I may have misspoke about the “single most important detail”, but is it not true that registering your raw images prior to publication will cover any future altered versions of the work? Would that cover any previous altered versions of the work as well?

I think you’re getting some incorrect info. Registering as unpublished isn’t at all the “single most important detail about registering.” If your work is going to be published by your client, you can register the work as published noting the date of that publication and, for published work only, you have 3 calendar months from the date of first publication to register the work to have the registration act just like as if it was made on the date of first publication.
-Leslie

Often I realize that the images are already in use, and I had not registered them. At this point, it almost seems like a waste of time and money to register. I know that the single most important detail about registering is that it is done prior to publication which just makes it difficult.

Also @ AC on the issue of art schools educating about these matters; my school is very thorough when it comes to teaching the business practices of photography. In fact, this curriculum is required for some of the accreditations the school holds. Beyond that, we are required to attend seminars held by professionals for class credit. I cannot speak for all schools, but the standards for mine are pretty high.

Sadly, this industry pays more effort to promote photo equipment and software than the rights of creatives.

When freelance/independent artists & journalists timely register their media with the US Copyright Office, we tell Congress that we really, really do care about protecting are IP rights.

Since we have limited funds to express our concerns to Congress, increasing the volume of copyright registrations, in effect, can be used as a lobbying tool to help promote our creative rights agenda.

I’m wishfully hoping for that one day when the Register of Copyrights reports to Congress that the number of copyright registrations filed has doubled from the previous year with the bulk of those registrations coming from young artists (first-time filers)!

In the end, I blame art, photo, film, and journalism schools and their professors for not “substantively” teaching legal, business, and negotiating skills to students before they graduate.

For the moment, forget about suing laws schools that misrepresent law job placements. Instead, let’s go after these art schools and professors for negligence—they breached their duty by not providing students with critical non-art industry skills.