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What do you mean by this, rob? Are you saying we should all register our copyrights in order to somehow defend them?
Part of any tort in the USA involves the concept of damages, right?
If you don't take action when you know your copyright is being violated, then you start to create a situation where you don't appear to feel damaged. I know pretty surely that this is the case in trademark law. It's one of the reasons companies like Disney defend what I call the "three circles" mouse image so strenuously.
I think the same sort of idea applies in copyright. If you know someone is pirating, or plagiarizing, your work, and you don't take action, you may lose that claim to damages. I think punitive awards are still possible.
DO NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. IANAL. I'M NOT A LAWYER.
Check with a proper intellectual property attorney. But I think that's basically true. With a Devil/details disclaimer.