If you create content at scale, group registration is how you register more works for less. The U.S. Copyright Office lets you file a whole batch of eligible works in one application and pay one filing fee, instead of one fee per work. In 2026 there are four main batch paths through the Office's eCO portal, and each has its own cap, eligibility rules, and deposit format.
- GRUW, for up to 10 unpublished works.
- GRTX, for up to 50 short online literary works.
- The published-photographs path, for up to 750 photographs.
- GR2D, the newest option, for up to 20 published two-dimensional artworks by one author.
All four are filed online in eCO. The rules below are the ones that decide whether your batch is accepted, so read them before you upload anything.
What group-registration options exist in 2026 and how many works can you include?
You can batch-file several works in one application and pay a single fee if every work in the batch meets the category rules. The four United States options are:
- GRUW (Group Registration of Unpublished Works): up to 10 unpublished works.
- GRTX (Group Registration of Short Online Literary Works): up to 50 short works first published online.
- Published photographs: up to 750 photographs in one application.
- GR2D (Group Registration of Two-Dimensional Artwork): the newest path, for published two-dimensional works such as posters, prints, and illustrations, created and owned by a single author. The Office opened GR2D on 17 February 2026; one application covers at least 2 and no more than 20 works.
How does each category work and what can go wrong?
Each path saves money by letting you register several works for one fee, but the Office is strict about deposits and eligibility. A few traps cause most of the refusals we see.
- GRUW. Up to 10 works. Every work must be unpublished on the filing date. Upload each work as its own electronic file. Do not combine works into one PDF or one file.
- GRTX. Up to 50 works. The Office's rules for short online texts are easy to miss: the works cannot be works made for hire, you must list each author as a claimant, and works that were first published in print do not qualify. Deposits are packaged as a ZIP file following the GRTX form instructions.
- Published photographs. A large batch in one application, up to 750 images. The photo path has its own title-list, metadata, and sequencing requirements, so follow the eCO prompts closely.
- GR2D. A batch of published two-dimensional works. All works must have been published in the same calendar year, and the same single author must have created them and must own all the copyrights.
Where filers trip up most often:
- Mixing published and unpublished items inside a GRUW batch. One published item breaks eligibility for the whole group.
- Combining all GRUW files into one document. The Office rejects this.
- Treating online posts like ordinary literary works. GRTX excludes works made for hire and anything first published in print.
- Missing the same-calendar-year rule for GR2D. Do not put a December 2025 item in a batch of January 2026 items.
We fix these problems most often by refiling into the correct category and cleaning the deposit so it matches the Office's instructions.
What is the filing workflow in eCO?
Every electronic registration in the United States goes through the Copyright Office's eCO portal. The sequence is the same for each path; the form and the deposit differ.
- Set your scope. Pick the category that fits your works. If even one work fails the category test, split it into a separate filing.
- Prepare the title list and authorship data. For GRTX, list each author as a claimant. For GR2D, confirm a single author who owns all rights.
- Gather deposits. GRUW: one file per work. GRTX: a ZIP package per the form instructions. Photographs and GR2D: follow the deposit prompts in eCO.
- Open eCO and select the right application. Look for GRUW, GRTX, GR2D, or the photographs group option in the online menu.
- Complete the application. Use consistent titles, dates, publication data, and authorship statements.
- Pay the single filing fee and submit the deposit. Keep your confirmation.
- Monitor your eCO account and answer any Office correspondence promptly.
How much does group registration save?
The saving is structural. A standard online registration carries one filing fee per work. A group registration carries one filing fee for the whole batch, so a photographer registering 500 images or a writer registering 40 blog posts pays one fee instead of one per work. The Office publishes the current fee schedule on copyright.gov, and our copyright registration service quotes the government fee and our flat professional fee together, so you see the Total before we file. Current package prices are on our pricing page.
Group registration only saves money if the batch is accepted. Four rules keep you safe:
- Match the lane to the works. Unpublished-only for GRUW, short online texts only for GRTX, published photographs only on the photo path, and published two-dimensional works from one calendar year for GR2D.
- Respect authorship rules. GRTX excludes works made for hire and needs each author as a claimant. GR2D needs a single author who owns all copyrights.
- Get the deposit mechanics right. Separate files for GRUW, ZIP packaging for GRTX, and the eCO prompts for photos and GR2D.
- Keep publication dates straight. Do not mix years for GR2D, and do not include any published item in GRUW.
A typical creator scenario: a designer has 18 published posters from 2026 and 3 from late 2025 and wants one filing. That will not qualify for GR2D, because all works must come from the same calendar year. We would split the 2025 posters into a separate filing and use GR2D for the 18 from 2026, assuming single authorship and ownership are satisfied.
Why register at all if copyright is automatic?
Copyright exists the moment you create the work, but a registration is what turns it into an enforceable asset in the United States. You need a registration (or a refused application) before you can sue for infringement of a United States work, and registering before infringement starts, or within three months of first publication, is what makes statutory damages and attorney's fees available. A registration also gives platforms a clean ownership record to check when you file a DMCA takedown, which makes removals faster.
Can GTC handle this for you?
Yes. An experienced attorney scopes your catalog, chooses the correct lane, prepares compliant deposits, and files through eCO. If the Office has a question, we answer it and keep the group intact wherever the rules allow. Start with our copyright registration service; we confirm eligibility and price before we file.
Related reading:
- US Copyright Registration 2026: eCO System Guide & Group Registration
- DMCA Takedown Notices Guide 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main United States group-registration options in 2026 and how many works can I include?
GRUW allows up to 10 unpublished works. GRTX allows up to 50 short online literary works. The published-photographs path allows up to 750 images. GR2D covers up to 20 published two-dimensional works by a single author, all published in the same calendar year.
Where do I file a United States group registration online?
Through the U.S. Copyright Office's eCO registration portal.
How does group registration save money?
Each eligible group type lets you register many works in a single online application for one filing fee, instead of one fee per work. The eligibility and deposit rules differ by category.
Can I still file an unpublished collection?
No. The Office removed the old unpublished-collection option. Use GRUW for up to 10 unpublished works in one filing.
For GRUW, how must I submit the deposit?
Upload each work as a separate electronic file. Do not combine works into a single PDF or file.
What are the headline requirements for GR2D?
GR2D covers published two-dimensional works. All must have been published in the same calendar year, and the same single author must have created the works and own all the copyrights. File on the GR2D form in eCO, with at least 2 and no more than 20 works in one application.
