Coauthors are co-owners of the copyright in the work. The author of a collective work is presumed only to have the limited right in each contribution to reproduce and distribute the contribution as part of the collective work. A copyright is personal property and may be transferred in whole or in part by any legal means, including testate or intestate succession. Ownership of a copyright, or any of the exclusive rights thereunder, is distinct from the ownership of any material object in which the work is embodied. For anonymous works, pseudonymous works and works made for hire, the term is 95 years from the year of first publication, or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first.
Copyrights now exist as soon as they are created.
Whenever a work is published a notice of copyright may be placed on publicly distributed copies from which the work can be visually perceived. The name of the owner of the copyright in the work, or an abbreviation by which the name can be recognized, or a generally known alternative designation of the owner. There is a mandatory deposit requirement for published works, the deposit to be made to the Library of Congress within three months after the date of publication. Registration of copyright is permitted and encouraged by statute, but is not required. However, registration is a prerequisite for suit, as well as a prerequisite for collection of statutory damages or attorney's fees.