I have compiled over the past 5 years a list of resources for a certain topic (can't say what), that you can't find in a traditional google search. Let's just say, for example, it is a list of the best websites to search for college football statistics from the past. Should I register the list with the US Copyright Office? Is it considered a "database"? Or is there no protection at all offered through registration?

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just make reference to each resource you use, it should be all good

yah thats just a list no copyright for that look i made a list oranges apples ugly women copyrighted me 2008 (c)

It's a "compilation". And the protection is very very limited since you don't own the original material. You can sell the list but you have no protection if someone break down, edit and rearrange the list using a different format. http://www.pddoc.com/copyright/compilation.htm http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#protect Honestly I wouldn't waste too much energy registering or fighting over a list of stuff that belong to other people.

there is protection, to the extent the work is eligible. the way you describe it, it is not clear. you will have to consult an experienced copyright attorney to be sure, and even then you may get a vague answer. the advice would probably be to file, because then at least you have that as a deterrent. but unless you are willing and able to defend heavily, your bluff might get called. of course, if it were an annotated list, with a heavy element of creativity in addition to the sweat of the brow claim, that could change everything. also, to throw a monkey wrench into it, why rely on copyright, or copyright alone, for IP protection if you value such a list? find a distribution/business model that relies on trade secret protection as well. then you will have contracts and/or licenses to fall back on for enforcement on infringers.