Copyright Symbol (©) in Professional Writing
The copyright symbol © is a specific Unicode character and can appear as part of a copyright notice. U.S. Copyright Office guidance describes traditional notice elements and also explains that U.S. notice requirements changed; symbol usage alone does not create a universal legal conclusion.
Use © when the applicable notice or house style calls for it, but do not assume that adding the symbol alone determines copyright ownership, protection, or legal compliance.
Key details
Important caveats
Legal Boundary
This is formatting guidance, not legal advice; copyright notice rules and legal effects are jurisdiction- and context-dependent.
Further guidance
Character Difference
Unicode identifies COPYRIGHT SIGN as U+00A9.
Practical Application
Use © only when the applicable notice or house style calls for it, and keep the symbol with the required year/name formatting. Treat the symbol as part of a notice, not as a substitute for determining ownership, licensing, or legal compliance.
Reader Check
Are you following the required notice format without implying that the symbol by itself proves or creates rights?
Use
In U.S. Copyright Office guidance, a copyright notice can include the © symbol together with year and owner information in the relevant context.
Worked Example
A project style might require “© 2026 Example Press.” That is a formatting decision for the notice; questions about ownership or legal effect require the applicable legal/publisher rules.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Latin-1 Supplement — Unicode Names List (opens in a new tab)Unicode Consortium · Unicode character identities for degree sign, plus-minus sign, and multiplication sign
- Copyright Notice (Circular 3) (opens in a new tab)U.S. Copyright Office · U.S. Copyright Office guidance on the elements and legal context of a copyright notice