Why you need to register your work when copyright is automatic protected?

[Lois R. Ince]

You must register for a several reasons. Lots of people decide to register their works because to merely possess the facts of their copyright around the criminal record where they can certificate of registration. Registered works might be eligible for statutory damages and hips in successful litigation. Finally, if registration occurs within Five years of publication, it really is considered prima facie evidence in a court. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration” and Circular 38b, Highlights of Copyright Amendments Included in the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA), on non-U.S. works.


Lois R. Ince
The Kelly Law Firm
Tempe, Arizona
Phone Numbers:
800: 1-866-570-8585
Local: 480-588-0449
Fax:1-866-961-4984

 

[McBob]

For works that are copyrightable and that meet all legal requirements for registration, the effective date of registration is the date the Copyright Office received the completed application (and payment). You don't need to wait for a certificate to proceed with the publication of for example a book and you don't need wait for a certificate before you can take someone to court.

Copyright is automatically established when your work is created (for example: when you publish a text on a blog). Copyright registration is simply a $50 formality you have to go through before you can sue someone for violating your copyright. Generally your lawyer will file the copyright registration application the same day he files the court papers.