In an effort to make copyright processing more efficient, the U.S. Copyright Office is in the process of transitioning from a paper-based to a web-based registration process.

The conversion has resulted in a temporary backlog of paper applications that could cause receipt of a certificate to take up to eight months. The Copyright Office is encouraging users to begin registering claims using its online Electronic Copyright Office (ECO) service. It also offers a reduced fee of $35. For details, visit copyright.gov/eco.