Does copyright have to be registered to be protected?

There is no need to register or file any documents, although that is sometimes done for evidentiary purposes. When a work is registered, an author can point to the registration as proof that he or she was the first person to create it.

A work may be registered in the federal register of copyrights for a fee.

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WARNING: The contents of these FAQs are intended as general legal information only.
If you have a personal problem, please consult a lawyer.