What Happens to the U.S. Copyright Office When the Federal Government Shuts Down?
On October 1, 2025, the federal government shut down for the first time since 2019. But what happens to the U.S. Copyright Office when the government shuts down?
Per a notice on its website as of October 1, the Copyright Office will be closed and therefore unable to update the information on its website, respond to inquiries, or process transactions.
However, the Office’s electronic Copyright Office (eCO) system remains in operation so that users may file registration claims to secure the earliest possible effective date of registration and recordation documents for the purpose of securing date of receipt. Incoming paper application submissions will also be date stamped. To be clear, because the Copyright Office is closed, it will be unable to otherwise process or review any of those applications or documentation until the federal government reopens.