If a musical work automatically receives copyright protection, why do songwriters register them with the U.S. Copyright Office?
Although your musical work receives copyright protection at the time it is written, there are still several important advantages to registration of the work with the U.S. Copyright Office. First and foremost, registration constitutes public notice of your copyright claim. Additionally, if the work is registered within three months of its publication or prior to infringement of the work, you will be entitled to receive statutory damages and attorney’s fees if you successfully sue an infringer. Without registration, you would only be entitled to an award of actual damages and lost profits.
Related Questions
- If a musical work automatically receives copyright protection, why do songwriters register them with the U.S. Copyright Office?
- Does Copyrighted Songs provide protection that is good in court? Is it like the register at the US Copyright Office?
- How much does it cost to register a copyright with the Australian copyright office?
