As soon as you put your thoughts, words, and ideas in writing (a tangible form) for the world to see, it is considered an original work of authorship and is, therefore, subject to copyright protection.
If it’s your original work, and you have put it in writing or have otherwise published or recorded it, copyright protection is automatic.
You don’t even need to put the copyright symbol on the work.
However… protection is limited.
Additional Legal Protection
Although your work is protected from the moment it is fixed in a tangible form, the United States Copyright Office recommends formally registering your work to create a public record of your ownership, and for the additional legal protection it provides.
You see, without a federally registered copyright, you will not be able to bring an infringement claim in either federal court or with the Copyright Claims Board.
Here are the additional benefits of registering your book with the US Copyright Office:
- It Becomes Part of the Public Record: Once registered, your work becomes part of the Copyright Office’s searchable database. This puts the world on notice that you your work has been copyrighted. This makes is difficult to claim “innocent infringement.” .
- It Gives You the Ability to File a Copyright Infringement Lawsuit in Federal Court: If your copyright is not registered, you can’t file a copyright-infringement lawsuit.
- It Allows For Statutory Damages: Without a registered copyright certificate, financial recovery is limited to actual damages. Damages can be difficult to prove without copyright registration and are typically nominal. A registered copyright entitles the copyright holder to statutory damages (up to $30k) and attorneys’ fees. When the infringement is deemed willful, damages can amount to $150k.
Applying for registration with the U.S. Copyright Office requires an application, a filing fee, and a copy of the work (which the Office calls a “deposit”).
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