Do I Have to Register with the Copyright Office to be Protected?
No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work.
For more information, see here: https://www.copyright.gov/
These materials were obtained directly from the Federal Government public websites and are posted here for your review and reference only. No Claim to Original U.S. Government Works. This may not be the most recent version. The U.S. Government may have more current information. We make no guarantees or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of this information, or the information linked to. Please check the linked sources directly.