Copyright Registration
Registration is the legal foundation of copyright enforcement — it gives you the right to sue, the right to statutory damages, and the right to attorney's fees. Don't wait until someone steals your work.
Do You Actually Need This?
Copyright exists at creation — but registration is what makes it enforceable. These four situations tell you it is time to file.
You are creating and publishing original content — music, writing, software, visual art, video.
Copyright is automatic at creation, but registration is required before you can sue an infringer in US federal court. Without registration you cannot recover statutory damages (up to $150,000 per work) or attorney's fees — only actual damages, which are often impossible to prove.
Someone has copied or is using your work without permission.
To file a copyright infringement lawsuit in the US, you must have a registration in hand. If you register before infringement — or within three months of first publication — you are eligible for statutory damages and attorney's fees. If you register after infringement, you can only sue for actual damages.
You are signing a licensing deal, sync deal, or distribution agreement.
Publishers, labels, brands, and platforms verify copyright ownership before licensing. A registration certificate is documentary proof of ownership and the date of creation — essential for any rights transaction.
You are building a content business and need to protect your portfolio.
Group registrations allow you to register multiple works in a single filing at a fraction of the individual cost. For content creators, podcasters, and digital publishers with high output, a portfolio registration strategy protects the entire catalogue efficiently.
What You Get
- Filed Registration
U.S. Copyright Registration
A USCO registration application for a single work or group of related works — covering music, lyrics, literary works, software, visual art, audiovisual works, and digital content.
- Filed Registration
Canadian Copyright Registration
CIPO copyright registration for creators and companies with Canadian content — establishing an official record of ownership for enforcement and licensing purposes.
- Portfolio Strategy
Copyright Portfolio Registration
A coordinated registration program for creators and companies with high output volumes — group registrations, efficient filing schedules, and a tracked ownership record for your entire catalogue.
Flat Fee. No Surprises.
Single Work
From $500per registration (US or Canada)- Registration application filed
- Government fee included
- Certificate of registration
- Record of ownership
- Recommended
Portfolio
From $1,800group registration- Up to 10 works in group filing
- US or Canadian filing
- Cataloguing & tracking
- Registration certificates
US + Canada
From $1,200dual-jurisdiction- One work filed in both jurisdictions
- Both government fees included
- Cross-border ownership record
- Licensing-ready documentation
Your Questions Answered
No. In Canada, copyright is automatic upon creation and fixation — there is no mandatory registration system. However, CIPO registration creates a public ownership record, simplifies licensing, and provides evidentiary benefits in disputes. It is optional but strategically valuable.
Online single-claim registrations typically take 6–12 months through regular processing. Expedited (special handling) processing takes 5 business days and costs an additional $800 government fee. For time-sensitive matters — active infringement, litigation — expedited processing is available.
Copyright protects original creative expression — music, writing, art, software code. It arises automatically at creation. Trademark protects brand identifiers — names, logos, slogans — used in commerce. Copyright and trademark can overlap for logos and brand content, but they are separate rights requiring separate registration.
Yes. Software — including source code, object code, and documentation — is protectable expression under copyright law in both the US and Canada. USCO accepts software registrations. The registration protects the specific code, not the underlying idea or functionality.
Statutory damages are a fixed damages range available to copyright owners in US federal court — between $750 and $30,000 per infringed work, or up to $150,000 per work for willful infringement — without needing to prove actual economic harm. They are only available if you registered before the infringement or within three months of first publication.
