[starman]

Just curious. I've been seeing it in a few things.

[nonhuman]

My understanding is that you'd actually want to not change it because it serves as a record for when you first claimed rights to the content.

[analogika]

There's the ©1996-2007 kind, where content just keeps getting added/changed, but some portions are still from 1996.

If there's something you created in 1998 and haven't substantially revised since, that's ©1998.

If people are stupid enough to change their copyright to *just* ©2008 on something that's been in use for longer, they're just making it *that* much harder for themselves to prove copyright infringement when somebody uses that IP and can prove that they've been using it since 2006. Prior art wins lawsuits.

[peeb]

Nothing. It doesn't matter. Prior art has nothing to do with copyright, it is a patent term.

[- - e r i k - -]

It doesn't matter. You don't even need a copyright symbol. Every creative work you make is automatically copyrighted to you on creation whether or not you put a notice on it.

[SSharon]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

It doesn't matter. You don't even need a copyright symbol. Every creative work you make is automatically copyrighted to you on creation whether or not you put a notice on it.

Bingo. The copyright symbol/word just serves to put people on notice allowing you to get more money in damages since it will be seen as the intentional and knowing copyright infringement instead of the ignorant/accidental kind.

[peeb]

It's extremely unlikely that putting a c symbol would allow you to collect more money in a lawsuit even.

[Big Mac]

Particularly since you need to register your works with the copyright office in order to sue for infringement in court [edit: and collect statutory damages, as peeb points out].

[peeb]

Erm, it certainly helps, but that is not always practical. Not registering before the infringement means you can't claim statutory damages or legal fees.

[Big Mac]

Ah, you're right, that's what I meant.

[iranfromthezoo]

How much does it cost to copyright art? It seems it could get rather expensive quick.

[peeb]

Copyright costs nothing and is automatic. Registering a piece of work costs 300 ish, and is necessary in order to sue.

[el chupacabra]

Originally Posted by peeb 

Copyright costs nothing and is automatic.

what's the point of it if you can't sue? and since it doesn't' necessarily mean you can prove you are the original owner of the works to begin with since it's not registered?

[OwlBoy]

There are other ways to prove when something was made other than a registered copyright. Such as publication dates, records that show when something was exhibited. etc. Granted some of these things are less concrete when considered online. But as we all know, that is something new.

If you are worried, you can make screenshots of online work / digital work and do something like mail it to yourself sealed via the USPS to get it postmarked with a date.

There are also other services such as MyFreeCopyright.com: FREE Copyright Protection that allow you to have them act as an independent party to verify creation dates.

-Owl

[peeb]

Originally Posted by el chupacabra 

what's the point of it if you can't sue? and since it doesn't' necessarily mean you can prove you are the original owner of the works to begin with since it's not registered?

The point is that you have the rights to it. You can register after the infringement, and then sue, if you want to, but in that case you can not sue for statutory damages.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by analogika 

There's the ©1996-2007 kind, where content just keeps getting added/changed, but some portions are still from 1996.

If there's something you created in 1998 and haven't substantially revised since, that's ©1998.

Correct.

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

It doesn't matter. You don't even need a copyright symbol. Every creative work you make is automatically copyrighted to you on creation whether or not you put a notice on it.

In some countries it's a legal requirement to have the (c) symbol in order for your copyright to stand up in court. Don't ask me which countries because it's been quite some time since I've done any copyright legal stuff. As far as I can remember, it depends on whether the country signed to Berne, UCC or both - and how the country integrated those treaties into their legal system.