Creating something original—whether it’s a novel, an oil painting, a piece of software, or a chart-topping song—automatically grants you copyright ownership rights. But unlike your physical possessions, intellectual property is an intangible asset. Your intellectual property rights to a creative work are comprised of multiple rights.  When it comes to copyright rights, they are best thought of as a bundle of several rights that can be divided and licensed, or sold piecemeal or in whole. There comes a time in many creators' or businesses' lives when they need to hand the keys to some or all of their copyrights over to someone else. Perhaps you are selling your business and the intellectual property assets that go with it. Maybe you are an author selling the full rights of your back catalog to a publisher, or you are inheriting a copyright from a relative. In these instances, a simple handshake deal isn't enough. Transferring copyright ownership is a formal legal process. While you might agree to the sale over coffee, making that transfer recognized by the government and enforceable in court requires specific documentation and filing. This guide walks you through the essential steps of transferring copyright ownership and recording it with the U.S. Copyright Office.