Copyright Registration: Protect Your Creative Work
Copyright is a form of legal protection under U.S. law (Title 17, U.S. Code) that provides you with the
exclusive legal rights to control your original creative works.
You can register
- Written Work
- Sound Recordings
- Visual Arts & Design
- Screenplays & Scripts
- Music & Lyrics
- Logo Artwork
- Websites
- Photography
- Film & Video
- Computer Programs
- Technical Works
- And More
When You Register a Copyright
- Your copyrighted work may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or publicly displayed without your permission.
- You establish a public record with the U.S. government of your claim of ownership of the material registered.
- To prove or enforce your ownership, registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is required in order to sue someone who has copied your original work.
- Your copyright registration is effective on the date that the complete application package is received by the Copyright Office.

When you submit an order, here’s what we’ll do for you:
- Review your application for accuracy, common errors, and completeness.
- Contact you if we have any questions about your application.
- Prepare all appropriate government applications.
- File your application electronically with the U.S. Copyright Office.
- Send you confirmation of the filing including your Library of Congress Case Number.
- Provide you with telephone, email & live chat support throughout the process.
Once Registered
- The U.S. Copyright Office will mail your Certificate of Registration directly to you.
- You can take legal action against someone who has copied your original work.
- You do not have to wait to receive your Certificate of Registration before you publish or distribute your work.
- You do not need permission from the U.S. Copyright Office to place a copyright notice on your material.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Copyright?
A copyrighted work may not legally be copied, reproduced, distributed or publicly displayed without the consent of the author or copyright owner.
In the United States, registration of a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office is required in order to bring a copyright infringement lawsuit.
When is my copyright considered registered?
You do not have to wait to receive your Certificate of Registration before you publish or distribute your work.
Can I register more than one work?
On the application, you must give the “collection” a single title. You can also indicate the individual titles.
How do I send my work?
For websites, we can download the entire site for you and submit the files as required.
How long does copyright protection last?
What if someone copies my work?
- Injunction, impounding and disposition of infringing material
- Attorney’s fees
- Actual damages and profits of the infringing party, or
- Statutory damages up to $150,000 if the infringement was committed willfully
The copied work need not be identical to the original to infringe a copyright. The legal test of infringement is “substantial similarity” – whether an ordinary observer would recognize the work as having been copied in whole or in part from the earlier one.
What’s the proper copyright notice?
Copyright © 2014 COPYRIGHT OWNERS NAME. All rights reserved.
Can I register my business name or slogan?
Even if a name or slogan is novel or distinctive it cannot be protected by copyright, but a name or short slogan might be protected by trademark registration if it’s used to identify a product or service.
When do I pay the government filing fee?
For your convenience, we do not collect this filing fee from you.
Only once our service is complete and your application is being filed, will you then be required to submit the filing fee directly to the U.S. Copyright Office.