MAKE YOUR FREE Copyright Notice
What we'll cover
What is a Copyright Notice?
A Copyright Notice is a formal declaration of ownership over intellectual property (IP). It is a way to indicate that a given creative work (eg a book or website) is protected by copyright. By including Copyright Notices, copyright owners inform others of their copyright and set boundaries for any uses of the work.
When should I use a Copyright Notice?
Use this Copyright Notice:
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if you own the copyright in a written work (eg a book, eBook, journal, or other publication) or website (collectively referred to as a ‘work’)
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to inform others about the copyright status of the website or work
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to provide your contact information for requests to link to your website or reproduce your work (eg under a licence)
If you require a Copyright Notice for a different type of work (eg a movie or sound recording) or if there are multiple copyright owners, Ask a lawyer.
Sample Copyright Notice
The terms in your document will update based on the information you provide
About Copyright Notices
Learn more about making your Copyright Notice
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How to make a Copyright Notice
Making a Copyright Notice online is simple. Just answer a few questions, and Rocket Lawyer will build your document for you. When you have all of the details prepared in advance, making your document is a quick and easy process.
To make your Copyright Notice, you will need the following information:
The work protected by copyright
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Is this Copyright Notice for a website or written material?
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When was the website (and its content) or written material first published?
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If the Copyright Notice is for a website, which country’s laws govern the use of the website?
The copyright owner
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What is the copyright owner’s legal structure?
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What is the copyright owner’s name?
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What are the copyright owner’s contact details (ie address and/or email)?
Disclaimer
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If the Copyright Notice is for written material, do you want to include a disclaimer highlighting that the work is general advice only and limiting the owner’s liability?
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Common terms in Copyright Notices
Copyright Notices highlight who owns the copyright in a creative work. This Copyright Notice is designed for websites or written works like books, eBooks, journals, and other publications. To help protect your rights in your work, this Copyright Notices template covers:
© Copyright…
This section sets out that the website or work is covered by copyright, stating the copyright owner’s name and the year the website or work was published. It highlights that any use of the copyrighted work without the copyright owner’s permission may amount to an infringement of their intellectual property rights.
All other trade marks…
This part acknowledges that all trade marks, product names, and intellectual property owned by others featured on the website or in the work belong to their respective owners. Any use of these requires permission from their respective owners.
No part of this…
This section details usage rights in relation to the website and its content or the written material. This includes prohibiting reproduction, distribution, or modification of the work or website content without prior written consent from the copyright owner, except where allowed by law (eg for fair dealing or private study).
If the Copyright Notice is for a website, it also sets out that the website may only be linked to from another website with the copyright owner’s permission.
The information contained in this…
This section is a disclaimer that will always appear for websites but is optional for written material. It highlights that the content is for general guidance only and should not be considered professional advice, with no liability accepted by the copyright owner for consequences (eg financial losses) due to reliance on the information.
All applications for permission…
This section provides details on how to request permission to reproduce or link to the work.
This website is governed…
This section specifies which laws govern the website (ie the laws of England and Wales or of Scotland), under which any disputes will be resolved. It is optional, and is only included if the Copyright Notice is for a website and this information isn’t addressed elsewhere (eg in Website terms and conditions).
The moral rights...
This section confirms that the moral rights of the author(s) (who may be different from the copyright owner) awarded under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 remain intact, ensuring proper attribution and the integrity of the website or work.
If you want your Copyright Notice to include further or more detailed provisions, you can edit your document. However, if you do this, you may want a lawyer to review or change the document for you to make sure your modified Copyright Notice complies with all relevant laws and meets your specific needs. Ask a lawyer for assistance.
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Legal tips for making a Copyright Notice
Make sure to bring your Copyright Notice to everyone’s attention
While having a Copyright Notice isn't legally required to assert your copyright, it is a good way to bring your rights to everyone’s attention. Ensure that your Notice includes:
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the copyright symbol (©)
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the year of the website’s or written material’s first publication, and
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the name of the copyright owner
Once you have completed your Copyright Notice, make sure to include it in the work or on the website the Copyright Notice was made for. This informs anyone reading your work or visiting your site that you own the copyright in the work.
Understand when to seek advice from a lawyer
Ask a lawyer if:
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there is more than one copyright owner
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this document doesn’t meet your specific needs
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you’re located outside of England, Wales, and Scotland
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your website isn’t governed by the laws of England and Wales or Scotland
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Copyright Notice FAQs
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What is included in a Copyright Notice?
This Copyright Notice template includes:
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the copyright symbol (©)
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the year of first publication of the website or written material
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the name of the copyright owner
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a statement of rights (eg ‘all rights reserved’)
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details on how others may use the content (including exceptions to copyright and how to get permission for use from the copyright owner)
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a disclaimer (optional for written material)
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a statement affirming the rights of the author(s)
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Why do I need a Copyright Notice?
In the UK, copyright protection arises automatically without the need for formal registration. This means that having a Copyright Notice is not necessary for a work to be protected by copyright. However, making and displaying a Copyright Notice is still a good idea as it:
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makes your ownership clear to others
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acts as a deterrent to infringement
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simplifies the process of enforcing your rights if someone uses your work without permission (eg by providing evidence of first publication)
For more information, read Copyright and How to avoid copyright infringement.
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Who is the copyright owner?
The copyright owner is the person or business that owns the copyright in a given work. Usually, the owner is:
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the creator of the work (eg the author)
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the employer, if the work was created by a staff member as part of their employment, or
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the person or organisation to which the copyright was transferred through an agreement (eg through an Assignment of intellectual property)
For more information, read Copyright.
