Set Up Copyright

Register with the U.S. Copyright Office ($45–$65) or note it in your book for legal protection.

Registering your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office ($45–$65) isn’t strictly necessary for legal protection. Your work is automatically copyrighted once it’s fixed in a tangible form (like written down or saved digitally), and you can include a notice in your book (for example, “© 2025 John Smith, All Rights Reserved”) to claim ownership. However, registering with the Copyright Office offers important benefits: it creates a public record, allowing you to sue for statutory damages ($750–$30,000 per infringement, up to $150,000 if willful) and attorney fees if someone infringes on your work. This isn’t possible with just a notice. Companies offering copyright registration often act as unnecessary middlemen since you can file directly online at copyright.gov, although they may charge extra for convenience. Registration provides an additional layer of protection—consider it if your budget allows, but the notice alone offers basic protection.