Section 304(a)(1)(C) of the U.S. Copyright Act designates the persons entitled to renew a copyright registration in the event that the author has died prior to the commencement of the renewal term: “(ii) the widow, widower, or children of the author, if the author is not living, (iii) the author’s executors, if such author, widow, widower, or children are not living, or (iv) the author’s next of kin, in the absence of a will of the author.” 17 U.S.C. § 304(a)(1)(C).