Legal Definitions - All rights reserved

The phrase "All rights reserved" is a legal declaration commonly used in conjunction with a copyright notice. It signifies that the copyright holder retains all the exclusive rights granted by copyright law, and that any use of the copyrighted material by others requires explicit permission from the rights holder.

Historically, this phrase was a mandatory component of a valid copyright notice under the Buenos Aires Convention of 1910, an international treaty governing copyright among several American nations. Its inclusion ensured that the work received copyright protection in signatory countries.

However, with the widespread adoption of other international treaties, particularly the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, which grants automatic copyright protection upon creation without requiring formal notices or registration, the phrase "All rights reserved" is no longer legally necessary in most jurisdictions. Despite this, it remains a widely recognized and frequently used declaration, serving as a clear public statement by the creator that they intend to enforce their full copyright entitlements.

• Example 1: Digital Photography

  A professional landscape photographer uploads a stunning collection of images to their personal website. At the bottom of each page, they include the notice: "© [Year] [Photographer's Name]. All rights reserved."

  Explanation: This phrase clearly communicates to website visitors that the photographer holds the full copyright to all the images. Without explicit permission, viewers are not allowed to download, reproduce, modify, or use these photos for commercial purposes or public display. Even though copyright protection exists automatically, the phrase reinforces the photographer's intent to control the use of their creative work.

• Example 2: Published Book

  A novelist publishes a new fiction book. On the copyright page, alongside the copyright symbol and year, the publisher includes the statement: "Copyright © [Year] [Author's Name]. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law."

  Explanation: By stating "All rights reserved," the author and publisher are asserting their complete ownership over the literary work. This means readers cannot legally copy chapters, create adaptations, or distribute the book's content without obtaining specific authorization. It reinforces that all the exclusive rights, such as reproduction, distribution, and adaptation, belong solely to the copyright holder.

• Example 3: Software Application

  A small software company releases a new mobile application. In the application's "About" section and within its End-User License Agreement (EULA), it states: "© [Year] [Company Name]. All rights reserved."

  Explanation: This notice informs users that the software code, design, and associated intellectual property are fully owned by the company. While users are granted a license to use the application under specific terms (as outlined in the EULA), they are explicitly prohibited from reverse-engineering, copying, distributing, or creating derivative works from the software without the company's express consent. The "All rights reserved" phrase underscores the company's retention of all proprietary rights beyond the limited use license granted.