(c) or actually saying copyright

[Dzine]

i have an interresting question brought up in site check. Is saying This site is copyright blah blah just as good as putting the symbol or same or doesnt matter?

D

[Stickman]

It shouldn't matter.

When you create something original it is -- on publication -- legally your intellectual property (assuming that it does not infringe someone else's copyright, and you have not granted the IP rights to someone else). You do not have to register it, or notify any official body (unlike patents or trade marks).

A copyright disclaimer is just a warning to anyone who might consider using your intellectual property, that your consent is required to do so. However, it is not a legal requirement, and you do not forfeit your rights by omitting it. Even if you make no copyright disclaimer anywhere on your site, you can still prosecute someone who abuses your copyright (within the constraints of the intellectual property laws).

Bearing all that in mind, I'm told the generally-accepted (minimal) format is:

Copyright (c) 2001 Stickman

If possible, the (c) should be replaced by the copyright symbol (in HTML, ©). It's not crucial, but it looks more 'official'.

[flea]

If I am going to write some legal information in paragraph form on my site, I spell out the word 'copyright'.

I put © Brian Graves 2001 at the bottom of my actual page.