This crap keeps popping up every few years. The way I understand it, as things stand now, you don't have to register your artwork to own the copyright. You own a copyright as soon as you create something. Most of the new proposed legislation mandates that you register your work with private registries in order to protect your copyright. This registration will come with a fee, payable to the private registry. The kicker is that you need to also be proactive to challenge any improper copyright infringement, or you may lose right to your own works.

Two links for those who are interested...
Long, but worth a quick read:
http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=p...no=3605&page=1

Another:
http://www.photoattorney.com/2008/03...ead-again.html