Kaneda Copyright Agency {top}

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Copyright FAQ {top}

{FAQ} Do I have to include the © symbol on my work?

No.
In the past, some countries had legislation that required a copyright holder to comply with certain formalities (such as the use of the © symbol) as a legal requirement in order to secure copyright protection in those countries. At present, however, few countries impose such formalities on copyright protection. So, here in Japan, you don’t have to include the © symbol on your work.
In spite of that, many rights holders still include the symbol © on their works, for the © symbol virtually indicates that such works are protected by copyright and that all rights are reserved*[1].

*[1] A copyright notice is a statement placed on a work to inform the public that its copyright owner is claiming ownership of it. However, you should keep in mind that such a copyright notice is not mandatory but optional.