Effective February 17, 2026, creators have the option to register up to 20 different, published two-dimensional works with the U.S. Copyright Office. Examples of eligible two-dimensional works include paintings, illustrations, sketches, logos, fabric designs, collages, and character artwork. All works included in the application must be published within the same calendar year and created by the same (one) author, who must also own the copyright in all the works. Creators must use the “GR2D” application form and submit copies of the works through the electronic Copyright Office (eCO) registration portal.
This procedural update marks the latest step in the U.S. Copyright Office’s nine‑year effort to allow Applicants to register a group of works using a single application and paying a single fee. Since 2017, the Copyright Office has created several group registration options, including the following, for different kinds of work that satisfy certain requirements:
- Contributions to Periodicals
- Unpublished Photographs
- Published Photographs
- Unpublished Works
- Newsletters and Serials
- Newspapers and Serials
- Short Online Literary Works
- Album of Music
- Updates to a News Website
These group registration options provide creators with a more efficient and cost-effective path for registering their works and should be considered as part of a broader rights management strategy.
