Frequently Asked Questions: Verifying Works

How can I check if a work is registered through the CRS?

If you see a work which is claiming to be registered it should display a unique CRS registration number alongside that claim. To verify that this claim is genuine go to https://www.copyrightregistrationservice.com/verify, enter the registration number, and click "Verify". The system will then tell you if the number is valid, and to what work it applies. It will also give the name of the business or person given as the registrant, and any contact details approved by the registrant for public display.

Is there a cost to check a registration?

No. The verification system can be used for free.

What details will be displayed on the CRS website? Are they accessible by anyone?

Registrations can be verified online by anyone who has access to the registration number of the work in question. The details of a registration cannot be accessed without the proper registration number. The verification page will show the name of the person or business that the work is registered to, any professional pseudonyms, the name of the registered document, the date of registration, the term of registration, the date of expiry, and the home country of the registrant. The registrant can also choose to include or exclude contact details such as address, phone and fax numbers, email addresses, etc. The option to include or exclude these details is controlled at account level: these options can be changed after registration, but will apply to all registrations made under the account.

Can the registrant's contact details be obtained from the IP Rights Office?

The registrant can choose to include or exclude contact details such as address, phone and fax numbers, email addresses, etc from the verification page. The option to include or exclude these details is controlled at account level: these options can be changed after registration, but will apply to all registrations made under the account.

Can the registered work be accessed online via the CRS or IPRO websites?

No. Registered works are not made available to the public.

Can I search for all the files registered by a particular company or individual?

No. You can only search for individual registrations, and you must have the proper registration number for every work you wish to check the details of.

Can the IP Rights Office handle requests for permissions for registered works?

No. The IP Rights Office will not pass on messages to registrants and will not disclose registrants' contact details, other than through the verification page, if the registrant has chosen to make such details public.

What can I do if I have registered a work and need more evidence of ownership than is provided by the online verification process?

You can retrieve your document and request written confirmation of your registration from the IP Rights Office through the "Retrieve" section of the site.