application for a new basic registration that names the author as the copyright claimant. See Section 1803.
If the wrong claimant was named in the basic registration, the correct name may be added to the registration record with a supplementary registration, provided that the application is filed by one of the parties listed in Section 1802.1. In addition, a statement may be added to the registration record to clarify that the name provided in the basic registration is incorrect (although that name cannot be removed from the basic registration]. In some cases, the registration specialist may ask the applicant to provide a declaration or other supporting evidence confirming that the information set forth in the application for supplementary registration is correct.
Examples:
• Tracey Ebert and Karen Colby co-wrote a screenplay titled Hair Force One. On July 1, 2006 Karen assigned her share of the copyright to Graffiti Studios. On July 31, 2006 Tracey submitted an application to register the screenplay, naming herself as the sole copyright claimant. Tracey may file an application for supplementary registration naming Graffiti as a co-claimant. Tracey should provide a transfer statement that explains how the company obtained the copyright in this work. In addition, the registration specialist may ask Tracey to submit additional documentation concerning this transfer.
• Kris Anderson and Karina Ramsey registered the songs "Be the Best" and "Hornet's Nest," which were published on the
album Falling in Love in a Small Town. The basic registration named Kris and Karina as the co-authors and co-claimants for these works. In fact, Kris is the sole author and owner of "Be the Best," and Karina is the sole author and owner of "Hornet's Nest." If the U.S. Copyright Office had been aware of this when the application was filed, it would have asked the applicant to exclude one of these songs from the application. "Be the Best" or "Hornet's Nest" may be removed from the registration record with a supplementary registration that deletes the title of the work and removes Kris's or Karina's name from the Author/Claimant fields. The song that has been removed from the registration record may be registered separately by filing a new application for a new basic registration that names the correct individual as the author and owner of that song.
1802.6(G) Year of Completion
An error involving the year of completion may be corrected with a supplementary registration. However, the year given in the application for supplementary registration must be the same as — or earlier than — the year given as the effective date of registration for the basic registration. Likewise, if the work has been published, the year of completion given in the application for supplementary registration must be the same as — or earlier than — the date of first publication given in the basic registration.
Chapter 1800 : 14
12/22/2014
