Is copyright protection automatic?

No, copyright protection is not automatic. In North Carolina, copyright protection is provided for by the US Copyright Act of 1976. This Act specifies that the creator of a work is given exclusive rights to the work for the duration of the copyright. In order to gain copyright protection, an author does not have to take any special steps. Copyright protection is granted automatically as soon as the work is fixed in a tangible form of expression. This means that as soon as a work is written down, recorded, or otherwise preserved in some way, it is protected by copyright. However, the creator of the work may choose to register a copyright with the US Copyright Office. Registering a copyright provides legal protection against unauthorized copying or use of the work. This may be especially meaningful if the creator does not want others to use or modify the work without their permission. Therefore, in North Carolina and throughout the US, copyright protection is automatic but not required. Registering a copyright is optional, but it may be beneficial in certain situations.

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