Why do I need to copyright my website?

And how do I do it?

The website is not up yet but I'm looking toward the future. How much does it cost?

Why isn't it protected via intellectual property rights?

Copyrighting is automatic. Once you create it and publish it on your site, you automatically own the copyright. You do not need to post a notice or file for copy protection status. And the mail trick does not work. That is a myth.
However, if you need to go after someone in court for copyright infringement. You then need to file for copyright protection which cost you a filing fee.
You can file for copyright protection right away if you wish. This will help establish a date of creation in case someone else does the same and tries to beat you at it.
I hope this helps and good luck.

It is FREE. You only get intellectual property rights IF YOU COPYRIGHT or PATENT. Period.

As long as you have the website time stamped so that you can prove that your information is your own and not someone else's information, I don't see that you would need to pay for a copyright. I believe that your intellectual property rights would suffice.

However, if this information is going to profit you in anyway, it may behoove you to pay for the copyright.

You cant stop people from stealing stuff from your website... its too easy.

You can get a copyright on the code.... even if nothing else, print it all out and mail it to yourself (so you have a postmark on it, in a sealed envelope)

But if this is just a personal website, not for a corporation or profit... or some nifty new web technology (like if you were the inventor of FLASH) then dont bother.

You don't. Copyright protection is automatic in any original work. You don't need to pay for it. However, proving theft of your work and enforcing those rights can be expensive.