1311.2 Who May File the Application?
An application to register a claim in a vessel design may be filed by (i) the owner or owners of the design, or (ii) the duly authorized agent or representative of the owner or owners of the design. 17 U.S.C. § 1310(c), (e); 37 C.F.R. § 212.3(c).
1311.3 Form D-VH
Applicants must use Form D-VH to register a claim in a vessel design and must use Form D-VH/CON to provide additional information, if necessary. A single Form D-VH may cover one or more designs on a single make or model of a vessel, but the applicant must use a separate continuation Form D-VH/CON for each of the related designs. An applicant must submit separate applications to register multiple designs that are contained on different makes and models of a vessel.
Form D-VH may only be used to register a claim in a vessel design. It cannot be used to register a claim in any other type of work.
Examples:
• The U.S. Copyright Office will refuse a claim in "technical drawings" of a vessel filed on Form D-VH. A separate copyright claim in drawings may be recommended. For more information on the copyrightability and registrability of claims in drawings,
see Chapter 900, Section 922.
• The Office will refuse a claim in "boat design" filed on Form VA and will inquire whether a claim based on "vessel design" may be filed on Form D-VH.
• The Office will refuse a claim for a nautical or maritime "furniture design" filed on Form D-VH. A separate registration for a copyright claim in furniture design may be recommended. For more information on the registration of copyright claims in useful articles, see Chapter 900, Section 924.
• The Office will refuse a Form D-VH that claims in "vessel design, technical drawings, and advertising photos." The Office will limit the Form D-VH to any eligible vessel design shown in the drawings and photographs. A separate registration for a copyright claim in the drawings and photographs may be recommended. For more information on the registration of copyright claims in drawings and photographs, see Chapter 900, Section 909 and 922.
Forms D-VH and D-VH/CON are both available on the U.S. Copyright Office's website
atwww.copyright.gov/forms/formdvh.pdf,
and www.copyright.gov/forms/formdvhcon.pdf.
Applicants also may request a hard copy of these forms from the U.S. Copyright Office's Public Information Office as follows:
Chapter 1300 : 13
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