The Copyright Office seeks input on three areas of reform: (1) the administration and substance of the application for registration; (2) the utility of the public record; and (3) the deposit requirements for registration.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Copyright Office published, “a notice of inquiry requesting written comments on how to improve the regulations and practices related to the registration of copyright claims in the digital age.”

According to the notice, “the Office intends to replace the current electronic system (known as ‘eCO’) with a modern solution that aims to improve user experience, increase Office efficiency, and decrease processing times.”

“What I make of this announcement is that the Copyright Office is getting back to business,” says Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer.

“By some accounts, the Office is functioning better than it has in many years, under the interim leadership of Karen Temple Claggett,” he tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally. “In fact, lawmakers have routinely praised Claggett’s leadership, and we’ve heard reports that efforts are ongoing to improve the way the office functions.”

The notice of inquiry states that the Copyright Office is “considering several legal and policy changes to meet the copyright-related demands of creators and users of creative works of all types. Specifically, the Office seeks input on three areas of reform: (1) the administration and substance of the application for registration, (2) the utility of the public record, and (3) the deposit requirements for registration.”

Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.