# Copyright Registration — Filing Checklist ## 50 Ways to Leave Another EP · Loptr Lab / Dominique Devereaux *Project-control documentation, not legal advice. Fees and processing times sourced from copyright.gov; re-verify before filing.* --- ## What you are registering and why it matters Copyright exists automatically the moment a work is fixed in a tangible medium — a recording, a lyric document, a digital file. Registration does not create the copyright. What registration does is give you the ability to enforce it in federal court, access statutory damages (up to $150,000 per work for willful infringement), and create a public record that establishes your ownership date. A Netflix co-development conversation or sync pitch will require evidence of chain of title. Registration is that evidence. For this EP, there are two distinct copyrights per track, each requiring separate registration: | Copyright type | What it covers | Form | Register when | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Musical composition** | Lyrics + melody as written — the song itself | Form PA (Performing Arts) | As soon as the composition exists in fixed form; before pitching | | **Sound recording / master** | The specific recorded performance | Form SR (Sound Recording) | After the commercial master is recorded; before distribution | You do not have a commercial master yet. That means today you register the **compositions only** (Form PA). The master registrations (Form SR) follow once recordings exist. --- ## Registration strategy for a 5-song EP The Copyright Office offers a **group registration option for musical works published on the same album** — one application, one fee, up to the full album. Registration of a claim in a group of works published on an album of music is $65. However, your tracks are currently **unpublished**. For unpublished works, the group option also exists: the Copyright Office has implemented a group registration option for unpublished works. **Recommended approach:** | Scenario | Application type | Fee | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Register all 5 compositions now (unpublished) | Group — Unpublished Works | $65 | One application covers the EP | | Register title track composition only, immediately | Single — standard online | $65 | Use if you need the title track registered before the others are ready | | Register title track if sole author, not-for-hire | Single — online, single author | $45 | Only if Dominique is the sole author and claimant | | Register all 5 masters after recording | Group — Sound Recordings on an album | $65 | Separate application after masters exist | For a single song, by one author, with the same claimant, and not made for hire, the fee is $45. A standard application — used when your song involves multiple authors or you want to add co-writer details — costs $65. Given that the EP has a prospective collaborator (Charlie J) whose authorship contribution is pending, **file the compositions now as a sole-author claim for Dominique's concept and lyrics**, and update the registration when co-author contributions are confirmed and the split sheet is signed. Do not list a contributor as an author until their agreement is executed. --- ## What you need before you file ### For the composition registration (Form PA) - [ ] **Title of each work** — the song titles as they will appear on the EP - [ ] **Year of creation** — the year each composition was completed in fixed form (a dated lyric document, a dated audio file, or a dated file in private storage) - [ ] **Author information** — Dominique Devereaux; include legal name as it appears on your ID - [ ] **Claimant information** — if Loptr Lab is an LLC, you can register under the business name as claimant; confirm with counsel whether the business or individual holds the rights - [ ] **Nature of authorship** — "Words and music" (if both); "Words" (if lyrics only, melody TBD); be accurate - [ ] **Publication status** — "Unpublished" if the tracks have not been publicly released or sold; this is almost certainly the correct status at this stage - [ ] **Deposit copy** — one complete copy of the work: - For unpublished compositions: a lead sheet (melody + lyrics + chords), a lyric document, or a recording (the Suno demo qualifies as a deposit copy for the composition — it is evidence of the fixed form, not a claim that Suno authored the work) - The deposit does not become public; it is held by the Copyright Office - [ ] **Filing fee** — credit/debit card; paid online through the eCO portal - [ ] **eCO account** — create at copyright.gov/registration if you do not have one ### For the sound recording registration (Form SR) — file after masters are recorded - [ ] Commercial master recordings (WAV, 24-bit/48kHz) - [ ] Author information for the sound recording — typically the producer and/or performing artist - [ ] Claimant — master owner (Loptr Lab, per the production agreement) - [ ] Deposit copy — one complete copy of the sound recording per track, or the full album file - [ ] Separate from the PA registration; submit as a new application --- ## Filing steps (online, via eCO portal) 1. Go to **copyright.gov/registration** and log in or create an account 2. Select **"Music, Lyrics, Sound Recordings, Scripts, Stage Plays"** 3. Choose the appropriate application type: - For unpublished EP compositions: **"Group of Unpublished Works"** - For a single composition: **"Standard Application"** or **"Single Author"** if applicable 4. Complete the application — title, author, claimant, nature of authorship, publication status 5. Upload the deposit copy (PDF of lyrics, lead sheet, or audio file as permitted) 6. Pay the filing fee by credit/debit card 7. Save the **case number** and **confirmation email** — this is your evidence of filing date while you wait for the certificate Electronic registration is preferred; benefits include faster processing times, status tracking, online payment, and the option to upload certain categories of works. --- ## Processing time and what to expect The Copyright Office publishes current registration processing times on its registration portal. As of early 2026, online applications for musical works typically take several months. The **registration effective date is the date the Copyright Office receives the completed application, fee, and deposit** — not the date the certificate arrives. Your filing date is what matters for enforcement purposes. For a Netflix pitch timeline, file before you send any materials to a music supervisor or development executive. You do not need the certificate in hand — you need the filing date. --- ## What goes in the repo vs. private storage | Item | Where it lives | | --- | --- | | Case number and filing date | `PROVENANCE.md` — add to claim register as "Public-source fact + Creator statement" | | Copyright certificate (PDF when received) | Protected Drive workspace — not committed to the public repo | | Deposit copies (lyrics, lead sheet, audio) | Protected Drive workspace | | Registration fee receipt | Protected Drive workspace | | `SOURCES.md` entry | Add copyright.gov as a cited source with access date | ### Entry to add to PROVENANCE.md claim register | Claim | Class | Evidence or status | | --- | --- | --- | | Copyright registration filed for composition(s) — [title(s)] | Creator statement → Public-source fact on receipt of certificate | Case number filed [date]; certificate pending; evidence locator: [private Drive path] | --- ## Fee summary (current as of September 2026) | Application | Fee | | --- | --- | | Single online — single author, sole claimant, not-for-hire | $45 | | Standard online — multiple authors or standard claim | $65 | | Group — unpublished works (up to the EP) | $65 | | Group — album of musical works (published) | $65 | | Group — album of sound recordings (published) | $65 | | Paper application (any type) | $125 | *Source: U.S. Copyright Office Fee Schedule (copyright.gov/about/fees.html), verified September 13, 2026. Fees are subject to change; re-verify before filing.* --- ## SOURCES.md entries to add ``` | U.S. Copyright Office — Fee Schedule | Filing fees for PA and SR registration | https://www.copyright.gov/about/fees.html | Accessed September 13, 2026 | Re-verify before filing; fees change periodically | | U.S. Copyright Office — Registration Portal | Group registration options for unpublished works and album musical works | https://www.copyright.gov/registration/ | Accessed September 13, 2026 | | | U.S. Copyright Office Circular 4 — Copyright Fees | Electronic registration fee structure ($45 single-author, $65 standard) | https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ04.pdf | Accessed September 13, 2026 | | ``` --- *File as: `docs/copyright-registration-checklist.md` in the repo.*