What works can be protected by copyright?

It is now mandatory to register your copyrights with the U.S. Copyright Office before filing a lawsuit. Only copyright holders who have obtained a decision regarding their application may file a lawsuit. Pending applications are not eligible. 

According to the U.S. Copyright Office, copyrightable works include the following categories:

1. Literary works
2. Musical works, including any accompanying words
3. Dramatic works, including any accompanying music
4. Pantomimes and choreographic works
5. Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
6. Motion pictures and other audiovisual works
7. Sound recordings
8. Architectural works

Copyright protects “original works of authorship.” These works must be fixed in a tangible form of expression, such as a record, a video, a document, etc. Works that can be communicated with a device such as a computer, television, or tablet are also eligible for copyright protection.