Why Should I Register My Copyright With the US Copyright Office?

Your work is formally protected as quickly as you create it — no official US Copyright Workplace registration obligatory.Nevertheless, simply because registration is not strictly required doesn’t suggest there aren’t wonderful causes to formally register your copyright. Let’s take a look at a number of of those causes beneath.1. You want a copyright registration earlier than you’ll be able to convey authorized motion in opposition to somebody for infringing in your rights.Being protected by a copyright is one factor; defending that copyright in a court docket of legislation is kind of one other. If you wish to sue somebody for utilizing your materials with out permission, you may want an official copyright registration.2. It is extraordinarily costly to hurry a copyright registration.Over 20 occasions costlier, to be exact.A leisurely copyright registration prices a mere $35. The method takes a number of months. No large deal.Now, assume somebody does use your work, and you may’t wait a number of months — you need to convey them to court docket instantly. You possibly can actually register your copyright after the actual fact — for $760. Is not it quite a bit easier (and cheaper!) to register instantly, earlier than any authorized entanglements?3. Instant registration permits for the restoration of authorized charges.In the event you register your copyright instantly (earlier than copyright infringement involves gentle, or inside three months of publication), you might doubtlessly search an award that features statutory damages and lawyer’s charges.Nevertheless, if you happen to register after copyright infringement, or after three months have handed since publication, you may be paying your individual authorized charges irrespective of how the lawsuit seems. And, to make issues worse, you may solely be capable of recuperate precise damages and misplaced earnings.4. Registration creates a public file of your work.In the event you write a track, for instance, and somebody hears it and needs to contact you and give you cash in change for licensing rights, would not you need to make it as simple as attainable for that individual to contact you?With an official copyright registration, you can present and tackle and/or e mail tackle — no matter you are snug with — for public inquiries. All anybody has to do is sort within the identify of your work, and so they’ll know precisely the way you’d wish to be contacted about it. Easy!With all of those causes to guard your with with the US Copyright Workplace, $35 would not appear very excessive. Shield your work — and your rights — immediately!