Copyright Application
Filing Instructions

You are reading this page because the FIU Small Business Legal Clinic has prepared a copyright application for you.

Follow these instructions to access your on-line application and have it submitted to the US Copyright Office.  YOU MUST USE A DESKTOP OR LAPTOP COMPUTER AND NOT A SMART PHONE If you have questions as you prepare to submit the on-line application you may consult the Copyright Office's Onlne Registration Help Page

Step-by-Step Filing Instructions
  1. CLICK HERE to open the eCo on-line copyright application page.

  2. Login with the username and password given to you by the Clinic in their email.

  3. Click "Working Cases" in blue letters at the top left-hand corner of the screen.  This will bring you to a page that contains the application(s) that I have prepared for you.

    • If you are filing more than one application THERE WILL BE MORE THAN ONE "WORKING CASE".  Each will have to be filed separately with a separate payment of a filing fee.

  4. In the "Case #" column click the blue colored case number to access the application that you presently filing.

  5. In the application:  review the information and make corrections if needed (contact the Clinic if you need help with this).  If no corrections are needed, then click the "Certification" link in blue that is in the left hand column of the screen.

  6. After clicking "certification" you must "sign" the application.  To do that click the box as instructed to certify your acknowledgments.  Then in the space indicated, type your name as the certifying individual.  This is the equivalent to signing your application.  Click "Continue".

  7. Doing that will take you back to the application in its final form. Before you proceed, please note the warning to not click the "Add to Cart" button until you have confirmed the information is correct.

  8. After confirming that the information is correct, click the button for "Add to Cart" at the top to proceed to the next page.

  9. On the next page, click "Checkout" and if you are ready to pay, then click "Pay - Credit Card / ACH".  Please note the warning that you will be leaving the website and therefore no longer able to edit the application.

  10. You can either pay with your credit card or via bank account.  Enter your payment information as instructed.  Next, click the "Continue with Plastic Card Payment" if you chose to pay with a credit card, or click"Continue with ACH Payment" if you chose to pay via bank account.

  11. Authorize your payment by entering and confirming your email address.  Under "Authorization and Disclosure," check the box to authorize the charge.  Click "Submit Payment" to finalize the transaction.  This will bring you to the final page of the application.

  12. UPLOAD COPY:  If your work is in a digtial format you must upload a PDF digital copy into the on-line application using the button found on the "Submit Your Work" screen.

    • IF YOUR WORK HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN A PHYSICAL FORMAT (like a book) you should mail your work to the Copyright Office after you have submitted the on-line electronic application (do this even if you are also uploading a digital PDF version when submitting the on-line application ).

      • To mail a physical copy print a shipping slip from the "Submit Your Work" screen.  Then, in the same package, send the shipping slip and TWO copies of the work to the address shown on the shipping slip.

  13. Submit the on-line application.  Once submitted, a filing receipt email will be sent to you from the United States Copyright Office. CLICK HERE for an overview of what happens next

  14. To check the status of your claim, login to the eCO application page (mentioned above). Navigate to the "Open Cases" table, and click the blue case number associated with your application .