Do digital works need to be sent to the copyright office?
<p>In the US, if I release a video game (or other digital work) online do I need to send a physical copy to the Copyright Office?</p>

<p>Not unless you also released it in physical form. First, you don't <em>have</em> to send anything to the copyright office; registration is only required before you actually file an infringement lawsuit. Second, when you do register, the Copyright Office <a href="http://copyright.gov/eco/faq.html" rel="nofollow">says</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>What works may be registered with electronic deposits?</strong><br>
  The following classes of works may be registered in eCO with electronic deposit copies:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Unpublished works;</li>
  <li>Works published only electronically;</li>
  <li>Published works for which the deposit requirement is ID material (see the Special Deposit Requirements section of Circular 1 for more on ID material);</li>
  <li>Published works for which there are special agreements requiring the hard copy deposits to be sent separately to the Library of Congress.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>All other classes of works may be registered via eCO (application and fee payment) but require hard copies of the work(s) being registered.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Under part 2, if it was only released electronically the USCO will take electronic deposit. </p>

<p>It depends on the nature of the digital work. 
See one (or more) of the following: 

<li> <a href="http://copyright.gov/circs/circ61.pdf" rel="nofollow">Circular 61</a> -- Computer programs (e.g. video games) 
<li> Circular 65 -- Databases (which seems to be unavailable while under revision)
<li> <a href="http://copyright.gov/circs/circ66.pdf" rel="nofollow">Circular 66</a> -- Online Works (online 'content' — "text, artwork, music, audiovisual material (including any sounds), sound recordings, etc.")</p>

united-states copyright