Translation copyright

Hello copyright list!

     This is my first posting, and already I want to "pick the brains" of the people on the list. I am a Canadian freelance translator, and recently translated a book (by a French author) into English. He says that I may have "translation rights", which I assume means the copyright of the English translation. I have not been in this situation before, and wonder if anyone on your list can tell me (in words of not more than three syllables) how to proceed in order to get this copyright legally registered.

     I neglected to add a further possible problem-this book is already published on the Internet-it is a "virtual" book.

                Hoping someone can give me some advice!
                         Carole Harrington
                         <charring[_at_]julian.uwo.ca>