User:Hartboy/sandbox/Copyright registration in the United States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_law_of_the_United_States#Registration_of_copyright

Registration vs. Application

Circuit Courts are split on when a copyright registration becomes effective. Currently, there are two conflicting interpretations of the registration requirement: 1) the "application" approach: registration occurs when an application is received by the US Copyright Office, or 2) the "registration" approach: registration occurs when the Copyright Office actually approves or rejects the application. Currently, the Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits have adopted the application approach, while the Tenth and Eleventh Circuits have followed the registration approach.