Administrative Copyright Classification Systems

Administrative Copyright Classiﬁcation Systems

The classification system employed by the Copyright Office to further identify the form of a given deposit

has always been an internal policy, considered part of the Office “housekeeping”, and considered not to have

any bearing on the copyright itself. It can be a very useful tool in limiting searches and identifying sparsely

cataloged entries with few descriptors. The system has evolved over the years; new classes were established

and older designations were phased out. As a response to Revision and to make as clean a break as possible

between “old law” and “new law” registrations, the Copyright Office developed the following system which

went into effect on January 1, 1978:

Class TX: Nondramatic Literary Works

This category is very broad. Except for dramatic works and certain kinds of audiovisual works, Class TX

included all types of published and nonpublished works written in words (or other verbal or numerical

symbols). A few of the many examples of “nondramatic literary works” include: fiction, nonfiction, poetry,

periodicals, textbooks, reference works, directories, catalogs, advertising copy, and compilations

of information.

Class PA: Works of the Performing Arts

This category includes published and unpublished works prepared for the purpose of being “performed”

directly before an audience of indirectly “by means of any device or process”. Examples of works of the

performing arts are: musical works, including any accompanying words; dramatic works, including any

accompanying music; pantomimes and choreographic works; and motion pictures and other audiovisual

works.

Class VA: Works of the Visual Arts

This category consists of published and unpublished “pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works”, including

two-dimensional and three-dimensional works of fine, graphic, and applied art, photographs, prints and art

reproductions, maps, globes, charts, technical drawings, diagrams, and models. Within this class are pictorial

or graphic labels and advertisements, as well as “works of artistic craftsmanship”. The “design of a useful

article” may be registrable in Class VA, but “only if, and only to the extent that, such design incorporates

pictorial, graphic, or sculptural features that can be identified separately from, and are capable of existing

independently of, the utilitarian aspects of the article”.

Administrative Copyright Classication Systems

Class SR: Sound Recordings

This category is appropriate for registration for both published and unpublished works in two situations: (1)

where the copyright claim is limited to the sound recording itself; and (2) where the same copyright claimant

is seeking to register not only the sound recording but also the musical, dramatic, or literary works embodied

in the sound recording. With one exception, “sound recordings” are works that result from the fixation of

a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds. The exception is for the audio portions of audiovisual works,

such as a motion picture soundtrack or an audio cassette accompanying a filmstrip; these are considered an

integral part of the audiovisual work as a whole and are registrable in Class PA. Sound recordings fixed before

February 15, 1972 are not eligible for registration, but may be protected by State law.

Class RE: Renewal Registration

This category covers renewal registration for copyrights that are already in their first term on January 1, 1978

(that is, renewals for works originally copyrighted between January 1, 1950 and December 31, 1977). Class RE

is appropriate for all renewal registrations, regardless of the class in which the original registration was made.

In dealing with pre-1978 registrations, it is necessary to be aware of the administrative classes that had evolved

prior to Revision. The following is a brief description of each class, along with a history of numbering

systems. NOTE: None of these classes are in effect at the present time. If a class was phased out prior to

December 31, 1977, the end date is indicated.

1870 – 1894

No Classification

One letter of the alphabet used before the numbers each year through the entire alphabet, omitting “J”. The

letters did not indicate the class of material registered but, rather, the year.

Beginning date Closing No.

July 1, 1870 A 1 – 5600

Jan. 1, 1871 B 1 – 12831

Jan. 1, 1872 C 1 – 14180

Jan. 1, 1873 D 1 – 15648

Jan. 1, 1874 E 1 – 16206

Jan. 1, 1875 F 1 – 14197

Jan. 1, 1876 G 1 – 14883

Jan. 1, 1877 H 1 – 15758

Jan. 1, 1878 I 1 – 15799

Jan. 1, 1879 K 1 – 18125

Jan. 1, 1870 L 1 – 20687

Jan. 1, 1881 M 1 – 21085

Administrative Copyright Classication Systems

Beginning date Closing No.

