A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill updates copyright laws specifically related to visual artists and photographers. It creates ways to use certified third-party registries to hold copies of photographs and satisfy copyright deposit rules. The bill allows creators to register groups of up to 3,000 photographs using a single application and fee. It sets up a deferred registration process for pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works. It also directs the Copyright Office to build a modern, public-facing website interface that works with software used by professional creators. Finally, the bill requires reduced registration fees and new subscription options for individual authors and small businesses.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
Small business entities and independent professional creators benefit directly from reduced copyright registration fees and streamlined group registration options.
- Scored +6
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill provides reduced registration fees and new subscription options specifically tailored to help small business entities and professional creators.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Lower copyright registration fees and subscription options make protecting intellectual property more financially accessible for independent creators on tighter budgets.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Cheaper and easier group photo registrations: Section 3 amends section 408(c) of title 17 to allow photographers to register up to 3,000 photographs at one time using a single application and a single fee. This helps photographers protect their work efficiently without paying individual fees for every single photo.
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Reduced fees and subscriptions for regular folks: Section 7 amends section 708 of title 17 to require reduced registration fees for individual authors and small business entities. It also directs the Register of Copyrights to create yearly and periodic subscription options so professional creators can afford to register all of their works.
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Easier application process: Section 5 requires the Register of Copyrights to build a modern online interface that works automatically with software commonly used by professional creators. This makes submitting copyright applications much easier and less time-consuming.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Fees for deferred registration and subscriptions: Section 7 adds new fees for filing deferred registrations and requires payments for yearly or periodic registration subscriptions. While some fees are reduced, paying for subscriptions or deferred applications still creates an upfront financial cost for artists and small businesses.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Small business entities and independent professional creators benefit directly from reduced copyright registration fees and streamlined group registration options. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Lower copyright registration fees and subscription options make protecting intellectual property more financially accessible for independent creators on tighter budgets.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides reduced registration fees and new subscription options specifically tailored to help small business entities and professional creators.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill directs the Copyright Office to build a modern, public-facing interface and secure searchable databases for deposited visual works.
- 10/19/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Sydney Kamlager-DoveDemocrat · California