The process of producing a video automatically produces a work protected by copyright. The only requirement for a copyright is that the work must exist in a fixed form. Obtaining the full protection of a copyright, however, requires a bit more effort. It is necessary to register a video with the U.S. Copyright Office in order to protect it fully from potential copyright infringement or to bring a suit in court.

Registering a Video With the Copyright Office

The quickest and least expensive means of registering a video with the Copyright Office is to take advantage of the online registration option. The entire process can be completed online: filling in the proper form, uploading a copy of the video as an electronic file and paying the fee by credit or debit card, ACH transfer via Pay.gov or with a deposit account. Besides lower fees, online registration saves the cost of postage and insurance for sending the video to the Copyright Office. Additionally, you receive immediate confirmation that your video and application have been received for processing by the Copyright Office. Several different video formats are acceptable for uploading, including files with .avi, .mov, .swf and .wmv file extensions. It is also possible to fill out the form online at the Copyright Office website, print it and send in the original form with a copy of your video, while keeping a hard copy of the application for your files. Acceptable formats for mailed videos include VHS cassettes, Betacam or Digital Beta or DVD. Include payment in the form of check or money order. If you want to receive acknowledgement that your video has been received, mail your package with a return receipt requested. If you do not have access to a computer at all, the Copyright Office can mail hard copies of the appropriate forms to you. You would then complete the forms, provide a copy of the video and mail in the form and video along with a check or money order to cover the fee. Forms should be completed legibly to allow the Copyright Office to scan an accurate copy for its database. An important note is that a valid email address is necessary to submit a copyright application online. It is also important to note that all the information included on a copyright application is considered public information, and some of the information will be published online. Some information is optional, such as the section on rights and permissions. It is also possible to publish under a pseudonym, to designate a specific email address for copyright purposes or to use a post office box in order to maintain a level of privacy.

Source:

The Video Business Advisor: The No-Hassle Guide to Copyrighting Your Video Productions

U.S. Copyright Office: Copyright Registration for Motion Pictures, Including Video Recordings

U.S. Copyright Office: Privacy--Copyright Records

More Information:

U.S. Copyright Office: Copyright forms and registration

U.S. Copyright Office: List of Acceptable File Types

U.S. Copyright Office: Application FAQs