What does each symbol mean?
© (copyright) tells readers that a work is protected and who owns it. A U.S. copyright notice has three parts: the symbol © (or the word "Copyright"), the year of first publication, and the owner's name. It has been optional since March 1, 1989, but it is still worth using: when a proper notice appears on published copies, an infringer cannot claim to be an "innocent infringer" to reduce damages (17 U.S.C. § 401).
™ (trademark) and ℠ (service mark) show that you claim a word, logo or slogan as your brand, registered or not.
® (registered) may only be used once your mark is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, for the goods or services covered (15 U.S.C. § 1111).
℗ is the notice for sound recordings: ℗, the year of first publication of the recording and the owner's name.
How to type the copyright symbol ©
- Windows: hold Alt and type 0169 on the numeric keypad.
- Mac: Option + G.
- Microsoft Word: type (c) and AutoCorrect turns it into ©.
- HTML: © or ©.
- Phone: copy the symbol from the table on this page.
Where to put your copyright notice
On a website, in the footer so it shows on every page. In a document, on the first or last page. On a photo, in its metadata or as a discreet watermark. Use the year of first publication; for a site you keep updating, a range such as 2019–2026 is common.
A notice warns, evidence protects
The © symbol warns others, but it does not prove that you are the author or since when. If your work is copied, being able to prove its date matters: that is what a time-stamped copyright filing gives you, alongside registration with the U.S. Copyright Office.