Is that if someone were to come to you and try to say that your work belonged to them, if you could prove it was really your work, you’re safe. But you can’t claim any financial damages. So you may theoretically be able to protect your right to use your own work, but you can’t go out and sue someone.

So it seems like it’s pointless without the legal copyright. It’s not that expensive, so I think there is no reason not to just register it and be safe.

It’s like using condoms. You just gotta do it. Even if it pinches a little.

Do I have to register with your office to be protected?
No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration.”

So basically… you have to register and if you don’t register, you’re SOL. I have no idea why they don’t just come out and SAY you have to register, since if you can’t bring a lawsuit for infringement without it, what is the point of this nebulous automatic copyright.

And I love you calling mythological creatures “open source” haha. that’s great.

I usually use Creative Commons for most of my digital work. Attribution, share-alike, usually non-commercial though it depends- I’m fine with people creating their own “derivative” works, giving attribution but profiting off of it. I actually plan to write an article about that in the future- about my preference for the use of mythological characters and themes because they are by their very nature open source.

If you’re putting your work out there though it just makes sense to formally register the copyright.

There will be exceptions, of course.