Copyright Group Registration 2026: Batch Filing & Cost Savings

If you create content at scale, group registration is how you register more with less. In 2026, U.S. creators have four main batch paths through the Copyright Office’s eCO portal, each with its own cap, eligibility, and deposit rules.

• GRUW, up to 10 unpublished works.
• GRTX, up to 50 short online literary works.
• Published photographs pathway, up to 750 images.
• New GR2D, up to 20 published two-dimensional works, effective Feb 17, 2026.

All are filed online in eCO. Confirm the current instructions on copyright.gov before you file.

What group-registration options exist in 2026 and how many works can you include?

You can batch-file multiple works in one application and pay a single filing fee, if you meet the category rules. The main U.S. options are: GRUW for up to 10 unpublished works, GRTX for up to 50 short online literary works, the published-photographs pathway for up to 750 images, and the new GR2D for up to 20 published two-dimensional works. See the U.S. Copyright Office’s GRUW FAQ and Circular 34 for unpublished works, and use the eCO portal to access the current forms and instructions for each category. References: U.S. Copyright Office GRUW FAQ and Circular 34, plus industry alerts on GRTX and GR2D.

• GRUW: U.S. Copyright Office GRUW FAQ, and Circular 34.
• GRTX: short online literary works rules have been described with a 50-work cap and specific exclusions. Check eCO for the current GRTX form.
• Published photographs: a long-standing group path for published photos, widely described as allowing up to 750 images.
• GR2D: the Office has announced a new path for up to 20 different published two-dimensional works, effective Feb 17, 2026, with same-calendar-year and single-author ownership requirements. Check eCO for the final form and instructions.

Primary Office resources: GRUW FAQ and Circular 34, and the eCO registration portal at https://www.copyright.gov/registration/.

{{IMAGE: Side-by-side matrix of GRUW, GRTX, Photos, GR2D showing caps, key eligibility, and deposit basics | Quick view of the 2026 group-registration lanes}}

How does each category work and what can go wrong?

Each path saves money by letting you register multiple works with one fee, but the Office is strict about deposits and eligibility. A few traps cause most refusals we see.

• GRUW, Group Registration of Unpublished Works. Up to 10 works. Every work must be unpublished on the filing date. Deposit rule, upload each work as its own electronic file. Do not combine works into one PDF or single file. Source, U.S. Copyright Office GRUW FAQ and Circular 34.
• GRTX, Group Registration of Short Online Literary Works. Up to 50 works. The Office’s process for short online texts has unique rules that are often missed, the works cannot be works made for hire, you must list each author as the claimant, and prior print publication disqualifies. Deposits are packaged as a ZIP file per the GRTX form instructions. Before filing, open the GRTX form in eCO to confirm the current requirements.
• Published photographs, Group registration for published photographs allows a large batch in one application, widely described as up to 750 images. The Office’s photo rules have their own metadata and sequencing requirements, so follow the photo application instructions in eCO closely.
• GR2D, Group Registration for Two-Dimensional Works. Effective Feb 17, 2026, a new option will permit up to 20 different published two-dimensional works in one filing. All works must have been published in the same calendar year, and they must be created by the same single author who also owns all copyrights. File on the GR2D form in eCO once it is live.

Where applicants trip up most often

• Mixing published and unpublished content inside a GRUW batch. Any published item will break eligibility for GRUW.
• Combining all files into one document for GRUW, which the Office rejects.
• Treating online posts like ordinary literary works. GRTX has special exclusions, including works made for hire and any work previously published in print.
• Missing the same-calendar-year rule for GR2D. That rule is strict, so do not include a December 2025 item with January 2026 items.

We fix these problems often by refiling into the correct category and cleaning the deposit to match the Office’s instructions.

{{IMAGE: Flow diagram of the decision path to choose GRUW vs GRTX vs Photos vs GR2D based on publication status, format, authorship, and year | Choose the right lane before you file}}

What is the filing workflow in eCO?

You submit all U.S. electronic registrations through the Copyright Office’s eCO portal. The basic sequence is the same, but the form and deposit differ by category.

• Set your scope. Pick the category that truly 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, upload each work as a separate file. GRTX, prepare a ZIP package following the form’s instructions. Photographs and GR2D, follow the application’s 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 submission confirmation.
• Monitor status in your eCO account and respond to any Office correspondence.

Primary Office links, GRUW FAQ and Circular 34, and the eCO portal at https://www.copyright.gov/registration/.

{{IMAGE: Annotated screenshot-style diagram of eCO steps from account login to form selection to deposit upload | What to click in eCO}}

How do you maximize savings without risking refusal?

Group registration only saves money if you clear the eligibility hurdles. 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 items in the same calendar year for GR2D.
• Respect authorship rules. GRTX excludes works made for hire and requires each author as claimant. GR2D requires a single author who owns all copyrights.
• Nail the deposit mechanics. Separate files for each work under GRUW, ZIP packaging for GRTX, and follow 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 with 18 published posters from 2026 and 3 from late 2025 wants one filing. That will not qualify for GR2D because all works must be 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.

{{IMAGE: Compliance checklist with four columns for GRUW, GRTX, Photos, GR2D showing yes or no gates on authorship, publication, date, and deposit packaging | Your pre-filing checklist}}

Where do you file and what should you cite as authority?

File every application online in the Office’s eCO system. For unpublished works, the Office’s GRUW FAQ and Circular 34 are your controlling guides. For the other paths, open the current eCO form for category-specific instructions before you file. When in doubt about a cap or a deposit nuance, check the Office’s site the same day you submit.

Authoritative sources:

• U.S. Copyright Office GRUW FAQ, unpublished works rules and separate-file deposit requirement.
• U.S. Copyright Office Circular 34, multiple works guidance.
• U.S. Copyright Office eCO portal, access to all current online forms and filing instructions.

Background and industry alerts that flagged recent changes:

• Short Online Literary Works, GRTX rules and 50-work cap have been described by practitioner alerts.
• GR2D, two-dimensional works option effective Feb 17, 2026, has been described by practitioner alerts.
• Published photographs group pathway and its capacity have been summarized in creator resources.

Can GTC handle this for you?

Yes. An attorney will scope your catalog, choose the correct lane, prepare compliant deposits, and file through eCO. If the Office has a question, we answer it and keep the group intact whenever the rules allow. Start with a short intake, we will confirm eligibility and price before we file.

Related reading

• US Copyright Registration 2026: eCO System Guide & Group Registration
• DMCA Takedown Notices Guide 2026