COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION
MEANING OF COPYRIGHT: Copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to make copies of a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, educational, or musical form. Copyright is intended to protect the original expression of an idea in the form of a creative work, but not the idea itself. A copyright is subject to limitations based on public interest considerations, such as the fair use doctrine in the United States.
BENEFITS OF COPY RIGHT REGISTRATION
1. Public notice of your ownership
Your work will be published in the Copyright Office’s Catalog and will be searchable to the public. Anybody thinking of using this work will be able to search this Catalog and see that your work is protected.
2. Validity
Your registration will demonstrate the validity of your copyright if it is registered within five years of publication. This can prevent future challenges to your rights in the work.
3. Legal evidence of ownership
If somebody takes your work, registration will avoid a costly dispute over the actual ownership. Your copyright registration will provide proof of your ownership and relieve you of this legal burden.
4. Ability to bring an infringement suit
Perhaps the most important benefit. Without registration, a copyright holder cannot bring a lawsuit for copyright infringement.
5. Maximization of damages
Without a timely registration, a copyright holder is limited to actual damages in the case of infringement. fees. However, to claim these damages, the registration must be made within three months of the work’s publication or before the infringement occurs. Therefore, time is of the essence.