Aug 23, 2012 03:11 pm Nah, it's a valid question, but take my response with a grain of salt. I'm no lawyer. :P
Here's a bit from the CC FAQ page:
" Do I need to register with Creative Commons before I obtain a license?
No. CC offers the licenses, code and tools to the public free of charge, without obligation. CC does not require or provide any means for creators or rightsholders to register their use of a CC license, nor does CC maintain a database of works distributed under Creative Commons licenses. CC also does not require registration of the work with a national copyright agency. "
Basically they state that they do not maintain a database of registered works. When you "register" a license, it is really to put/embed the Creative Commons license logo into a website that links back to the offocial CC License info page about that particular license.
Since you mentioned Soundcloud, well, Soundcloud has the Creative Commons licenses "built-in" when you upload a song or piece of music, or any sound really. You just have to select it on the upload page. Basically it states that your music is protected because it is associated with the CC Act, because you either embedded the code to show the CC license, or otherwise have a CC License attached through a distribution site like Soundcloud.
They do not track or match or use a database to keep track of what music or work is protected, so it doesn't operate like a typical copyright. Or rather, it is not a copyright, but a means to say your work is protected under this act, "so here is the logo which points back to the license info to attach to this page or work, or track, or whatever"
I think for commercial music, full on copyrighting is still the best way to go, but for us independent artists, the creative commons at least offers -some- form of protection.