VACRA
Senate bill targets cheaper, faster copyright registration for photographers and visual artists
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Artists and photographers would no longer have to mail in a “best copy” of their work to meet deposit rules; digital copies would be enough.
- Photographers could register up to 3,000 photos at once with one application and one fee, even if the photos were made or shared on different dates.
- New certified private photo registries could store photos and key info (who owns it, contact info, dates) in a free-to-search database to help people find the real owner.
- Artists could do “deferred” registration: pay a smaller fee now (up to half price) to lock in the registration date, and do the deeper review later if needed.
- The Copyright Office would be pushed to build a modern, easy online system that can connect with common creator software, plus offer reduced fees for individuals and small businesses.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
4 articles
PRESS RELEASE: ASMP Applauds Introduction of the New Copyright Modernization Bill VACRA
ASMP backs the Visual Artists Copyright Reform Act (VACRA), highlighting group registration expansion, deferred registrations, subscription models, and third‑party registries to simplify copyright registration for visual creators.
Senators Introduce Bill to Make Copyright Registration Easier for Visual Artists
Covers VACRA’s key provisions: raising group photo registration limits (to 3,000), deferred examination/registration, subscription-style registration, and approved private third‑party registries for electronic deposits.
PRESS RELEASE: Blackburn, Welch Introduce Legislation to Empower Visual Artists to Protect Their Work
Announcement of VACRA with details on modernizing registration for high‑volume visual artists, including a single application for up to 3,000 photographs and a deferred registration option.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
VACRA
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(1)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.