What is the process of obtaining a copyright?

A copyright is a form of intellectual property law that gives the creators of original works exclusive rights over how their works are used and distributed. In North Carolina, creators of original works must secure a copyright to legally protect their works from being used without their permission. To obtain a copyright, the creator should register with the U.S. Copyright Office. This registration requires filling out an application form that includes basic information about the work and its creator, a copy of the work itself, payment of a fee, and a statement of ownership. Once the application has been completed and submitted, the Copyright Office will review the application and determine if it should be granted a copyright. If the U.S. Copyright Office grants a copyright, they will issue a Certificate of Registration confirming their decision. Creators should keep a copy of the Certificate of Registration as proof that they own the copyright, in case they need to defend their work in court. It is important to note that copyrights only last for a fixed period of time, typically the life of the creator plus seventy years. After this period of time has elapsed, the work falls into the public domain and may be used freely by any person.

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