"While you own the copyright of all original work without question, once that work has been "published" you are required to register it and include a copyright notice on the work.

If you do not believe that the work has, or will ever have, pecuniary value and are merely publishing it for others to appreciate, then you are, in a way, culpable of relinquishing your rights if you do not include a copyright notice. Whereas, in actuality, you still retain those rights, it is somewhat more difficult to recoup moneys for illegal use. "

this is very misleading and not all together accurate. a victim of a crime cannot be held culpable for the crime committed against them. if i leave my front door open i may be foolish but i'm certainly not culpable. it is illegal to steal anothers work no matter what pecuniary value it has. the work in question doesn't even need to be marked copyrighted to be protected under the law. actuaaly copyrighting a work makes it easier for judgement because it states when it was copyrighted which precludes anyone at a lter date saying they did it. if yiu have proof of when you made the artwork there's littel difference beteen a registered work and a non registered work.

billy