What happens to an original work immediately upon creation?

Upon creation, an original work is automatically protected by copyright law, provided it meets the criteria of originality and fixation in a tangible medium. This automatic protection is a fundamental principle of copyright, meaning that the moment an author writes, paints, composes, or otherwise creates a work, they hold exclusive rights to it without needing to file for registration.

The other options involve misconceptions about copyright protection. Registration, for instance, is indeed beneficial for enforcing rights and seeking damages in case of infringement, but it is not a necessity for copyright protection to exist. Similarly, the idea of storing works in a national archive or requiring publication does not apply to the immediate protection conferred by copyright law. Therefore, the automatic copyright upon creation acknowledges the creator's rights without any additional formalities.