Kaneda Copyright Agency {top}

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Copyright FAQ {top}

{FAQ} What is the copyright notice?

Although the word of “copyright notice” does not appear in the Copyright Act, such a notice traditionally consists of the copyright symbol © or the word “Copyright,” the name of the copyright owner or the author, and the year of first publication. Using a notice like this is not mandatory but optional. Nevertheless, many authors or copyright owners follow this practice.
In general, the copyright notice can bring the following benefits:
〇 A certain copyright is claimed in the work;
〇 It’s easier for those wishing to use the work to identify the authentic rights holder;
〇 The notice may prevent a defendant from attempting to limit liability for damages in a copyright-infringement lawsuit.

[Note] A copyright notice is a statement placed on a work to inform the public that its copyright owner is claiming ownership of it. However, such a copyright notice is not mandatory but optional. As a result, the work you wish to use may not have any copyright notice (in that case, the absence of a notice does not necessarily mean that the work can be freely used). Also, you should remember that copyright ownership can be transferred, so the owner specified in a copyright notice may not be the current owner. Only the current copyright owner can grant permission for the use of his/her work.