Comment from Kipp Flores Architects, LLC
Kipp Flores Architects, LLCOpposeBusiness
Summary: A small business owner with 23 employees objects to the proposed 89% increase in copyright registration fees, arguing that the jump is too large and fails to account for inflation. They request that the agency either reject the increase or implement a scaled fee system based on business size or annual revenue.
I'm writing to object to the significant proposed rate increases for copyright registrations. As I've done research, I saw the last time rates were adjusted was in 2020 and that was based on 2016-2017 data. So, an increase was based off of 3-4 year old data already and then with COVID and post-COVID market increases, the current prices have not kept up with inflation. The proposed increase from $45 to $85 a filing is a 89% increase! As a small business owner, our team has realized that it's better to make smaller and more frequent changes than to wait a series of years and then spring a large increase. As a small business of 23 employees, copyright registrations to protect our designs is a large expense, but a necessary one to have. To think this may almost double is alarming. In a digital age where there is AI and software to alter our intellectual property, of course we are going to protect ourselves against these threats. We ask that an increase of this magnitude not be passed and if it is, we ask for a scaled system based on business size or annual business revenue. Thank you for your consideration.