On August 13, the U.S. Copyright Office published the final rule to expand the scope of the Group Registration of Updates to a News Website (GRNW) option. The update removes the requirement that a “news website” cover “a broad range of news on all subjects and activities and is not limited to any specific subject matter,” clearly allowing subject matter-focused sites, such as those covering sports, finance, or culture, to be registered under the option. GRNW is a vital tool for publishers to effectively register and protect their works, enabling them to register large numbers of online content through a simple application on a monthly basis. The update, which will become effective immediately, follows extensive engagement by the News/Media Alliance, including comments filed in response to the proposed expansion in June that were repeatedly cited in the final rule. The original GRNW option was adopted in 2024 and has been welcomed with open arms by publishers, with over 4,000 applications processed by the Office in the last two years. Read the full final rule here.
