4 ms·

It is an eye sore for me as well. The CakePHP project has done away with yearly update by replacing the year(s) with '(c)'. https://github.com/cakephp/cakephp

It is an eye sore for me as well. The CakePHP project has done away with yearly update by replacing the year(s) with '(c)'. https://github.com/cakephp/cakephp/commit/7b860debe4731a9cbc3abcdeacb7f1efd5be4a7c https://github.com/cakephp/cakephp/commit/7b860debe4731a9cbc... I remember watching a Stephen Fry interview who mentioned that placing the Copyright symbol once on your piece of work is sufficient to claim Copyright. But is placing the symbol once on a book, the same as placing a Copyright/License block once in a project directory?

iherbig 12y ago
As a matter of fact, you do not need to even declare copyright anywhere in the text to claim copyright (at least in the US). Copyright exists from the moment of the work's creation. [1] And placing a copyright notice does not afford you any other benefits without registration anyway. Once you've registered with the US Copyright Office, you may place a copyright notice if you want, but your work is still protected even if you don't. [2] [1] http://copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#register http://copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#register [2] http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap4.html#401 http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap4.html#401
- diydsp 12y ago
  I'm dating a lawyer. According to them, what you've written is true, however, speaking practically, there is a significant advantage to be gained from presenting evidence. If two parties show up to a dispute with identical source code, the one that has a copyright in it has an advantage. Sure, it's easily faked, and that could be argued, however, it would be trying to argue away evidence that exists which is much more difficult than arguing in favor of something that does exist. So if you want to lock in a victory and reduce court time, use copyright notices (and other legal notices like trespassing signs, etc.) liberally.

iherbig 12y ago

As a matter of fact, you do not need to even declare copyright anywhere in the text to claim copyright (at least in the US). Copyright exists from the moment of the work's creation. [1] And placing a copyright notice does not afford you any other benefits without registration anyway. Once you've registered with the US Copyright Office, you may place a copyright notice if you want, but your work is still protected even if you don't. [2] [1] http://copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#register http://copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#register [2] http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap4.html#401 http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap4.html#401

diydsp 12y ago
I'm dating a lawyer. According to them, what you've written is true, however, speaking practically, there is a significant advantage to be gained from presenting evidence. If two parties show up to a dispute with identical source code, the one that has a copyright in it has an advantage. Sure, it's easily faked, and that could be argued, however, it would be trying to argue away evidence that exists which is much more difficult than arguing in favor of something that does exist. So if you want to lock in a victory and reduce court time, use copyright notices (and other legal notices like trespassing signs, etc.) liberally.