Copyright Office fees haven't changed since March 2020. That's about to end, and the increase is large for some filings.
The short answer: the basic online registration fee is set to go from $65 to $85, and several group options from $85 to $130. As of November 10, 2026, the current fees still apply and no effective date has been announced. If you have registrations or recordations you've been putting off, filing now saves money.
Where things stand
- March 20, 2026: the Office published a notice of proposed rulemaking with a new fee schedule.
- May 4, 2026: the comment period closed.
- July 14, 2026: the Office submitted its final proposed schedule and analysis to Congress.
- After 120 days: under 17 U.S.C. § 708(b), the Register may institute the new fees unless Congress passes a law disapproving them within that period.
- As of November 10, 2026: the Office's fee study page says the implementation date hasn't been finalized and will be announced in a final rule in the Federal Register. The Office has said it aims to start the new fees in fall 2026.
Check the Office's fee page on the day you file. The fee is whatever is in effect when the Office receives the application.
The changes that matter most
These figures come from the Office's proposed schedule submitted to Congress.
| Service | Current fee | Proposed fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Application (online) | $65 | $85 |
| Single Application (one author, one work, not for hire) | $45 | $55 |
| Paper application | $125 | $185 |
| Group of unpublished works (up to 10) | $85 | $130 |
| Group of short online literary works (up to 50) | $65 | $130 |
| Supplementary registration (online) | $100 | $85 |
| Special handling (expedited) of a registration | $800 | $1,100 |
| Recording a document (online), base fee | $95 | $215 |
| Special handling of a recordation | $550 | $1,100 |
A few points:
- The Single Application survives. The Office first proposed eliminating it. After public comments, the final proposal keeps it at $55.
- Group options take the biggest hit in percentage terms. They're still far cheaper per work than separate applications.
- Recordation more than doubles. That's the fee for recording an assignment or other transfer document.
- One fee goes down. Supplementary registration, used to correct or add to an existing registration, drops to $85.
Why the Office is raising fees
Fees cover part of the Office's costs, and the statute directs the Register to set them with those costs in mind. The Office's analysis says registration fees now recover about 47 percent of what registration services cost, and the new schedule would bring that to about 59 percent.
What it means for a typical filer
| Filing | Today | After the increase |
|---|---|---|
| One program, website, or video | $65 | $85 |
| Ten videos registered separately | $650 | $850 |
| Ten unpublished videos in one group | $85 | $130 |
| A 100-video library, in ten unpublished groups | $850 | $1,300 |
| A 100-video library, registered separately | $6,500 | $8,500 |
| Recording one assignment online | $95 | $215 |
| Expediting one registration for litigation | $865 | $1,185 |
What to file before the change
- Registrations you already planned. Software releases, website content, courses, and manuscripts. The effective date of a registration is the day the Office receives a complete application, so filing now also starts your protection for statutory damages sooner. See When to register a copyright.
- Group filings. If you have unpublished works that qualify for the group option, the saving is $45 per group. See Group registration of unpublished works.
- Recordations. If you've signed assignments that you meant to record, do it at $95.
- Anything you may need to sue on. Special handling is about to cost $300 more. An ordinary application filed now may make it unnecessary later.
Don't rush a filing that isn't ready. An application with the wrong claimant, the wrong publication status, or material you don't own costs more to fix than the fee difference. Confirm ownership first. See Who owns the code your developer wrote?
Practical takeaways
- Current fees apply until the Office announces an effective date. It hasn't yet.
- The increase is about 30 percent for a standard registration and more than 50 percent for groups.
- Registration is still inexpensive compared with what it protects. The fee shouldn't decide whether you register, only when.
I'll update this article when the final rule is published. If you'd like help getting filings in before the change, get in touch.
Primary authority
- 17 U.S.C. § 708 (Copyright Office fees).
- U.S. Copyright Office, Proposed Schedule and Analysis of Copyright Fees to Go into Effect in Fall 2026 (July 14, 2026).
- U.S. Copyright Office, Fee Study 2026; current fee schedule.
Related resources
- How to register a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office
- Copyright registration: a comprehensive guide
- Copyright registration checklist
- Copyright registration of videos and online courses
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Copyright Office practices and fees change, and the law varies by circuit; confirm current requirements at copyright.gov and consult qualified counsel about your situation.
