610.6(D)(2) Title That Appears on the Deposit Copy(ies) is More Complete Than the Title Provided in the Application
Where the title provided in the application is a generic title, such as “story,” “symphony,” “picture,” or the like, and the title on the deposit copy(ies) substantially adds to the identity of the work, the registration specialist may add the additional information to the online public record.
Example:
- The title on the application is “Ballade,” while the title on deposit copies is “Ballade No. 6 in E Minor.” The application will be accepted. The title that appears on the deposit copies may be added to the online public record in the previous or alternative title field.
610.6(D)(3) Edition Number, Version Number, or Other Identifying Information Not Provided
The registration specialist may amend the title provided in the application to indicate that the copy or phonorecord submitted to the U.S. Copyright Office is a specific version or a particular edition of the work, particularly if the applicant failed to exclude the prior versions or previous editions from the scope of the claim.
Example:
- The title on the application is Applied Genetics. The deposit copy indicates that this is the second edition of this work. If the applicant expressly limited the claim to the “new and additional text” contained in the second edition, the application will be accepted. If the claim has not been limited to the new material, the specialist will amend the title to read Applied Genetics (2nd Edition) and will add an annotation to the certificate of registration, such as: “Regarding title information: edition statement added by C.O. from copy.”
610.6(D)(4) Substantial Variances Between the Title Provided in the Application and the Title That Appears on the Deposit Copy(ies)
If there is a substantial variance between the title given in the application and the deposit copy(ies) and if the registration specialist is unable to determine whether the application and deposit copy(ies) refer to the same work, the specialist will communicate with the applicant.
Examples:
- The title given in the application is Davidson’s Biology for Preparatory Study. The title given on the deposit copies is Poems for Shona and Liletha. The registration specialist will communicate with the applicant to determine whether the correct deposit copies have been submitted or whether the title field should be revised.