Jan. 1, 1882 N 1 – 22929

Jan. 1, 1883 O 1 – 25294

Jan. 1, 1884 P 1 – 26895

Jan. 1, 1885 Q 1 – 28411

Jan. 1, 1886 R 1 – 31241

Jan. 1, 1887 S 1 – 35084

Jan. 1, 1888 T 1 – 38228

Jan. 1, 1889 U 1 – 40985

Jan. 1, 1890 V 1 – 42798

Jan. 1, 1891 W 1 – 48917

(prior to this year non-resident foreigners could not register claims for copyright)

Jan. 1, 1892 X 1 – 54748

Jan. 1, 1893 Y 1 – 58973

Jan. 1, 1894 Z 1 – 62803

1895 – 1897

No Classification

One letter followed by small figure 2 before the number, as a symbol of the year.

1895 AA 1 – 67574

1896 B2 1 – 72482

1897 C2 1 – 74191

1898 – 1899

No Classification

No letters before the numbers.

1898 1 – 77621

1899 1 – 85602

1900

Four classes

Letter before the numbers indicating the class.

A (Books and dramas) A 1 – 31965

B (Periodicals) B 1 – 21589

C (Music) C 1 – 20024

*D (Miscellaneous) D 1 – 24642

*Miscellaneous included maps, charts, chromos, lithographs, engravings, prints, photographs and fine arts.

Administrative Copyright Classication Systems

1901 – June 30, 1909

Nine classes*

Letter before the numbers indicated the class. Letter followed by xxc (i.e., twentieth century) and the number.

A (Books) A xxc 1 – 243564

B (Periodicals) B xxc 1 – 189240

C (Music) C xxc 1 – 210861

D (Drama) D xxc 1 – 16208

E (Maps and Charts) E xxc 1 – 15227

F (Engravings, cuts & prints) F xxc 1 – 78218

G (Chromos & Lithographs) G xxc 1 – 21857

H (Photographs) H xxc 1 – 129497

I (Orig. works of art) I xxc 1 – 30269

*Numbering was continued after July 1, 1909, with the changes given below. Numbers between closing numbers here and beginning

numbers in 1909 were unused.

1904

Books and works of art deposited and registered at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Missouri.

Books LPE Group 1 No. 1 – 183

Works of art LPE Group 2 No. 1 – 178

1905

April 11 separate numbering started for deposits of foreign books for reservation of copyright.

Act of March 3, 1905.

Res. No. 1 – 3073 (Completed June 30, 1909)

1909

Changes in classes, and Renewals Notice of Uses added. (Act of March 4, 1909) Effective July 1, 1909.

Numbering continued 1901 series above.

Completed Date

*A (Domestic books) A xxc 243600 – 1087999 (1057000-1060999 unused) Oct. 13, 1928

AA and AO Pamphlets, small books, leaflets, etc. Oct. 6, 1928

A5 Contributions to periodicals Nov. 21, 1928

A5ct Contributions in Chicago Tribune Feb. 18, 1929

A5nt Contributions in New York Times Aug. 29, 1929

*Certain records books were assigned to particular classes of books but were numbered as a single class.

Administrative Copyright Classication Systems

Completed Date

A for. (Foreign books) A For. xxc 1 – 39999 Oct. 1928

A int. (Ad interim books) A int. xxc 1 – 12999 Jul. 3, 1929

B (Periodicals) B xxc 189300 – 900999 Oct. 2, 1928

C (Lectures, sermons) C xxc 1 – 4115 Oct. 1, 1928

*D (Drama & Dramatico-Mus.) D xxc 16206 **- 87999 Feb. 28, 1929

*Certain record books were assigned to particular kinds of drama but numbered as one class:

D1c Unpublished drama

D2c Published drama

DM Dramatico-musical comp.

**16206. 7, 8, are dup. nos. of old series

*E (Music) **E xxc 211000-704999 Sept., Oct. 1928

*After no. E xxc 264703 (1911) certain record books were assigned to published, unpublished and foreign music but were numbered as a single class.

