Copyright Notice Generator
Generate legally formatted copyright notices (© Symbol, Year ranges, Owner, All Rights Reserved or Open Source licenses) for websites, media, and code.
🔒 This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to a server.
How it works
- Enter the legal copyright holder (your name, organization, or incorporated entity).
- Choose whether you want a single publication year or an ongoing year range (e.g. 2020–2026).
- Select your rights statement (All Rights Reserved, Open Source MIT/Apache, or Creative Commons).
- Copy your preferred format: plain text, HTML footer markup, or source code comment blocks.
FAQ
Is a copyright notice legally required to protect my work?
Under the Berne Convention, copyright protection is automatically established upon creating original work in a fixed tangible medium. However, displaying a formal copyright notice prevents "innocent infringer" defenses in legal disputes and clearly establishes ownership.
What are the three essential components of a valid copyright notice?
A standard copyright notice requires three key elements: (1) The symbol © (or word "Copyright"), (2) The year of first publication (or year range), and (3) The legal name of the copyright owner or company.
Should I use a single year or a year range in website footers?
Using a year range (e.g. 2021-2026) indicates that content was originally published in 2021 and continuously updated through 2026, protecting both historical and newly added materials.
Does "All Rights Reserved" still have legal effect?
While historically required under the 1910 Buenos Aires Convention, almost all nations now adhere to the Berne Convention where it is optional. However, it remains standard commercial practice to signal full intellectual property retention.
How we compare
| Feature | Online Tool Store | Generic text generators | Manual typing |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTML tag & code comment outputs | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Open-source & CC license presets | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero registration or ads | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |