Legal Definitions - notice of copyright

A notice of copyright is a statement that indicates a work is protected by copyright law. It is usually included in each published copy of the work. The format of a copyright notice is © (year of publication) (name of basic copyright owner).

Before March 1, 1989, a copyright notice was required for a copyright to be valid. However, since then, it is not mandatory, although it still provides certain procedural advantages. The phrase "all rights reserved" is also no longer required.

Examples:

• A book with a copyright notice that reads: © 2021 John Doe
• A photograph with a copyright notice that reads: © 2021 Jane Smith Photography

These examples illustrate how a copyright notice is used to indicate that the work is protected by copyright law and who the basic copyright owner is.

Overall, a notice of copyright is an important way to protect creative works and ensure that others do not use them without permission.