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NO! Copyrights do NOT have to be applied for and paid for. That is the BEST way, register it with the Copyright office in Washington DC and allow them to search and be sure it is a clean copyright.
There is also what is known as a POOR MAN'S COPYRIGHT and it has been tested in the U.S. Courts and has won. been many years since I have heard about it winning, for I am no longer involved in the Industry.
Here is how a Poor Man's Copyright worked. Songwriters or even people who wanted to draw up diagrams and descriptions of their inventions etc, could do so, put the Original copies in an envelope, seal it, go to the Post Office and have them Validate the seals with their Post marks and dates, then mail it to yourself FIRST CLASS, RETURN RECIEPT REQUESTED. When you recieve it, DO NOT open it, file it in a Safe Deposit and continue on your quest. If you see YOUR Lyrics, or inventions used, all you need to do legally is provide unquestionable proof that you had the idea first. You provide the Sealed Enevelope, explain to the Judge what you did and let the Judge with witness open the Envelope. Musicains who could not afford to pay the $200 plus dollars to go thru the normal DC process, used this process and as far as I know and heard, it worked and was LEGAL.

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