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119-hr-10843119th CongressWALLET

VACRA

Sponsored By: Representative Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]

Introduced

Summary

Modernizes copyright registration for visual works. This bill would reduce deposit burdens and update how photographs and pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works are registered by adding group, deferred, and subscription options and by enabling certified third-party photo registries.

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  • Creators and small businesses would get lower and targeted fees, group registration for up to 3,000 works by a single author, and optional subscription plans that can cover filing fees.
  • Photographers and registry operators would face a new certification framework for third-party photo registries, with rules on data security, maintenance, searchability, portability, and interoperability with the Copyright Office.
  • The Copyright Office would require electronic deposits for certain visual works and allow deferred registration that gives an effective date on submission with later examination. The bill caps a deferred fee at no more than half the standard fee and sets 180-day rulemaking deadlines for some new processes.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Lower fees and new registration options

If enacted, the bill would create cheaper and easier registration options for visual creators. The Register would set reduced fees for individual authors and small businesses. The Register would have 180 days to write rules for yearly or periodic subscriptions that remove separate filing fees during the subscription term. The bill would allow one author to register a group of photographs with one application and fee for up to 3,000 works initially, and the Register must raise that limit as technology improves.

Certified photo registries and interface

If enacted, the bill would let the Register certify third-party photograph registries that meet data, security, and portability rules. Depositing a photo in a certified registry would satisfy the Copyright Office deposit requirement. The bill would also require the Copyright Office to build a public interface that works with creators' software and can send deposits and data automatically into registration applications.

New deposit rules and retention duties

If enacted, the bill would change deposit rules for pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works. You would have to submit one complete electronic copy when registering those works. At the same time, those works would be exempt from the Best Edition deposit rule. The Library of Congress would also have to retain works deposited electronically for the copyright term.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]

VA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/19/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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