Yes, everything is automatically copyrighted. But there is some sort of enforcement action that you can only take after you register, I'm not entirely certain w

Yes, everything is automatically copyrighted. But there is some sort of enforcement action that you can only take after you register, I'm not entirely certain which one (suing in general, going for statutory damages, ...). So my understanding is that it goes like 1. create something, get automatic copyright 2. someone infringes, you send a nasty letter 3. go register with the government 4. sue the infringer to make them stop or buy a license (assuming they ignored the letter) or 1. create something, get automatic copyright 2. go register with the government 3. someone infringes, you send a nasty letter 4. sue the infringer to make them stop (or buy a license) *and pay damages* (assuming they ignored the letter) where without automatic copyright it would go like 1. create something, forget to file for copyright 2. someone uses your work, you send a nasty letter 3. that someone tells you to STFU