Copyright Registration, Notice, and Enforcement FAQ

Questions:

• Why should I register my work with the U.S. Copyright Office?
• How do I register a copyright?
• What role does a copyright notice play?
• What is a valid copyright notice?
• How are copyrights enforced?
• What are defenses to a claim of copyright infringement?
• Do countries outside the U.S. offer the same copyright protection?

Answer:

How are copyrights enforced?

If someone violates the rights of a copyright owner, the owner is entitled to file a lawsuit in federal court asking the court to:

• issue orders to prevent further violations (restraining orders and injunctions)
• award money damages if appropriate, and
• in some circumstances, award attorney fees.

Whether the lawsuit will be effective and whether damages will be awarded depends on whether the alleged infringer can raise one or more legal defenses to the charge.