The employer or commissioning party is considered to be the author and, thus, the copyright owner, of a work made for hire. In general, copyright exists from the moment a work is created and fixed in a tangible form so that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. Registration is voluntary but you will have to register your copyright with the Copyright Office before you can sue for infringement of a U.S. work. Under the copyright laws, publication has a very technical meaning, i.e., the distribution of copies or phonorecords of a work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending. Publication is not necessary for copyright protection.
Registration is recommended for a number of reasons.
Many choose to register their works because they wish to have the facts of their copyright on the public record and have a certificate of registration. Registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney's fees in successful litigation. Finally, if registration occurs within five years of publication, it is considered prima facie evidence in a court of law. You may wish to consult an attorney regarding the forms and registration requirements.