The Best Way to Copyright Jewelry: A Step by Step Guide

The Best Way to Copyright Jewelry in the US: A Step by Step Guide by George Collins.

The best way to copyright jewelry designs in the US is to register the designs with the US Copyright Office using their registration option for a group of 10 unpublished works. The US Copyright Office charges a registration fee of $85 USD for this option, making it their cheapest registration option available. It is also the best option because it gives you, the designer, the earliest registration and publication dates for your jewelry designs.

People living outside the US are allowed to copyright register their work at the US Copyright Office. You do not need to be an American citizen or resident.

“A copyright is secured automatically when the work is created, as long as the work contains a sufficient degree of originality, and a work comes into being when it is fixed in a “copy or a phonorecord for the first time.” … Although registration with the Copyright Office is not required to secure protection, it does provide a number of benefits:

Registration establishes a public record of the copyright claim. Registration is necessary before an infringement suit may be filed in court (for works of U.S. origin). If made before or within 5 years of publication, registration establishes prima facie evidence in court of the validity of the copyright and of the facts stated in the registration certificate. If registration is made within 3 months after first publication of the work or prior to an infringement of the work, statutory damages and attorney’s fees will be available to the copyright owner in court actions. Otherwise, only an award of actual damages and profits is available to the copyright owner. Registration allows the owner of the copyright to record the registration with the U.S. Customs Service for protection against the importation of infringing copies. “- uspto.gov/ip-policy/copyright-policy/copyright-basics. 

At LUNAR RAIN, all of our jewelry designs are copyright registered using the method outlined on this page. Our copyright registrations give us the power to efficiently take down scammers, frauds, copycats and other bad people. Unfortunately, artists and designers are usually not taught this method of protecting themselves in art schools. This leaves artists at a disadvantage against copyright infringers. Therefore, we have outlined this copyright method in an easy-to-follow step by step guide on this page.

This is our Step by Step Guide to Copyright Register a Group of 10 Unpublished Works at the US Copyright Office

How much time is needed to complete registration application? We estimate it will take 30 to 40 minutes for first time applicants with account creation. Once you are familiar with the application process it will take around 10 minutes.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most accurate and up-to-date legal information or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the LUNAR RAIN and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites. The views expressed at, or through, this site are those of the individual authors writing in their individual capacities only – not those of their respective employers, LUNAR RAIN, or committee/task force as a whole. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this site are hereby expressly disclaimed. The content on this posting is provided “as is;” no representations are made that the content is error-free.

Step 1: Make sure your work is eligible

People living outside the US are allowed to copyright register their work at the US Copyright Office. You do not need to be an American citizen or resident.

To proceed with the “Group of Unpublished Works” registration option at the US Copyright Office, you must have one or more original works that are unpublished. Unpublished works must not have previously been published on social media, on the internet, in print or by any other publication method. Work-in-progress photos of the work must not have been published either.

To register a group of 10 unpublished works you must keep the jewelry designs a secret until a day after registration. You can’t show your designs to friends and allow them to take pictures of your designs. You shouldn’t send your friends photos of your works. It is important that you do not allow any images of the designs to leak to the public prior to registration. Leaked images may nullify your registration.

Do not publish works until a day after copyright registration.

Do not post work-in-progress photos or videos until a day after copyright registration.

Designs that are too generic will be refused copyright registration by the US Copyright Office. Works must be original and have unique characteristics.

The designs of the wedding rings pictured below are too generic to receive copyright registrations for jewelry design; they would very likely be refused registration if submitted.