Copyright in General (FAQ)
U.S. Copyright Office · checked 2026-10-04
The app uses the figures and rules named on that page. It does not replace the page.
creative · official figure · reviewed 2026-10-04
Check the Five-Year Copyright Registration Window
Registration within five years of publication is prima facie evidence of the certificate facts. Registration is also required before a U.S. work can be the subject of an infringement lawsuit.
What this guide helps you do
Compare a registration date with five years after first publication.
The figure that changes the result
Copyright starts when the work is fixed. The five-year date is about proof, not about whether copyright exists.
Counting five years on a calendar is quick. The missed point is that a mailed copy is not registration.
Who this is for
A creator who published a work and needs the five-year registration date.
Steps
Step 1
Use the first publication date.
Step 2
Add five years. This tool treats the anniversary as still inside the window.
Step 3
Compare the registration date with that anniversary.
Step 4
If there is no registration, the prima facie window is not met.
Step 5
Remember that a U.S. work needs registration before an infringement lawsuit.
Worked example
A work published on June 1, 2020, has a five-year date of June 1, 2025. A registration on that date is inside the window. A registration on June 2, 2025, is outside it.
The registration date is within five years of publication.
- Published: 2020-06-01.
- Five-year date: 2025-06-01.
- Registered: 2025-06-01.
- Inside: yes.
The Copyright Office states that registration within five years of publication is prima facie evidence in court.
Where this goes wrong
Prima facie evidence is not a guaranteed court result. A poor man's copyright, mailing a copy to yourself, is not registration. The Copyright Office says the statute has no such provision.
What the source says
Limits
The tool does not file a registration.
Foreign works can follow different lawsuit rules.
The five-year rule is about evidence, not about the length of copyright.
This tool gives general information. It is not legal advice. Laws differ by state and change. Check the result with a licensed attorney or a legal aid office before you act.
Use the current instruction from the agency named above. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision.
Free companion app
Compare a registration date with five years after first publication.
Open Compare Registration with the Five-Year Date
Your entries stay on this device. We do not receive them.
This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.