Well the real solution if you want to actually utilize copyright protections is to register the work. This creates a dated government record. In the US (which i

Well the real solution if you want to actually utilize copyright protections is to register the work. This creates a dated government record. In the US (which is admittedly a bit of an oddball), to file a copyright infringement suit, you need to have a registered copyright. No one can get a registered copyright on your work if you've already got one (well they might be able to get one if there is a clerical error but it would definitely be dated after yours). Without a registered copyright you can still defend yourself from an infringement suit by showing your work predates theirs, but you can't really go on the offensive. You can send cease and desist letters but that's about it. You can't collect statutory damages or attorney's fees. In most other countries a registration will at least create the presumption of authorship, meaning the other party is obligated to prove their work came first. But yeah, putting the year on the copyright notice does nothing.