What registration actually buys

Ownership is automatic; enforcement is not. Registration creates the public record and, filed in good time, unlocks remedies in court that an unregistered work cannot reach. Fees and processing times are set by the Copyright Office — check copyright.gov rather than trusting any third party's quoted figure.

You do not need to mail yourself a manuscript, and you do not need a service to file on your behalf.

Audio and film rights are their own property

The right to record your book and the right to film it are distinct from the right to print it. Traditional contracts frequently take them; a self-published author usually still holds all of them.

Before you commission any edition, know which rights you hold. Here, commissioning an audio book or film book never transfers your copyright — you hold the work, and you hold the edition.

Outside the United States

Most countries grant copyright automatically on creation under the Berne Convention, and many have no registration system at all. Check your own national office for what, if anything, can be recorded.

Asked and answered

Do I need to register before publishing?

No. Publication does not forfeit copyright. Registration is a separate act you can take before or after.

Does commissioning an audiobook give the producer rights to my book?

It must not. At this house you keep the copyright and the finished edition both.