If you’re a visual or graphic artist, registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office is one of the best ways to protect your creative rights. While your art is automatically protected the moment you create it, registration gives you powerful legal advantages; especially if someone uses your work without permission.
Registering your work creates a public record of your ownership and strengthens your ability to enforce your rights. You must have a registration (or proof that your application was refused) before you can file an infringement lawsuit in the United States.
Timely registration also comes with added benefits, including:
At Justice for Artists, we handle infringement cases every day and artists who have registered their work almost always have a faster, easier path to justice.
You can apply for registration directly through the U.S. Copyright Office by submitting three things:
You can file online at copyright.gov or mail your materials to the Copyright Office in Washington, D.C.
Tip: You generally register one work per application, but there are exceptions for group registrations (such as multiple unpublished works, series of photos, or periodical contributions). Each type has specific requirements, so check the Copyright Office website for details.
For official information, visit copyright.gov.
You’ll find FAQs, circulars, and detailed registration instructions.
You can also contact the U.S. Copyright Office directly:
U.S. Copyright Office
101 Independence Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20559-6000
Toll-Free: 1-877-476-0778
Email: copyinfo@copyright.gov
🖌 Registration isn’t just paperwork... it’s protection.
🖌 If your art is ever copied, sold, or distributed without your permission, registration gives you the legal power to take action.
At Justice for Artists, we help creators like you enforce your rights, stop infringement, and recover compensation; covering all upfront legal fees for qualifying artists.
Report an Infringement to see if your case qualifies.
