Copyright Registration

Copyright protection exists from the moment a work is fixed — you own your writing, artwork, music, photographs, or code the instant it's created. But that automatic protection has real limits. You cannot file an infringement suit until the work is registered, and the remedies that make enforcement practical — statutory damages and the possibility of attorney's fees — are generally available only if you registered before the infringement began or within three months of publication. Registration is inexpensive; registering too late can be costly.

We prepare and file applications with the U.S. Copyright Office for the full range of creative and commercial works: manuscripts and articles, visual art and photography, music and sound recordings, software, and more. That includes choosing the correct application type, preparing the deposit copy the Office requires, and — where the rules allow it — using group registration options that protect multiple works, such as a photographer's catalog or a series of blog posts, in a single application at a single fee.

Every registration is handled at a flat fee quoted before work begins. If your situation involves a work already being infringed, registration and enforcement often proceed together — see our enforcement services below.