Notarial Deposit. Why creative works are deposited at a notary.

In the US and UK, the Government runs a Copyright Office, which takes Copyright registrations. Actually, copyrighted works don't need to be registered. According to the law, they are protected by Copyright automatically as they are created. But what happens, if you want to enforce your Copyright? You need to proof, that you are the author.

By registering your work at the governmental Copyright Office, you get a certified document about date and content of your work. You have the priority and since you are the genuine creator, you are the first.

Now many countries don't have governmental Copyright Offices. There you must find other ways to generate a trusted priority. Some believe, their friends statements are trusted enough. Others go to private registration offices, who write down priorities without governmental control.

The professionels though do not run for weak evidence and go to a Notary instead. In the latin countries like Spain, Italy, France or Germany, the notary is a highly qualified jurisprudent and in fact part of the governmental system. They are tightly controlled by their chambers and consider it as a core function to confirm priorities and statements of citizens. They are trusted enough to confirm testimonies and they are the rightful substitute for Copyright registrations in countries without a governmental Copyright Office.