Copyright registration

In general, copyright registration is a legal formality intended to make a public record of the basic facts of a particular copyright. However, registration is not a condition of copyright protection. Even though registration is not a requirement for protection, the 1976 Copyright Act provides several inducements or advantages to encourage copyright owners to make registration. Among these advantages are the following:
 * 1) * Registration establishes a public record of the copyright claim.
 * 2) * Before a copyright infringement suit may be filed in court, registration is necessary for works of  origin.
 * 3) * If made before or within 5 years of publication, registration will establish prima facie evidence in court of the validity of the copyright and of the facts stated in the registration certificate.
 * 4) * If registration is made within 3 months after publication of the work or prior to an infringement of the work, statutory damages and attorney's fees will be available to the copyright owner in court actions. Otherwise, only an award of actual damages and profits is available to the copyright owner.
 * 5) * Registration allows the owner of the copyright to record the registration with the U. S. Customs Service for protection against the importation of infringing copies

Registration may be made at any time within the life of the copyright. Unlike the 1909 Copyright Act, when a work has been registered in unpublished form, it is not necessary to make another registration when the work becomes published, although the copyright owner may register the published edition, if desired.