Can You Copyright a Title? (Books, Movies, Songs & Series)

No, you can't copyright a title. The title of a book, movie, song, album, blog, or any other work isn't protected by copyright, because titles are considered too short to contain the minimum authorship copyright requires. This is why you'll find multiple different books, songs, and films sharing the exact same title — none of them can claim it, so all of them can use it. A single title generally can't be trademarked either. The title of a series, though, often can be — and that's how franchises protect their names.

If you've written something and want to protect its title, the honest answer is that copyright won't help, single titles are usually unprotectable, and your realistic options narrow to trademark (mainly for series) and to protecting the work itself rather than its name. Here's how it actually works.

Why titles can't be copyrighted

Copyright protects original works of authorship that contain a minimum amount of creative expression. A title — typically a few words — falls below that threshold. The Copyright Office's Circular 33 lists titles right alongside names and slogans as uncopyrightable words and short phrases, and the Office's guidance confirms it won't register the title or subtitle of a work, even a distinctive one.

This holds no matter how original or evocative the title is. A strikingly creative title is still just a short phrase in copyright's eyes, and short phrases don't qualify. The same principle keeps names and slogans unprotectable, and it's covered more generally in our piece on whether you can copyright a phrase.

The practical consequence is visible everywhere: countless works share titles. There are many books, films, and songs called the same thing, because no one owns the title and anyone is free to reuse it. Registering your novel with the Copyright Office protects the text of the novel — the actual writing — but not its title. Someone could publish a completely different book under the same title without infringing your copyright.

Single titles: generally not trademarkable either

People often pivot from copyright to trademark when they learn titles aren't copyrightable. But for a single creative work, trademark usually doesn't help either, and understanding why matters.

Trademark protects identifiers of the source of goods or services. The title of a single book or movie is generally treated as describing that specific work rather than identifying a brand or source — so the USPTO typically refuses to register the title of a single creative work as a trademark. The reasoning: the title names the content, it doesn't function as a brand pointing to a producer. A standalone novel's title, on its own, ordinarily can't be locked up.

There are narrow exceptions and related doctrines (for instance, unfair competition law can sometimes address a title used in a deliberately confusing way), but as a general rule, the title of a single work sits in a gap: too short for copyright, and not functioning as a source identifier for trademark.

Series titles: this is where trademark works

The big exception — and the practical answer for anyone building something with sequels or installments — is the title of a series. When a title identifies an ongoing line of related works rather than a single one, it can function as a brand, and trademark protection becomes available.

Think of how franchises protect their names: the title of a multi-book series, a film franchise, a recurring magazine, or a continuing product line can be registered as a trademark because it identifies the source of a series of works to consumers. That's the difference. A single installment's title describes that one work; a series title brands the whole franchise. So if you're creating something you intend to extend into multiple works, the series name is the asset worth protecting through trademark — and you'd register it with the USPTO in connection with the relevant goods (books, films, games, etc.).

This is why authors and studios trademark their series names but not necessarily individual entries, and it's the most useful takeaway here: protect the franchise, not the one-off title. The broader framework is in our guide to copyright vs. trademark vs. patent, and the USPTO is the authoritative source on registration.

What you can protect

Even though the title itself is usually unprotectable, plenty around your work is:

• The work itself. The full text of your book, the footage of your film, the recording of your song — all protected by copyright. That's the substance, and it's covered. Registering it gives you enforcement rights, as our logo guide explains for the registration process.
• A series name, through trademark, as discussed above.
• A distinctive logo or cover design, through copyright (the original artwork) and potentially trademark (if it brands a series).
• Your author or studio brand name, through trademark, once it functions as a source identifier (see whether you can copyright a name).

So the realistic protection strategy isn't "lock up the title" — it's "protect the work with copyright, and protect the franchise brand with trademark."

What to do if you're worried about your title

If you're concerned someone will use your title, here's a grounded approach:

• Accept that a single title isn't exclusive. If you've written a standalone work, you generally can't stop others from using the same title, and you usually don't need to — the title isn't where your value lives; the work is.
• If it's a series, register the series name as a trademark with the USPTO. That's the real protection for a franchise brand.
• Choose a distinctive title if exclusivity matters to you. A unique, coined title is less likely to collide with others and, for a series, easier to protect as a trademark than a generic one.
• Protect the work, not just the name. Register the copyright in the actual content so you can enforce against copying of the substance, which is the part that genuinely matters.

The reassuring frame: the inability to copyright a title rarely costs you anything real. Titles are meant to be shared verbal labels, and your protectable value is in the work itself and, for ongoing projects, the series brand.

Frequently asked questions

Can two books or movies have the same title?

Yes. Titles aren't protected by copyright, so different works can legally share the same title — and many do. No one owns the title of a single work, so anyone is free to reuse it for their own book, film, or song. The only real exception is a series title, which can be protected as a trademark; using a registered series name in a way that confuses consumers about the source could raise a trademark problem. But identical standalone titles, on their own, generally aren't infringement.

Can I trademark the title of my book?

Usually not for a single book. The USPTO generally refuses to register the title of a single creative work as a trademark, because the title describes that specific work rather than identifying a brand or source. The title of a series, however, can be trademarked, since it identifies an ongoing line of works to consumers. So if you're writing a series or building a franchise, register the series name — but a standalone book title typically can't be locked up through trademark.

How do I protect my book or movie title?

For the title alone, your options are limited: copyright doesn't apply, and a single title usually can't be trademarked. The practical move is to protect what actually carries your value — register the copyright in the work itself (the text, the footage, the recording) so you can stop copying of the substance, and if it's a series, register the series name as a trademark. Choosing a distinctive, coined title also reduces collisions and makes a series name easier to protect.

This page is part of our "what can you copyright" series; see also whether you can copyright a name, a phrase, or a slogan, and the framework in copyright vs. trademark vs. patent. The official rule is in the U.S. Copyright Office's Circular 33.