What Should Be Included In a Copyright Notice?
A copyright notice is a statement included on a copyrighted work (or its method of distribution) notifying the public of a claimed copyright in the content.
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For works created prior to March 1, 1989, a copyright notice was mandatory; those works published prior to this date that do not include a copyright notice likely have lost any right to copyright protections in their content. For works published after March 1, 1989, the inclusion of a copyright notice is purely optional, but highly recommended. For one thing, a copyright notice will alert the public to your claim of copyright in the work and can eliminate any claim of an “innocent infringer.” Such notice also provides the necessary information for third parties who may be interested in requesting a license for your copyrighted work. Importantly, you do not have to register a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office to be able to include a copyright notice.
A standard copyright notice contains three key elements: (1) use of the ã or the term “Copyright” or “Copr.;” (2) the year of first publication; and (3) the name of the owner:
ã 2025 Microsoft
A copyright notice may also—but does not have to—include a statement of rights reserved, such as “All Rights Reserved,” “Some Rights Reserved,” or “No Rights Reserved.” If you do not include any designation in your copyright notice, it will be presumed that you have reserved all rights.
On visually perceptible copies of copyrighted content, such as in print media, software and mobile applications, the ã is used. For sound recordings, however, the proper designation is a “Circle P.”
A copyright notice should be affixed to copies or phonorecords in a manner and location as to give reasonable notice—typically, this includes being affixed to the medium of distribution. For books or print materials, there may be a designated “copyright page,” while for downloadable software, that may mean placement on the page where the software is purchased/downloaded or even on the screen where a program is executed. The Copyright Office offers guidelines for the manner and location of placement of a copyright notice. Additional placement locations may include the footer of a website, footer of an email, or on the description or purchase page for a mobile application.
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This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on specific legal matters under federal, state, or local laws, please consult with our IP Lawyers.
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