Automatic Copyrights

Under common law, the works that were created on or after January 1 1978, are automatically protected from the time of their creation, and are ordinarily given a term lasting for the authors life plus an additional 50 years after the authors death, or a total 75 years whichever is longer.

Copyrights registration

Although the common law automatically protects your work, still there is a need for you to register your work for the purpose of copyright protection. Getting the facts of your copyright on public records and holding a certificate of registration would provide you with a better protection of your work. To bring a lawsuit for the breach of copyrights you need to have your work registered. Registered works are eligible for statutory damages and attorney fees in successful litigation.