In all cases, the applicant must submit one complete copy of each contribution that is included in the group. This requirement may be satisfied by submitting any of the following:
• One copy of the entire issue of the periodical that contains the contribution.
• One copy of the entire section of a newspaper that contains the contribution.
• Tear sheets or proof copies of the contribution.
• A photocopy of the contribution.
• A photocopy of the entire page from the periodical that contains the contribution.
• The entire page from the periodical that contains the contribution, which has been cut or torn from the periodical.
• The contribution cut or torn from the periodical.
• Photographs or photographic slides of the contribution, provided that the content of the contribution is clear and legible.
• Photographs or photographic slides of the entire page from the periodical that contains the contribution, provided that the content of the contribution is clear and legible.
See 37 C.F.R. § 202.3(b)(8)(i)(E); see also Registration of Claims to Copyright: Group Registration of Contributions to Periodicals, 67 Fed. Reg. 10,329 (Mar. 7, 2002).
Alternatively, the Office may allow an applicant to submit a printout from an electronic newspaper archive, provided that the applicant asks for a grant of special relief from the deposit requirements under Section 202.20(d) of the regulations. The request should explain why the applicant is unable to submit copies that satisfy the deposit requirements set forth above and should confirm that (i) the contribution(s) were published after March 1, 1989, and (ii) that the content of each printout is substantially identical to the content that appeared in the original publication. For a general discussion of special relief, see Chapter 1500, Section 1508.8.
1115.6 When May an Application for a Group Registration Be Filed?
The U.S. Copyright Office will register all of the contributions created by the same individual and published within a twelve-month period, provided that the applicant complies with the requirements set forth in Sections 1115.2 through 1115.5. Although an application for a group registration may be filed any time before the copyrights expire, a contribution typically must be registered within three months after publication to seek statutory damages and attorney's fees in an infringement action. See 17 U.S.C. § 412. Therefore, the Office strongly encourages applicants who use this group registration option to submit the application, deposit copies, and filing fee within three months after the date of publication for the earliest contribution in the group.
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