CFR Subpart D

CFR Subpart D
in effect

19 C.F.R. § 133.31 Recordation of copyrighted works.

(a) Eligible works. Claims to copyright which have been registered in accordance with the Copyright Act of July 30, 1947, as amended, or the Copyright Act of 1976, as amended, may be recorded with Customs for import protection. (b) Persons eligible to record. The copyright owner, including any person who has acquired copyright ownership through an exclusive license, assignment, or otherwise, and claims actual or potential injury because of actual or contemplated importations of copies (or phonorecords) of eligible works, may file an application to record a copyright. “Copyright owner,” with respect to any one of the exclusive rights comprised in a copyright, refers to the owner of that particular right. (c) Notice of recordation and other action. Applicants and recordants will be notified of the approval or denial of an application filed in accordance with § 133.32, § 133.35, § 133.36, or § 133.37.

19 C.F.R. § 133.32 Application to record copyright.

An application to record a copyright to secure customs protection against the importation of infringing copies or phonorecords shall be in writing addressed to the IPR & Restricted Merchandise Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20229, and shall include the following information: (a) The name and complete address of the copyright owner or owners; (b) If the applicant is a person claiming actual or potential injury by reason of actual or contemplated importations of copies or phonorecords of the eligible work, a statement setting forth the circumstances of such actual or potential injury; (c) The country of manufacture of genuine copies or phonorecords of the protected work; (d) The name and principal address of any foreign person or business entity authorized or licensed to use the protected work, and a statement as to the exclusive rights authorized; (e) The foreign title of the work, if different from the U.S. title; and (f) In the case of an application to record a copyright in a sound recording, a statement setting forth the name(s) of the performing artist(s), and any other identifying names appearing on the surface of reproduction of the sound recording, or its label or container.

19 C.F.R. § 133.33 Documents and fee to accompany application.

(a) Documents. The application for recordation shall be accompanied by the following documents: (1) An “additional certificate” of copyright registration issued by the U.S. Copyright Office. If the name of the applicant differs from the name of the copyright owner identified in the certificate, the application shall be accompanied by a certified copy of any assignment, exclusive license, or other document recorded in the U.S. Copyright Office showing that the applicant has acquired copyright ownership in the copyright. (2) Five photographic or other likenesses reproduced on paper approximately 8″ × 10 1/2″ in size of any copyrighted work. An application shall be excepted from this requirement if it covers a work such as a book, magazine, periodical, or similar copyrighted matter readily identifiable by title and author or if it covers a sound recording. Five likenesses of a component part of a copyrighted work, together with the name or title, if any, by which the part depicted is identifiable, may accompany an application covering an entire copyrighted work. (b) Fee. Each application shall be accompanied by a fee of $190 for each copyright to be recorded. A check or money order shall be made payable to the United States Customs Service.

19 C.F.R. § 133.34 Effective date, term, and cancellation of recordation.

(a) Effective date. Recordation of copyright and protection thereunder shall be effective on the date an application for recordation is approved, as shown on the recordation notice issued by the United States Customs Service instructing Customs officers as to the terms and conditions of import protection appropriate. (b) Term. The recordation of copyright shall remain in effect for 20 years unless the copyright ownership of the recordant expires before that time. If the ownership expires in less than 20 years, recordation shall remain in effect until the ownership expires. If the ownership has not expired after 20 years, recordation may be renewed as provided in § 133.37. (c) Cancellation. Recordation of a copyright with the United States Customs Service shall be canceled upon request of the recordant, or if the registration in the U.S. Copyright Office is finally canceled or revoked.

19 C.F.R. § 133.35 Change of ownership of recorded copyright.

(a) Application. If the ownership of a recorded copyright is transferred and the owner wishes to continue the recordation with the CBP, he shall make written application to the IPR & Restricted Merchandise Branch as follows: (1) Comply, as appropriate, with § 133.32; and (2) Describe any time limit on the rights of ownership transferred. (b) Document and fee. The application shall be accompanied by: (1) A certified copy of any assignment, exclusive license, or other document recorded in the U.S. Copyright Office showing the applicant has acquired an ownership interest in the copyright; and (2) A fee of $80, which covers all copyrights included in the application which have been previously recorded with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A check or money order shall be made payable to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

19 C.F.R. § 133.36 Change in name of owner of recorded copyright.

If there is a change in the name of the owner of a recorded copyright, but no transfer of ownership, written notice specifying the change shall be given to the IPR & Restricted Merchandise Branch accompanied by the following: (a) A certified copy of any document recorded in the U.S. Copyright Office showing the change in the name of the owner; and (b) Payment of a fee of $80, which covers all copyrights included in the application which have been previously recorded with the CBP. A check or money order shall be made payable to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

19 C.F.R. § 133.37 Renewal of copyright recordation.

(a) Term of renewal. If a recorded copyright has a term which exceeds the original 20-year recordation, continued Customs protection may be obtained by renewing the recordation. The renewed recordation shall remain in effect for 20 years, unless the recordant's copyright ownership expires sooner, in which case it shall remain in effect until the ownership expires. There is no limit to the number of times recordation of a subsisting copyright may be renewed. (b) Application for renewal. An application to renew recordation shall be made no later than 3 months before the date the recordation then in effect expires. The application shall be in writing addressed to the IPR & Restricted Merchandise Branch. (c) Materials to be submitted with application. An application to renew Customs recordation shall include: (1) Proof that the recordant's copyright ownership is valid. The proof required shall vary with the date that the work was first copyrighted as follows: (i) Works in which copyright subsists on or after January 1, 1978. An affidavit signed by the recordant attesting to the continued validity of the copyright, stating the date the copyright was registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, whether the author of the work is still alive and, if not, the date of his death, and any additional information that Customs may require of the recordant. (ii) Works under statutory copyright on December 31, 1977. If the copyright is still in its first term when recordation expires, a certificate of registration issued by the U.S. Copyright Office or, if the copyright has been renewed, a certificate of renewal registration issued by the U.S. Copyright Office. (2) A statement describing any change of ownership or name of owner, in compliance with §§ 133.35 and 133.36, and any change of address of the owner. (3) Payment of a fee of $80. A check or money order shall be made payable to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (d) Untimely application. If the recordant fails to submit a renewal application at least 3 months before the recordation expires, he may not renew the recordation. The recordant shall be required to reapply to record the copyright in accordance with the procedures and requirements of §§ 133.32 and 133.33.

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