Registration is accomplished by filling out a simple form, paying a small fee and sending one or two copies of the work to the Copyright Office. The number of copies generally depends on the whether the work has been published before registration. Basically, only one copy or photocopy needs to be sent to the Copyright Office for unpublished works. For published works, two copies of the work need to be filed.

Registration is recommended for a number of reasons. Many choose to register their works because they wish to have the facts of their copyright on the public record and have a certificate of registration. Registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney's fees in successful litigation. Finally, if registration occurs within 5 years of publication, it is considered prima facie evidence in a court of law.

Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) to the authors of "original works of authorship," including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published and unpublished works.