The creator of an original work is granted a copyright at the time of creation. To obtain a copyright, the creator does not need to register the work. New valuable inventions, on the other hand, are protected by patents, which are overseen by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A copyright usually lasts for 70 years after the author's death, so you don't have to worry about your own works' copyright expiring while you're still living. Tangible but must be observable enough to be communicated, is protected by a copyright. Although a work does not have to be published or registered, it can be significant. The Library of Congress requires that all published works be deposited.
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