Registering Photo Copyrights: The Decisions That Matter
Registering photographs with the U.S. Copyright Office, individually or in groups, to strengthen legal protection.
Imogen Clarke
The key figures
- Circular 42
- the Copyright Office's guide to registering photographs
- Group registration
- up to 750 photographs can be registered in one group application
- Timely registration
- registering within three months of publication preserves statutory damages
- Lawsuits
- registration is required before suing over US works
Why this is worth getting right
Registration is required before suing over US works, and timely registration unlocks statutory damages and attorney's fees.
Do this, not that
Do
- Register important work promptly
- Use group registration for large shoots
- Keep records of publication dates
- Store deposit copies and receipts
- Register before licensing widely
Don’t
- Waiting until infringement to register
- Mixing published and unpublished photos in one group
- Missing publication dates
- Assuming watermarks replace registration
When to bring in help
Our advice Bring in help when images are frequently copied or licensed.
Where this comes from
- U.S. Copyright Office — Circular 42 Copyright Registration of Photographs
- U.S. Copyright Office — Group Registration of Photographs
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
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