One really does not need to register a copyright although there are benefits. 'The Copyright Act of 1976 made it substantially easier for an author to obtain and maintain copyright in his or her creative works. Today, copyright subsists the moment an original work of authorship is fixed in a tangible form--it need not be registered with the Copyright Office or published with notice to obtain protection. While registration of claims to copyright with the Copyright Office is encouraged and provides important benefits to copyright holders, it is not required as a condition to copyright protection. ' [emphasis added] The copyright web site says the same thing _http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html_ (http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html) Also on this site is a clarification: 'The use of a copyright notice is no longer required under U. S. law, although it is often beneficial. Because prior law did contain such a requirement, however, the use of notice is still relevant to the copyright status of older works.'