- The use of a copyright notice is no longer required under U.S. law, although it is often beneficial.
- Notice for visually perceptible copies should contain all the following three elements:
- The symbol © (the letter C in a circle), or the word "Copyright," or the abbreviation "Copr."; and
- The year of first publication of the work. In the case of compilations or derivative works incorporating previously published material, the year date of first publication of the compilation or derivative work is sufficient.
- The name of the owner of copyright in the work.
Example: © 2014 Jane Doe
For more information, see Copyright Notice.
- A further option is to attach a Creative Commons license, which allows you to make clear—with greater specificity than standard "© XXXX Name" language—what uses of your work are permitted. Or you might skip the CC system and simply write your own statement on your work, spelling out the uses you wish to permit.