Guides · Illustrators
Register up to 20 illustrations for $85.
Until this year an illustrator registering finished pieces paid for each one. Since February 17, 2026 the Copyright Office has a group option for published two-dimensional artwork. Here is who it is for and how to use it.
The group of two-dimensional artwork (GR2D)
- 2 to 20 works in one application, for $85.
- All published in the same calendar year.
- All by the same author, and that author must be named as the claimant for every work.
- Two-dimensional artwork: illustrations, paintings, drawings, prints, digital art and similar pieces.
What it saves
| Pieces published this year | One at a time ($45 each) | GR2D groups ($85 per 20) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | $225 | $85 |
| 20 | $900 | $85 |
| 45 | $2,025 | $255 (three groups) |
A single piece on its own still uses the Single Application ($45): a group needs at least two.
Unpublished work
Art you have not shared yet goes in a group of unpublished works instead: up to 10 works for $85. Registering before you post means any copying is covered from the first day.
Timing still decides your damages
File each group within three months of when its earliest piece was published, and statutory damages cover copying that began in between (17 U.S.C. §412). Monthly or every-other-month groups keep you inside that window. At the Copyright Claims Board a timely registration means up to $15,000 per work instead of $7,500. More on the three-month rule →
Registry groups your art for you
Add your pieces as Artwork and Registry builds GR2D groups of up to 20 by year and deadline, with a file-by date for each. Pull them straight from your Instagram export and every post comes in dated.
Registry is self-help software, not a law firm. Check the Copyright Office’s GR2D help page before you file.