Legal Definitions - C.

C.

c. is an abbreviation that can mean two things:

1. Circa: This means "approximately" or "around." For example, if a historian says that a certain event happened in the year c. 1500, they mean that it happened around the year 1500, but they're not exactly sure of the exact year.
2. Copyright: This is a legal term that refers to the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and sell a creative work, such as a book, movie, or song. For example, if you write a book, you can get a c. symbol to show that you own the rights to that book and no one else can publish it without your permission.

• The Mona Lisa was painted c. 1503-1506.
• The movie studio put a c. symbol on the DVD to show that they own the rights to the film.

The first example shows how c. can be used to indicate an approximate date. The second example shows how c. can be used to indicate ownership of a creative work.