Copyright Registration

Do You Need to Register?

In most countries, copyright protection is automatic the moment your song is fixed in a tangible form. Registration is not required to own a copyright. However, registration provides significant legal advantages that make it worth doing for every release.

Why Register in the US

• Infringement lawsuits: In the US, you must register before you can sue for infringement in federal court.
• Statutory damages: If you registered before an infringement (or within 3 months of first publication), you can claim statutory damages up to $150,000 per work — without proving actual losses.
• Attorney's fees: Registration gives you the right to recover legal fees if you win.
• Public record: Registration creates an official public record of your authorship.

How to Register in the US

The US Copyright Office handles registrations at copyright.gov.

• Create an account at copyright.gov/registration
• Select the correct form — for music, use Form CO or the online eCO system
• Register the composition (melody + lyrics) separately from the sound recording (master)
• Pay the filing fee (currently $45–$65 for a single work via online registration)
• Upload a deposit copy of the work (audio file, lead sheet, or lyrics)

Group Registration

If you release multiple songs in an album, you can register them as a group under a single application — saving time and money. There are specific rules about eligibility; check the US Copyright Office website.

International Protection

The Berne Convention, signed by 181 countries, means that a work protected in one member country is automatically protected in all others — without needing to register in each one. The US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, and most major territories are all Berne members.

Poor Man's Copyright — Does It Work?

Mailing yourself a copy of your song to create a dated, sealed envelope (so-called "poor man's copyright") has no legal standing in US courts. Do not rely on this as a substitute for official registration.