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Actually they don't.
The copyright act of 1976 eliminated the need to register a work.
That will surprise quite a few working IP attorneys.
A work has copy protection, "original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression."
Orphan works in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ownership affixes at creation. Access to courts requires registration.
17 U.S.C. 4 Sec 411:
(a) Except for an action brought for a violation of the rights of the author under section 106A (a), and subject to the provisions of subsection (b),[1] no civil action for infringement of the copyright in any United States work shall be instituted until preregistration or registration of the copyright claim has been made in accordance with this title.
United States Code: Title 17,411. Registration and civil infringement actions | LII / Legal Information Institute
I don't have a lot of sympathy considering how many authors were "found" with a bit of diligence.