Can Incarcerated Creators Register and Own a Copyright?
Yes, authors and creators may own and register their copyrighted works while incarcerated. Though copyright protection automatically subsists the moment the work is fixed in a tangible medium of expression, registering the copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office will offer numerous benefits.
More information on how incarcerated authors and creators can register their copyrighted works can be found in this guide created by R. Oroma Womeodu, Esq., Professor Viva Moffat, Eliza Granger, and John R. Whitman in collaboration with the Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice, the Copyright Alliance, and the Museum for Black Innovation and Entrepreneurship.