Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: Copyright Bug
Definition: A copyright bug is a notice that tells people that a work is protected by copyright. It usually appears in each published copy of the work and takes the form of a symbol ©, the year the work was published, and the name of the copyright owner. Although it is not required for a copyright to be valid since March 1, 1989, it still provides certain advantages. The phrase "all rights reserved" is no longer necessary. It is also known as a copyright legend or notice of copyright.
Related Terms: All Rights Reserved, Buenos Aires Convention
A copyright notice is a statement that a work is protected by copyright law. It is usually included in each published copy of the work and takes the form of © (year of publication) (name of basic copyright owner). Although a copyright notice is not required for a copyright to be valid since March 1, 1989, it still provides certain procedural advantages. The phrase “all rights reserved” is no longer required.
Example 1: A book published in 2021 has a copyright notice that reads © 2021 John Doe.
Example 2: A website has a copyright notice at the bottom of each page that reads © 2021 Jane Smith.
These examples illustrate how a copyright notice is used to indicate that a work is protected by copyright law and who the basic copyright owner is. It is important to include a copyright notice to provide certain legal protections and to inform others that the work is not in the public domain.