Is copyright registration required?


By Andrew Hudson Published: November 1, 2013 Updated: January 21, 2015

No. Registration is not required to get copyright, as copyright is provided automatically upon creation of the work.

“It is a common misconception to confuse copyright registration with the granting of copyright.”
Copyright in most countries today is automatic on ‘fixation’ — it applies as soon as the work is fixed in some tangible medium. This standard is established internationally by the Berne Convention (1886), which most countries have signed onto since. Registration is still required in the US for some benefits, such as awards of statutory damages.

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