Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Why would anyone need to "file for copyright"? File with whom? In any country which is a signatory to the Berne Copyright Convention, copyright automatically exists the instant the work is created.
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If you ever have to sue for damages, it must be registered. Yes, actual copyright is automatic but for court purposes, the registration has the date and other details on file. You can sue for "desist" and takedown without registration, but for monetary damages or to recover monies made by other parties, you need to register.
There have already been multiple cases of thieves stealing books from Amazon and uploading them. When the original author finds out, it is much easier to send them the copyright notice to prove ownership and get the rogue copy taken down. The thieves have hit many a trad author (someone took a freebie Ilona Andrews put up and loaded it for sale on Amazon) and many a self-published author.