Re: Copyright and MP3 issues

On Mon, 03 May 1999, Tyler Ochoa <tochoa[_at_]law.whittier.edu> wrote:
>
> (2) Why is the registration process a joke? Is it because
> it is too burdensome, or too slow, or because there is no scrutiny
> of registrations? As it stands, it only costs $20, and is relatively
> easy to obtain; and it is not required (but is still encouraged) unless
> and until you need to sue for infringement. But it is a legitimate
> ground for complaint that U.S. authors should be treated equally with
> foreign authors, who don't have to register at all.

My understanding, and I am happy to be corrected if I am wrong, is that a foreign author pursuing an action in the US courts for infringement of copyright in the USA would only be entitled to an award of costs if the copyright had been registered in the USA prior to the infringement. I am not aware of any other Berne convention country having any form of registration.   

-- 
Edward Barrow
edward[_at_]plato32.demon.co.uk