06B Best Edition for Deposit
Copyright Office Layman Publications to Read
CFR: Appendix B to Part 202—“Best Edition” of Published Copyrighted Works for the Collections of the Library of Congress
Appendix B to Part 202, item III. Motion Pictures
Other Information
The Compendium of Copyright Office Practices is an internal document used by the Copyright Office to guide Office employees in their work. The 1984 edition states:
“486.01 In all cases, whether the motion picture is published or unpublished, the deposit must include a written description of the contents of the motion picture. This may be a shooting script or continuity, a pressbook, or a detailed synopsis. 37 C.F.R. 202.20(c)(2)(ii). The separate description should contain full, complete and detailed information about the work, including the running time. When the Copyright Office is asked, it will encourage the deposit of a shooting script as the description. NOTE: This description does not in any way extend the registration beyond the material fixed in the motion picture.
“486.02 Unpublished motion pictures. The deposit required to accompany an application for registration of a copyright claim in an unpublished motion picture, in addition to the description, can be either of the following:
“1) One complete copy of the motion picture containing all the visual and aural elements that the registration covers; or
“2) Identifying material consisting of one of the following:
“a) An audio cassette or other audio recording reproducing the entire soundtrack or other sound portion of the motion picture; or
“b) A set of prints consisting of one frame enlargement from each ten-minute segment of the motion picture. Where the work is a videorecording, prints taken from the viewing monitor are the preferred form of deposit.
“486.03 Published motion pictures. The deposit required to accompany an application for registration of a claim to copyright in a published motion picture, in addition to the written description, is one complete copy of the best edition.” (400-29 to 400-30)
