What is the purpose of a copyright notice?
A copyright notice serves to inform the public that a certain work is protected by copyright law. A copyright notice typically states the owner of the copyright, the year the work was created (or published), and the copyright symbol (or “c” with a circle around it). In Washington, a copyright notice is not required by law, though its presence helps to inform the public of a copyright, and also acts as a reminder to other potential users of the work that the work is protected by copyright. The purpose of a copyright notice is to provide notice to the public of the protected work, and to give others an idea as to how they might obtain permission to use the work. For example, if the copyright notice lists the copyright owner’s name and contact information, it can provide an easy way for potential users of the work to contact the copyright owner about potential use. In some cases, the copyright owner may seek to protect the work beyond what copyright law may provide, such as through trademark or trade dress protection. Additionally, copyright notices provide notice to others that the work is protected by copyright law. Copyright law provides exclusive rights to the copyright owner to reproduce, distribute, display, and perform the work, and the inclusion of a copyright notice informs others that these rights are in effect. It also serves as a reminder to other potential users of the work that the work is, in fact, protected by copyright law and that the copyright owner has the exclusive right to authorize use of the work.
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