Copyright Infringement - Source Code physically stolen - California

[IQuestionGuy]

This applies to California

Long story short; I wrote a software program and I want to enforce copyright because someone is using the software without my permission and without any license.

The problem is my source code was physically stolen with my laptop and I have a police report. So now I cant register the copyright as I no longer have the source code! From everything I read I need to register copyright before I can file a suit.

What do I do?

 

[FlyingRon]

You're confused.

You had copyright from the time you typed that program in.
You can still register it.
You don't have to deposit the work to register it as an unpublished work.

Of course, you'll have to show in your civil proceeding by a preponderance of the evidence that the work is yours. Who has the laptop now and how did they come to possess it? Something more than meets the eye is going on here, and it's hard for us to venture an opinion when you're being reclusive.
See a lawyer that's bound by confidentiality if you don't want to disclose things publicly.