by 
The Curious Bag
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In the U.S., federal copyright protection was established in the Constitution with the first Copyright Act of 1790 being passed by Congress. As technology has progressed, copyright law has spread from writings to encompass a number of creative fields including broadcast television, film and sound recordings.
Creators
In most cases the creator of a work is the owner under copyright law, however where the copyrighted property is developed for an employer ownership can become disputed, with joint authorship allowed in many circumstances.
Cost
Registering a copyright can be completed for $30 in the U.S.--this fee can be a lot less than the cost of pursuing a lawsuit against an individual felt to have infringed on the copyright of a work. Registering a copyright is a prerequisite of a copyright lawsuit pursued in the U.S. courts.
Court Fees
A work registered under copyright law allows the copyright holder to claim both damages and fees associated with a lawsuit from the individual deemed to have infringed the copyright.
Proof
The Certificate of Registration issued by the U.S. Copyright Office serves as proof of the ownership and originality of an intellectual property whether published or unpublished.
Ownership
Copyright establishes ownership under law. Once established as the owner of an intellectual property, the work can be sold or licensed for use by other parties.
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