There’s a New Way to Protect Your Art (this is huge)
If you license your artwork - whether it’s illustrations, surface patterns, logos, or other 2D art - protecting your designs as intellectual property matters.
If you have been in my courses or workshops you probably know that I talk a lot about choosing the right pieces of art to copyright, because copyrighting all of your art is too cumbersome + expensive.
Until now!
There’s a brand-new way to do it more easily and more affordably.
The U.S. Copyright Office has launched Group Registration of Two-Dimensional Artwork, or GR2D - a new copyright registration option that lets artists register multiple published artworks in one single application instead of one at a time.
This is especially welcome news if you build licensing portfolios or publish lots of work in a year. 🎨
What GR2D Is (And Isn’t)
GR2D isn’t about unpublished work. It’s specifically for published two-dimensional artwork, like:
Pattern designs
Illustrations
Logos
Fabric art
Collages and individual graphic pieces
As long as the works were first published within the same calendar year, you can include them together in one registration.
You can register 2 to 20 works together under one filing, paying one application fee and uploading a separate digital file for each work.
This new option became available on February 17, 2026 and includes its own dedicated registration form in the online Copyright Office portal.
Why Licensing Artists Should Care
Here’s what makes GR2D so useful if you’re in the art licensing world:
1. It’s More Efficient Than One-by-One Registration
Instead of individually registering dozens of designs throughout the year (which means multiple fees and multiple applications), you can bundle them together and register them at once.
2. One Filing Fee — Multiple Works
If you’re publishing a seasonal collection or releasing coordinated designs, that’s a huge cost savings compared with registering each piece separately.
3. Works Must Be Published Within the Same Calendar Year
This encourages artists to think in terms of licensing collections and publishing schedules - exactly how many licensing artists already operate.
4. Registration Strengthens Your Legal Rights
Registering your work isn’t required to own copyright - you automatically get that when you create - but registration is required before you can enforce your rights in court. That means statutory damages and attorney’s fees become possible if someone infringes your work.
For licensing artists, this is an important layer of protection when your art ends up on products sold by companies you don’t directly control.
Practical Tips for Licensing Artists
Here are a few points to keep in mind when using GR2D:
Each artwork must be in a separate digital file with a title that matches the file name.
All works in the group must be created by the same author.
Works must be truly distinct - if they’re too similar (e.g., color variations only), the Office may refuse registration for the extras.
You must list titles, publication months, and earliest/latest publication dates in the application.
What it boils down to…
If you’re creating artwork with the intention of licensing it to companies - whether for textiles, stationery, home goods, or beyond - GR2D is one of the most artist-friendly copyright updates in years.
It aligns with how licensing artists actually publish work: in batches, in collections, and throughout a calendar year.
That means less admin, less cost, and better protection for your art - without overcomplicating your workflow.
Ready to protect your portfolio the smart way? GR2D is worth exploring the next time you’re preparing to register your published designs.
I hope that you can use this new update to your advantage and better protect yourself and your art… I know I will! If you found this helpful, have questions, or just want to say hi, please send me an email krissy@krissymast.com - I love hearing from you!