**This numbering was a continuation of Class C of the 1901 group.

*F (Maps and Charts) **F xxc 15228-56999 Sept. 23, 1929

*Certain record books were assigned to maps from the Sanborn Map Co. and marked FS- the last book was completed Sept. 15, 1929.

**This numbering was a continuation of Class E of 1901 group.

*G (Works of art) G xxc 30270 – 84999 Jan. 2, 1929

*This is a continuation of Class I of the 1901 group.

H (Reproductions) H xxc 1 – 1072 June 30, 1925

I (Drawings of plastic works of

scientific or technical character) I xxc 1 – 15999 Dec. 11, 1928

*J (Photographs) **J xxc 129500 – 300999 Nov. 24, 1928

*Certain record books were assigned to unpublished photographs and marked Jo but numbered as a single class.

**This numbering was a continuation of Class H of the 1901 group.

*K (Prints and

pictorial illustrations) K xxc 1 – 246999 Dec. 3, 1928

*Certain record books were assigned to pictorial illustrations from the Chicago Tribune and marked Kct but were numbered as a single class.

*R (Renewals) R xxc 1 – 49999 **Sept. 4, 1928

*Certain record books were assigned to renewals from the West Publishing Co. and marked RW but were numbered as a single class.

**A new numbering was begun in Sept. 1928 but the one book assigned to the West Publishing Co. entries was not completed until Jan. 1933.

*U (Notice of use) Not numbered

*Started Sept. 2, 1909

Administrative Copyright Classication Systems

1912

Act of Aug. 24, 1912 following classes added:

Completed Date

L (Motion pictures

– photoplays) Lxxc 1 – 25999 Jan. 12, 1929

M (Motion pictures

– not photoplays) Mxxc – 5999 Mar. 23, 1929

1913

Registration made at Panama Pacific International Exposition (Act of Sept. 18, 1913).

1915

No. 1, July 25, 1915, pages 27-33 inclusive entries, 1 certificate.

1928 – Dec. 31, 1945

Closing the xxc series and beginning the series without xxc.

Class Beginning Date Numbering

A Oct. 14, 1928 A 1 – 192186

AO Oct. 8, 1928 AO 1 – 4325 (Discontinued Dec. 4, 1928)

[These registration numbers are bound with the AA registration]

AA Sept. 27, 1928 AA 4326 – 501314

A5 Dec. 12, 1928 A5 1 – 140664

A5ct Feb. 18, 1929 A5ct 1 – 2999 Discontinued Dec. 3, 1930

A int. July 3, 1929 A int. 13000 – 29298

A for. July 16, 1928 A for. 1 – 51150

B Oct. 1, 1928 B 1 – 705364 (704269 – 704999 not used)

C Oct. 1, 1928 B 4116 – 18031

*D April 11, 1930 D 1 – 96581

*Published drama marked D pub.; Unpublished drama marked D unp.; certain record books assigned to Dramatico-musicals and marked DM.

E pub. Oct. 20, 1928 E pub. 1 – 137736

E unpubl. Oct. 6, 1928 E unp. 1 – 451923

E for. Sept. 22, 1928 E for. 1 – 71662

*F Sept. 23, 1928 F 1 – 20127

*Certain record books assigned to maps from Sanborn Map Co. and marked F.

Administrative Copyright Classication Systems

Class Beginning Date Numbering

G Jan. 2, 1929 G 1 – 46841

*H Oct. 23, 1937 H 1073-3060

*No registrations made from June 30, 1925-1937

*I Dec. 17, 1928 I 1 – 37139

*Published entries marked I pub. Unpublished entries marked I unpub.

*J Nov. 24, 1928 J 1 – 3900

*Certain record books assigned to unpublished entries and marked Jo – discontinued and same numbering with unpub. marked J unpub.

