Composers! Arrangers!
The US Copyright Office ("USCO") is now accepting copyright registration filings for your original music in Standard MIDI File (SMF) format, as well as for sequences (covers) of published and recorded songs.
- Instructions are now available on this site for completing USCO form SR for submitting a MIDI file.
- Authors simply wishing to register an original music composition but not the sequence should use USCO form PA to meet those registration requirements.
- USCO forms PA and SR are available for downloading from www.loc.gov/copyright/forms.
Important Printing Instructions: The forms should be printed head to head (top of page 2 is directly behind the top of page 1) using BOTH SIDES of a single sheet of paper. NOTE: Short forms are one sided. Dot matrix printer copies of the forms are not acceptable. Inkjet printer copies of the forms require enlarging if you use the Shrink to Fit Page option. To achieve the best quality copies of the application forms, it is recommended that you use a Laser Printer.
The forms submitted to the Copyright Office must be clear, legible, and on a good grade of 8.5-inch by 11-inch white paper. The quality of the copyright application forms submitted for registration directly affects the quality of the copyright registration certificate you receive. The Copyright Office produces completed registration certificates through an optical scanning system that utilizes an image scanned from the original application submitted. As a result copyright applications submitted that are of poor print quality will negatively affect the print quality of the copyright registration certificate you receive. For these reasons, the utmost effort should be made to submit the best quality application form possible.
Download Forms
- Form PA - For published or unpublished works of the performing arts.
- Form PA with instructions
- Short Form PA
- Form SR - For published or unpublished sound recordings.
- Instructions for Form SR and MIDI
(local)
- U.S. Copyright Office Home Page
Press Release: MMA Takes Action to Promote SMF Licensing (1/96)
Press Release: Copyright Office opinion equates MIDI files with CDs and audio cassettes (9/96)