To secure your creative work from unauthorized use, you need to know what the Copyright Office is and how it works.
The Copyright Office is a division of the Library of Congress that is tasked with maintaining records of all U.S. works of authorship. Its main purpose is to register and protect copyrights, so that creators have a legal right to control their original works. This registration process allows authors to take legal action if someone attempts to copy or use their work without permission.
What Does the Copyright Office Do?
The Copyright Office’s functions include:
- Registering new copyrights
- Searching for existing copyrights
- Maintaining a public database of all copyrighted works
- Issuing certificates of registration and other documents related to copyright
- Providing advice and legal information about copyright matters
The Copyright Office also provides copyright education and support for creators with digital resources such as webinars and web tutorials. These free online tools are designed to help authors understand the registration process and make well-informed choices about their works.
Digital Copyright Innovation
The Copyright Office is constantly innovating to help meet the changing needs of today’s authors. Some of these innovations include the electronic registration system, which simplifies the registration process, and the public-facing online search portal, which allows users to lookup a copyrighted work and view its information.
These days, registering a copyright is easier than ever with the Copyright Office’s online services. Authors who want to make sure their work is protected from unauthorized use should take advantage of the Copyright Office’s tools and resources.