Why should I register my copyright? What are the benefits of registration?

Only registration before infringement, or within three months of publishing, allows you to win statutory damages and attorney’s fees in a court case.

“In general, copyright registration is a legal formality intended to make a public record of the basic facts of a particular copyright. .. copyright law provides several inducements or advantages to encourage copyright owners to make registration. Among these advantages are the following:

• Registration establishes a public record of the copyright claim.
• Before an infringement suit may be filed in court, registration is necessary for works of U.S. origin.
• If made before or within five years of publication, registration will establish prima facie evidence in court of the validity of the copyright and of the facts stated in the certificate.
• If registration is made within three months after publication of the work or prior to an infringement of the work, statutory damages and attorney’s fees will be available to the copyright owner in court actions. Otherwise, only an award of actual damages and profits is available to the copyright owner.
• Registration allows the owner of the copyright to record the registration with the U.S. Customs Service for protection against the importation of infringing copies.

— U.S. Copyright Office, Circular 1