K Dec. 3, 1928 K 1 – 60530

K ct* Dec. 3, 1928 Kct – 8402 Discontinued

*ct – Chicago Tribune

L Jan. 14, 1929 L 1 – 13711

M March 26, 1929 M 1 – 16613

*R September 5, 1929 R 1 – 146584

*Certain books assigned to West Publishing Co., and marked RW

U Not numbered

1940

Following classes added – (Act of July 31, 1939) – effective July 1, 1940: closed Dec. 31, 1945.

KK (Prints and labels) KK 1 – 36703

RR (Renewals of Prints and labels) RR 1 – 151

1946

January 1 all classes began numbering with No. 1 – Following the Act of June 3, 1949, a separate series of

numbers for foreign works deposited without fee was set up (AFO, BFO . . . ) These works were registered

upon receipt of application and deposit. In general, F means foreign, P published, U unpublished, I ad interim.

Books A 1 -

Pamphlets, etc. AA 1 – 230874 Discontinued Dec. 31, 1952

AF 1 -

AFO 1 - Began July 28, 1949

AI 1 -

AIO 1 - Began Aug. 16, 1949

Periodical contribution A5 1 – 6699 Changed to B5 May 1947

Periodical B 1 -

Periodical contribution B5 1 – 33161 May 13, 1947 – Jan. 9, 1956 (Changed to BB)

Administrative Copyright Classication Systems

BB 1 - Began Jan. 9, 1956

BF 1 - Began Feb. 14, 1952

BFO 1 - Began July 26, 1951

BI 1 - Began July 25, 1951

BIO 1 - Began July 25, 1951

Lectures, sermons, addresses C 1 -

Dramatic compositions D 1-23811 Discontinued Apr. 5, 1950

DF 1 - Began Jan. 19, 1951

DFO 1 - Began Sept. 8, 1949 (Nos. 1-58 DPO)

DP 1 - Began Apr. 6, 1950

DU 23812 Began Apr. 6, 1950

E = music)

EP 1 -

EU 1 -

EF 1 -

EFO 1 - Began Aug. 5, 1949

Maps F 1 -

FF 1 Began Mar. 17, 1966

FFO 1 - Began Oct. 5, 1949 (Nos. 1-20 FO)

Works of art G 1 – 16006 Discontinued Apr. 5, 1950

GF 1 - Began July 30, 1962

GFO 1 - Began Dec. 13, 1955

GP 1 - Began Apr. 6, 1950

GU 16007 Began Apr. 6, 1950

Reproductions of art H 1 -

HF 1 - Began Feb. 22, 1966

HFO 1 - Began Sept. 12, 1949 (Nos. 1-3 HO)

Drawings I 1 – 6768 Discontinued Apr. 5, 1950

IFO 1 - Began Jan. 26, 1950 (Nos. 1-3 IPO)

IP 1 - Began Apr. 6, 1950

IU 6769 Began Apr. 5, 1950

Photographs J 1 – 6329 Discontinued Apr. 5, 1950

JFO 1 - Began Feb. 23, 1950 (No. 1-15, JO; No. 16-44, JPO)

JP 1 - Began Apr. 6, 1950

JU 6330 Began Apr. 6, 1950

Prints and pictorial illustrations K 1 -

KF 1 - Began Oct. 4, 1966

Administrative Copyright Classication Systems

KFO 1 - Began Nov. 14, 1949 (No. 1-19, KO)

Prints and labels KK 1 -

KKF 1 - Began Apr. 20, 1967

KKFO 1 - Began Jan. 6, 1959

Photoplays L 1 – 2973 Discontinued Apr. 5, 1950

LP 1 - Began Apr. 7, 1950

LU 2974 Began Apr. 13, 1950

LF 1 - Began Apr. 8, 1966

LFO 1 - Began Mar. 8, 1965

Motion pictures M 1 – 5133 Discontinued Apr. 5, 1950

MP 1 - Began Apr. 7, 1950

MU 5134 Began Apr. 13, 1950

MFO 1 - Began Aug. 31, 1965

Sound recordings N 1 - Began Feb. 15, 1972

Renewals R 1 -

1965

November 26 started numbering “NOTICE OF INTENTION TO USE”, using the letter “V” preceding

the number.

V 1 -