This Copyright Notice is designed to be used where there is one copyright owner only. If there are multiple copyright owners (eg if two co-authors wrote a book together), you should Ask a lawyer for assistance.
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Who is the author of the work?
The author is the person who creates a work.
There is often overlap between the owner of the copyright and the author. In the case of literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic works, the author of the work is usually the first owner of any copyright in it. Where a staff member creates a work in the course of employment, they are typically the author despite not being the copyright owner.
Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, authors are entitled to certain ‘moral rights’ in relation to a work they create. For example, they have the right to be recognised as the work’s creator.
Unlike the ownership of a copyrighted work, moral rights cannot be sold or transferred (ie ‘assigned’). This means that, even after the creator of a copyrighted work has sold the copyright to that work, they still have certain moral rights in relation to it.
For more information, read Moral rights for copyright.
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What date should I put on my Copyright Notice?
Your Copyright Notice should state when your work was originally published (ie when it was made available to the public). For example, a book published in October 2024 may say: ‘Copyright © Sample Company 2024’.
If the work was created over an extended period of time (eg because the Copyright Notice applies to a series of articles published on a website over time), consider providing a date range instead of a single snapshot date. For example, a website that launched and started publishing content in 2020 may say: ‘Copyright © Sample Company 2020 - 2024’. Similarly, if a work is regularly updated, the Copyright Notice should include the most recent update year. This ensures the notice reflects both the original creation and ongoing updates.
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What does ‘all rights reserved’ mean?
The term 'all rights reserved' is a standard term included in Copyright Notices. It is a blanket statement used by copyright owners to indicate that they own the copyright over the original work and retain all legal rights in relation to it. This includes exclusive rights to:
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reproduce the work
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distribute copies of the work
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perform or display the work publicly
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create derivative works based on the original
It further highlights that no one has the right to use their work without their permission or subject to legal exemptions.
As copyright arises automatically, the statement 'all rights reserved' has no real legal meaning (and is not necessary to assert your copyright). However, it is a simple way for copyright owners to highlight their rights in relation to the work.
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Do I need to specify what laws govern my website in a Copyright Notice?
It’s not a legal requirement to include a website’s governing laws in a Copyright Notice. If this is addressed elsewhere (eg in Website terms and conditions), the governing law clause can be omitted from the Copyright Notice. However, if the website’s governing law is not set out elsewhere on the website, it is a good idea to include it in the Copyright Notice.
Specifying which country’s laws govern the use of the website (ie have jurisdiction) provides clarity in case of legal disputes. Any disputes that arise in relation to the work will be resolved under the laws of the country you choose. It's common to select the laws of the country where you or the website are based. Occasionally, the situation can be more complex if a dispute arises in relation to consumer law in a location outside of your website’s jurisdiction.
For more information, read Jurisdiction and international contracts and do not hesitate to Ask a lawyer if you have any questions.
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Do I need a disclaimer in my Copyright Notice?
There is no requirement to include a disclaimer in your Copyright Notice. However, it is a good idea to include a disclaimer to protect yourself against potential legal claims.
The disclaimer in this Copyright Notice is relevant when the work contains general guidance or information that users might rely on that could be mistaken for expert advice (eg legal, financial, or medical guidance). This disclaimer helps limit liability by clarifying that the content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. It also states that neither the copyright owner nor the author of the work (if these are different) accept any responsibility for any consequences (eg financial losses) resulting from reliance on the work.
Note that this disclaimer will always be included in the Copyright Notice if it is for a website. If you are making the Copyright Notice for a written work, the disclaimer is optional.
Ask a lawyer for assistance if you have any questions about the disclaimer or if it doesn’t apply to your specific situation or doesn’t meet your specific needs.
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What happens if someone uses my copyrighted work without permission?
If someone infringes your copyright, you can request they cease their behaviour (eg using a Cease and desist letter for IP infringement) and can take legal action against them (eg to seek damages). Having a clear Copyright Notice strengthens your case in such situations. For more information, read Cease and desist letters for IP infringement.
Bear in mind that certain behaviours are exempt from copyright protection. For example, copyrighted material can be used for non-commercial research, private study, and educational purposes. Where relevant (eg if extracts are taken from your work), you should be acknowledged as the copyright owner. For more information, read Exceptions to copyright.
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Does a Copyright Notice protect my work internationally?
Copyright is protected internationally by various conventions and treaties. If a work protected by copyright was created by a UK national or resident and falls within the scope of a treaty or convention the UK is a member to, the work will automatically be protected in each country that is also a member of that treaty or convention.
One of these treaties/conventions is the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (often simply referred to as the ‘Berne Convention’), which allows a work to have automatic copyright protection internationally. No special formalities are required for this automatic copyright protection to apply under the Berne Convention, and the standard Copyright Notice format (ie the copyright symbol (©) followed by the publication year and the copyright owner) is widely accepted in member countries as a means of clarifying copyright ownership and deterring unauthorised use.
For more information, read Copyright and Protecting intellectual property overseas.
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Where should I position the Copyright Notice?
There is no ‘right’ answer as to where the Copyright Notice should appear. However, it should be positioned so that it gives reasonable notice of the copyright. This means including the Copyright Notice in a prominent place in the work it applies to.
For written material (eg a book, eBook, journal, or other publication), this typically means including the Notice on the title page, the page after the title page, or the front or back cover.
For websites, this typically means including the Notice on the website’s home page, on a page that appears when clicking through to a copyright or legal notices page, or both. Many websites include a simple, more streamlined copyright disclaimer on every page of the site (eg ‘Copyright © Sample Company 2024’), with the full Copyright Notice set out in detail on a designated page.
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