What is a copyright registration?

A copyright registration is a legal process used to protect a person’s original creations or works of authorship. In California, copyright protection is available to individuals who develop original works such as pieces of art, music, writing, and architectural designs. Creators of these original works automatically receive copyright protection through the federal Copyright Act of 1976. This means that anyone who wants to use the work (without the permission of the copyright owner) must first get permission or be subject to legal action. However, a copyright registration provides additional legal protection beyond what is automatically covered by the Copyright Act of 1976. Copyright registration creates a public record, which provides notice to potential users that the work is already under copyright protection. A copyright registration is also required to bring a lawsuit for copyright infringement. Copyright registration can be done on the US Copyright Office website. This process involves filing a copyright application and paying a registration fee. If the copyright application is approved and accepted, the US Copyright Office will issue a Certificate of Registration to the copyright owner. The Certificate of Registration serves as proof of the copyright owner’s legal rights to their work.

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What is a copyright registration?

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