011, the company published a coffee table book containing the same photographs and some additional sketches. The publisher may submit a separate application for the calendar and the book. When completing the application for the calendar, the publisher should assert a claim in the photographs. When completing an application for the book, the publisher should assert a claim in the artwork, and should exclude the previously published photographs from the claim.
512.2(C) Registering Multiple Versions of a Published Work: Multiple Versions Published on the Same Date
If one version contains all the copyrightable material that appears in other versions of the same work and if all the versions were published on the same date, the applicant should submit the most complete version.
Example:
- Dice Drugs published two versions of a user manual on August 15, 2012. One version is written in English; the other version contains the same text written in English and Spanish. The publisher should submit an application to register the English/Spanish version.
If each version contains copyrightable material that does not appear in other versions of the same work and if all the versions were published on the same date, the applicant may submit a separate application for each version.
Example:
- On September 15, 2013 Coffee Cabinet LLC submits two applications for two versions of a novel which were published on September 1, 2013. One version is intended for British readers, while the other is an Americanized version that is intended for readers in the United States. In both cases, the applicant asserts a claim in text. The registration specialist will register both claims.
