Copyright Registration

Copyright registration is not mandatory. Technically, protection goes into affect the moment your "intellectual property" is written, printed, performed, recorded, painted, sculpted, blueprinted, programmed, etc. Official copyright registration, however, does have its benefits. 

Why Register?
The benefits of registering copyright are:

• By registering with the U.S. Copyright Office, you are creating a public record of your copyright ownership.

• Works of U.S. origin must be registered before an infringement suit can be filed.

• If your copyright is registered within five years of publication, registration will serve as strong evidence of the validity of your claims.

• If your copyright is registered within 3 months of publication or prior to infringement, you will have the option of collecting statutory damages and attorney's fees instead of just actual damages and lost profits. 

• Copyright registration also allows you to protect yourself from the importation of infringing copies by registering with the U.S. Customs Service.

How to Register Copyright
Registration can be done at anytime during the life of a copyright. To register, you will need to:

1. Complete an application form

2. Submit a $30 fee 

3. Send a copy of the work (This requirement may vary in some cases)

A full set of instructions for copyright registration is available on the U.S. Copyright Office's Web site at  http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#rp.

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Sources
Some of the information used on this page came from these sources:

• United States Copyright Office
  http://www.copyright.gov
   

Disclaimer
Please note that the information presented in the Online Copyright Center is for information purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for actual legal advice.