02J pseudonymous and anonymous

Where to Look in the Law

1909 Act: §23
1947 Act: §24
1976 Act: §302(c)

Copyright Office Publications for Laymen

FL 101

“If the author is not identified in the records of the Copyright Office, the term of copyright is 95 years from publication of the work, or 120 years from its creation, whichever term expires first. If the author’s identity is later revealed in the records of the Copyright Office, the copyright term then becomes the author’s life plus 70 years.” (Fact sheet FL101, Revised July 2006)

“If you are writing under a pseudonym but wish to be identified by your legal name in the records of the Copyright Office, you should give your legal name followed by your pseudonym at the ‘name of author’ line at space 2 of the application (example: ‘Judith Barton whose pseudonym is Madeline Elster’). You should also check ‘yes’ in the box at space 2 which asks ‘Was this author’s contribution to the work pseudonymous?’ If the author is identified in the records of the Copyright Office, the term of the copyright is the author’s life plus 70 years.” (Fact sheet FL101)