Note: Your book will be legally copyrighted the moment it's published. As part of the setup fee, your copyright is secured under international law with the inclusion of your name and the © symbol on the copyright page.

But many authors go a step further and register their copyright with the Library of Congress. LOC registration has been viewed by the courts as prima facie evidence of ownership of intellectual property in the past. You might think of it as a form of insurance in case you ever have to defend your ownership of the material in court.