Copyright and Copyright Registration

How do I register a copyright?

United States copyright laws does not require that you register the work with the U.S. Copyright Office. U.S. copyright law states that when a work is created, the work is protected automatically by U.S. copyright law without the need to register the work or display a copyright notice. Copyright protection attaches to a work when it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time, whether or not the author uses the "©" symbol or the copyright notice.

The benefits of registering your copyright is that you create a public record of your work and your copyright claim. If you register your web site copyright within three months after publishing it or before an infringement occurs, you may seek statutory damages and attorney's fees in an infringement lawsuit. For web sites that are not registered, the infringer is only liable for your actual damages and the infringer's profits.

There are many companies that can assist in registaring your copyright for a small fee. Alternatively you can go the the US copyright office website and do the process manually. This can be a slow process complicated process but its does the same thing.

Disclaimer: We are providing information on how individuals may copyright their work. We are not responsible for any errors or omissions. It is best to consult a lawyer or the US Copyright office to make sure that you are following proper procedures.

Contact the Copyright Office: The United States Copyright Office is there to help you. The phone number for public assistance in preparation of copyright submissions is 202-707-3000