On October 19th, Representatives Ben Cline (R-VA-06) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) introduced the House companion to the Visual Artists Copyright Reform Act (VACRA) (H.R. 10843) during a pro forma session of Congress during the October congressional recess. The Senate version (S. 3517) was introduced on December 17, 2025, by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Peter Welch (D-VT) and is pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

VACRA is the most significant modernization of copyright registration for visual artists in decades. It addresses longstanding barriers that have kept the vast majority of professional photographers from registering their work. Key provisions include:

• Allowing group registration of up to 3,000 photographs in a single application and fee, without regard to publication status or creation dates
• Creating a deferred examination option so registration becomes effective upon submission at a reduced cost
• Shifting to electronic deposits through an API and eliminating the best-edition physical deposit requirement for pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
• Directing the Copyright Office to develop subscription-based fee models and a modern, metadata-friendly registration interface
• Enabling certified third-party registries for photographs

These reforms matter because the current copyright system does not work for high-volume creators. Currently, 75% of professional photographers have never registered a single photograph for the copyright protections guaranteed to them in the U.S. Constitution, and fewer than 5% register monthly. The average photographer creates more than 42,000 images a year—yet under today’s 750-image group registration limit, fully registering that output would require 57 separate applications.¹  In a recent PPA survey of its members, nearly half of respondents said a higher group limit or subscription option would be the most useful change, and cost remains a leading barrier to registration.

As a result, far too many works are unregistered and thus unenforceable. VACRA would build on the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act by addressing another major barrier for photographers: the cost and complexity of copyright registration.

Statement from Angela Kurkian, PPA CEO

“Photographers preserve our history, document our lives, and help us understand the world. Unfortunately, the current copyright registration system does not support the way photographers work today. Since the introduction of the digital camera, photographers are now often creating thousands of images at a time. VACRA is a practical, bipartisan solution that will help photographers, many of whom are small-business owners, protect their work and their livelihoods. PPA thanks Representatives Ben Cline and Sydney Kamlager-Dove for their leadership, for introducing The Visual Artists Copyright Reform Act (VACRA) in the House, and we are proud to stand with our coalition partners in support of this important reform. When creators can meaningfully protect their work, they can continue creating.”

PPA has worked for years alongside American Society of Media Photographers, North American Nature Photography Association, National Press Photographers Association, and other visual-artist groups in the Coalition of Visual Associations to shape and advance this legislation. The House introduction is an important procedural step that puts the bill formally on the calendar. Next steps will depend on committee activity and the broader legislative calendar once Congress returns.

We’ll keep you updated on developments and any opportunities to weigh in. In the meantime, this is a clear signal that copyright registration reform for visual artists has strong bipartisan momentum.

¹ Study fielded August 27 to September 21, 2026 with a margin of error of =/- 3.2% at a 95% confidence level.