It's the year it was first published: Form of Notice. — If a notice appears on the copies, it shall consist of the following three elements: ... (2) the year

It's the year it was first published: Form of Notice. — If a notice appears on the copies, it shall consist of the following three elements: ... (2) the year of first publication of the work; in the case of compilations or derivative works incorporating previously published material, the year date of first publication of the compilation or derivative work is sufficient. Source: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap4.html#401 http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap4.html#401