Do I Need To Register With The U.S. Copyright Office?
Registration is a critical step to protecting yourself. You can't file a lawsuit unless you have registered with the Copyright Office first, according to updated regulations. Early registration can grant you a large payout – up to $150,000 per infringement PLUS your legal fees, but only if you register before your work is stolen or misused.
When Should I Register With The U.S. Copyright Office?
Registration is similar to having insurance on your work. The earlier you do it, the better off you are - You're only eligible to receive $150,000 plus attorney fees if you complete the registration process before your work is stolen or misused. Completion can take 3-9 months, so don't wait. If you file after your work is stolen or misused, your earnings may not even cover your legal fees.
What About Mailing My Work to Myself, Affidavit, or Other Registration Databases?
No, these are not substitutes for registering with the U.S. Copyright Office. Some of these services claim to register your copyrights in their private database, but do not actually register with the U.S. Copyright Office. These services do not give you the right to file lawsuits or the same financial benefits as a USCO registration.
What Will It Cost?
You can protect your music, literature, videos, images, and more in minutes for a discounted price of $25 per registration application (plus federal filing fees) - that's 80% less than similar services.
Protecting your intellectual property is the most important and critical step that you can take -- especially if you’re working with collaborators. Without a written agreement in place, anyone that you collaborate with has an equal claim of ownership and rights to your content by default under U.S. copyright law, even if you paid them. Establishing and protecting ownership of your content now can save you time, money and the frustration of content-related issues (e.g. lawsuits, arguments, loss of income). You can guard against this by using Cosynd to create split sheets, collaboration agreements, work for hire agreements, and producer agreements with your collaborators or legal advisors.