College Online Registration

College Online Registration

College Online Registration

In a sense, there is no need for copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office because protection begins once a work is made. An image on a camera, a story in a notebook, or a song recorded on a four-track, all are already the property of the creator — no one can legally copy, distribute, or make a derivative of the work.

Then why does everyone go though the trouble of copyright registration? Why pay for ever-increasing filing fees and fill out forms if there is no need? Why do artists, writers, and musicians continue to copyright their work? Simple — because there are very important benefits of copyright registration.

The Benefits of Copyright Registration

Even though the creator or creators of a work are instantly entitled to certain rights once their piece is made, there are still reasons for copyright registration. When one files their work with the government they have made an official public record; a declaration to society that this particular piece is theirs, and cannot be used, copied, or changed in any way without their permission.