Copyright (in most countries) is automatic. Any piece of media (or "form of expression") that is produced has copyright status for the author(s) of the work from the moment it is "fixed" in copy (such as writing, or an audio recording or a picture), unless copyright is sold or given to another party.

If you write book, the copyright of that work is yours, with no registration necessary. If someone steals your manuscript and claims it as their own and publishes for profit, they have infringed on your copyright. But obviously nothing will come from it if you don't involve a lawyer.

It's not like a patent or a trademark which needs to be registered, if something exists, somebody owns the copyright to it.

I'll add, that copyright can only dissipate after the death of the original author. The exact number of years is different depending on the country, but after that point it enters what is considered "public domain". The Sherlock Holmes stories for example are public domain, so anyone can make a movie or write their own book using those characters or stories.

On top of that is publishing rights, which can last in perpetuity (forever). So even in 100 years, you won't be able to distribute gay porn made today if the publishing rights are still in effect. You can do whatever you want with the characters in the porn though!

I'll add, that copyright can only dissipate after the death of the original author. The exact number of years is different depending on the country, but after that point it enters what is considered "public domain". The Sherlock Holmes stories for example are public domain, so anyone can make a movie or write their own book using those characters or stories.

On top of that is publishing rights, which can last in perpetuity (forever). So even in 100 years, you won't be able to distribute gay porn made today if the publishing rights are still in effect. You can do whatever you want with the characters in the porn though!

Copyright (in most countries) is automatic. Any piece of media (or "form of expression") that is produced has copyright status for the author(s) of the work from the moment it is "fixed" in copy (such as writing, or an audio recording or a picture), unless copyright is sold or given to another party.

If you write book, the copyright of that work is yours, with no registration necessary. If someone steals your manuscript and claims it as their own and publishes for profit, they have infringed on your copyright. But obviously nothing will come from it if you don't involve a lawyer.

It's not like a patent or a trademark which needs to be registered, if something exists, somebody owns the copyright to it.