Do I need to include the copyright symbol or register my work to receive copyright protection?
Answer
No. Works created after January 1, 1978 are not required to include the copyright symbol to receive protection. The Copyright Act says that as soon at the original work of authorship is "fixed in a tangible medium of expression" (ie. written on paper, saved to a computer's hard drive, recorded on a digital camera's memory stick) copyright protection begins.
It may be a good idea, however, to include a copyright symbol and your name so others will know that you are the copyright owner. Copyright notices can be as simple as this: 2012 © Jeff Graveline