Unlike most other forms of intellectual property, copyrights -- rights that protect works of authorship -- are usually conferred automatically upon the work’s creation.
Works of authorship are wide-ranging, including literary, musical and visual art works as well as computer programs, films and broadcasting.
Copyright procedures are generally consistent from country to country, although the terminology differs. In common law countries, the term “copyright” refers to all kinds of works. In civil law countries, “Rights of Author” (Droit d’Auteur) refer to works created by human authors (e.g., books) while “Neighboring Rights” (Droit de Voisin) refer to works by commercial organizations (e.g., movies).
Since most countries protect copyrights automatically, legal assistance generally involves transactions or enforcement regarding those rights. The notable exception is in the United States, where registration is not required but is nevertheless recommended.