Sponsors (2)
This bill makes copyright registration for visual works substantially cheaper, faster, and more modern by enabling batch filing, third‑party registries, electronic submission, and subscriptions — but it shifts storage and implementation costs, raises privacy and enforcement complexities, and may reduce Copyright Office fee revenue and increase administrative burdens.
Small creators and businesses (photographers, illustrators, designers) can register many visual works at far lower cost and effort through batch filing, subscription options, reduced and capped deferred fees, and a single electronic copy per work.
Creators may submit deposits via certified third‑party registries and use an online filing process, letting authors reuse existing registry workflows and avoid some direct Copyright Office steps.
Submitting materials electronically can secure an earlier effective registration date and deferred filings can be converted to full examined registrations during the copyright term, preserving statutory benefits.
Lower per‑work fees, subscription discounts, and batch options risk substantially reducing Copyright Office fee revenue while adding new regulatory and implementation work, which could force program cuts, offsets, or taxpayer funding.
Certified registries must retain photos for the full copyright term and meet interoperability/free‑access obligations, creating significant long‑term storage and operating costs that may be passed to creators or deter private registries from certifying.
Requiring searchable public metadata (owner names/contact info) risks exposing creators' personal information, increasing the chance of harassment, doxxing, or other misuse of contact details.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Streamlines electronic copyright registration for visual works, authorizes certified third‑party photo registries, adds group and deferred registration, and creates reduced fees and subscriptions.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Marsha Blackburn · Last progress December 17, 2025
Makes it easier and cheaper for creators of photos, paintings, sculptures, and other visual works to register copyrights and enforce them. The bill exempts many visual works from an older “best edition” deposit rule, allows a single electronic deposit, authorizes certified third‑party photo registries, creates group registration and deferred registration processes, and changes fees to include reduced tiers and subscription options so professional creators can register many works affordably. Also requires the Copyright Office to build modern, interoperable online tools so creators and common software can submit registration data automatically, and lets U.S. Customs enforce copyrights while a deferred registration is pending. The bill sets deadlines (generally 180 days) for the Register to write implementing regulations and to establish subscription rules and reduced fees.