For musical recordings and audio works
Form SR is used to register published or unpublished sound recordings with the U.S. Copyright Office. It applies when the copyright claim is limited to the sound recording itself.
Yes, Form SR can also be used when the same copyright claimant is registering:
The underlying musical, dramatic, or literary work contained in the phonorecord.
A movie soundtrack.
A first performance within a film by a musical band.
Sound recordings are works resulting from the fixation of musical, spoken, or other sounds.
Exception: Audio portions of audiovisual works (e.g., motion picture soundtracks or cassette tapes with filmstrips) are considered part of the audiovisual work as a whole, not as separate sound recordings.
No. Form SR may only be used to register one unpublished work. It cannot be used to register a collection of unpublished works.
To register multiple unpublished works, use the online application for “A Group of Unpublished Works.” (See Circular 34 – Multiple Works).
Your application must include a deposit of the phonorecord(s) representing the entire work:
Unpublished Work: One complete phonorecord.
Published Work: Two complete phonorecords of the best edition, plus any printed or visually perceptible material published with them.
First Published Outside the U.S.: One complete phonorecord of the first foreign edition.
Contribution to a Collective Work: One complete phonorecord of the best edition of the collective work.
Before March 1, 1989: A copyright notice was mandatory on all published works.
On or after March 1, 1989: The notice is optional, but still recommended.
For more information, refer to U.S. Copyright Notice (Circular 3).