Copyright Registration

Copyright Registration is the process of officially recording a copyrighted work with the copyright office. While copyright protection exists automatically upon creation of an original work fixed in a tangible medium, registration provides important legal benefits. It creates a public record of the copyright claim, is generally necessary to file an infringement lawsuit in federal court (in the US), and if registered within certain time periods, allows for statutory damages and attorney's fees in infringement actions. The registration process requires submitting an application, filing fee, and copy of the work (deposit copy). Registration covers literary works, musical works, dramatic works, choreographic works, pictorial/graphic/sculptural works, motion pictures, sound recordings, and architectural works. Registration is relatively straightforward and inexpensive compared to patents or trademarks.