Proposed Rule2026-10604
Group Registration of Updates to a News Website
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 28, 2026
Issuing agencies
Library of CongressCopyright Office, Library of Congress
Abstract
The U.S. Copyright Office is proposing to amend its regulation governing the group registration option for news websites. This update revises the definition of a "news website" to clarify the works eligible for the option. The Office invites comment on this proposal.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 102 (Thursday, May 28, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 102 (Thursday, May 28, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 31684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10604]
[[Page 31684]]
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Copyright Office
37 CFR Part 202
[Docket No. 2026-5]
Group Registration of Updates to a News Website
AGENCY: U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Copyright Office is proposing to amend its regulation
governing the group registration option for news websites. This update
revises the definition of a ``news website'' to clarify the works
eligible for the option. The Office invites comment on this proposal.
DATES: Written comments on the proposed rule must be received by the
U.S. Copyright Office no later than June 29, 2026.
ADDRESSES: For reasons of government efficiency, the Copyright Office
is using the <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> system for the submission and posting of
public comments in this proceeding. All comments should be submitted
electronically through <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Specific instructions for
submitting comments are available on the Copyright Office website at
<a href="https://copyright.gov/rulemaking/newswebsite-amendment/">https://copyright.gov/rulemaking/newswebsite-amendment/</a>. If electronic
submission of comments is not feasible due to lack of access to a
computer or the internet, please contact the Office using the contact
information below for special instructions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhea Efthimiadis, Assistant to the
General Counsel, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#346167777b73515a51465558775b415a47515874575b444d465d535c401a535b42"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bbeee8f8f4fcded5dec9dad7f8d4ced5c8ded7fbd8d4cbc2c9d2dcd3cf95dcd4cd">[email protected]</span></a> or by
telephone at (202) 707-8350.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In July 2024, the U.S. Copyright Office
(``Office'') adopted a final rule establishing a group registration
option for frequently updated news websites.\1\ This registration
option permits a news publisher to register a month of updates to a
news website with one application and filing fee.\2\ In that final
rule, the Office explained that the definition of ``news websites'' was
intended to ``encompass news websites that cover current events and
provide information on diverse topics,'' but acknowledged that it would
monitor the rule's implementation and consider revisions ``if the
definition proves too rigid or unworkable.'' \3\
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\1\ 89 FR 58991 (July 22, 2024).
\2\ Id.
\3\ Id. at 58994.
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Since the rule's implementation, many aspects of the group
registration option have functioned as intended. News publishers are
taking advantage of this registration option, and the Office has gained
experience examining these claims. That experience has shown that the
current definition of ``news websites'' presents recurring questions in
its application. In particular, the current requirement that the news
website ``contain[ ] a broad range of news on all subjects and
activities,'' \4\ if strictly applied, could be understood to exclude
otherwise eligible news websites that focus on a defined subject area
or set of topics.\5\
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\4\ 37 CFR 202.4(m)(1)(i) (emphasis added).
\5\ For example, the Washington Post recently ceased coverage of
sports, foreign news, and books. Mary Cunningham, Washington Post
begins sweeping layoffs as it sharply scales back news coverage, CBS
News (Feb. 5, 2026), <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/washington-post-begins-sweeping-layoffs/">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/washington-post-begins-sweeping-layoffs/</a>.
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Accordingly, the Office issues this notice of proposed rulemaking
to amend the definition of ``news website.'' The proposed amendment is
intended to clarify the works eligible for the group option, while
preserving administrability and accommodating a range of modern news
publishing practices. The updated definition reflects that: (1) a news
website need only report on a variety of subjects, (2) the primary
function of the website must be to report on current events, and (3)
the news content must be updated frequently. All other aspects of the
final rule published in July 2024 remain unchanged.\6\
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\6\ But see 91 FR 13529, 13534-35 (Mar. 20, 2026) (discussing
the proposed fee increase for the group registration of updates to
news websites).
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The Office welcomes public comment on its proposal.
List of Subjects in 37 CFR Part 202
Copyright, Copyright claims, preregistration and registration.
Proposed Regulations
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Copyright Office
proposes amending 37 CFR part 202 as follows:
PART 202--PREREGISTRATION AND REGISTRATION OF CLAIMS TO COPYRIGHT
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1. The authority citation for part 202 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 17 U.S.C. 408(f), 702.
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2. Amend Sec. 202.4 by revising paragraph (m)(1) to read as follows:
Sec. 202.4 Group registration.
* * * * *
(m) * * *
(1) Definitions. For the purposes of paragraph (m) of this section:
(i) News website means a website that is primarily designed to be a
source of written information on current events, either local,
national, or international in scope.
* * * * *
Dated: May 26, 2026.
Emily L. Chapuis,
General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights.
[FR Doc. 2026-10604 Filed 5-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-30-P
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