On July 14, 2026, the U.S. Copyright Office formally submitted its Proposed Fee Schedule and supporting analytical report to the U.S. Congress. Under U.S. copyright law, if Congress raises no objections within the statutory review period, the new fee structure is expected to come into force in November 2026. For cross‑border e‑commerce sellers, overseas‑expanding brands and content creators, this means higher costs for U.S. copyright registration.

I. Why is the U.S. Copyright Office revising its fees?

Per the Copyright Office’s announcement, this marks the first comprehensive fee update since 2020. 

‑ Sustained growth in operational costs in recent years 

‑ Significant impact from inflation ‑ Rising volume of copyright registration filings 

‑ Need to maintain service capacity through optimized fee structures

For this reason, the Copyright Office has launched the process to revise its fee schedule.

Regarding application procedures: 

✔ Application channels remain unchanged 

✔ Examination rules remain unchanged 

✔ Legal effect remains unchanged

Changes are limited to: copyright registration fees, fees for certain recordation services, and special application fees. In short, the cost of obtaining U.S. copyright registrations will go up going forward.

II. Why should cross‑border sellers pay attention?

Many sellers assume copyright is only for designers and the arts industry. In reality, U.S. copyright has become a critical tool for brand protection for cross‑border sellers in recent years. Eligible works for copyright registration include: 

‑ Product images 

‑ A+ Content designs 

‑ Product packaging designs 

‑ Promotional videos 

‑ Instruction manual content 

‑ Original brand visual assets

When operating on Amazon, standalone websites and TikTok Shop, copyright serves not only as intellectual property assets but also as key evidence for infringement complaints and rights‑enforcement actions. As a result, U.S. copyright registration has become a core practice for a growing number of brand‑focused sellers.

III. Which businesses are most affected?

1. Brand‑oriented cross‑border sellers Businesses building their brands generate an increasing volume of original content such as product images, packaging and marketing materials. Higher copyright registration fees will drive up long‑term IP investment costs.

2. Content‑focused overseas‑expanding enterprises This includes cultural‑creative brands, anime IP owners, gaming companies, MCN agencies and video creators. The U.S. market has high demand for copyright protection. Bulk copyright registrations will see notable cost increases in the future.

3. Enterprises relying on IP enforcement IP‑related litigation in the U.S. has been on the rise. Copyright registration certificates are vital evidence for both platform‑level complaints and court‑based enforcement. Businesses should keep abreast of these fee changes.

IV. What is the difference between filing now versus after November?

Based on publicly available information, this revision only modifies fee levels. Examination timelines, application document requirements and the strength of legal protection will stay the same. The only difference is higher application fees. Companies planning to file for U.S. copyrights can lock in current rates by submitting applications ahead of the effective date.

Conclusion

The upcoming U.S. copyright fee adjustment sends a clear signal: as global intellectual‑property protection standards keep rising, businesses face growing investment requirements for brand building and compliance. For cross‑border sellers, copyright is not merely an IP asset, but also a key component of brand competitiveness. Prior to the new fee schedule taking effect, understanding policy shifts and making copyright planning can help reduce future compliance and enforcement costs.