When will HubPages update the standard copyright notice each year?

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   Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years ago

   When I update or revise older hubs, the HP standardized copyright notice does not change to the current year, so I remove that notice to update with my own current year notice at the bottom of my hub, using the correct format. Then I get the notice that HP prefers their own notice, which is outdated BTW.  It would be nice if HP copyright notice would update when a hub is edited. Is anyone else concerned about this on your own hubs?

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      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Phyllis. Do not worry one bit about it. Just use HP's. That is more than good enough even if there is a funny bunny date.
      "copywrite" is not the correct term at all. But the notion of such is just about notice. So that big old legal ease that you read is called "boilerplate" if you want to learn about that -- ask me.

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      1. 97

         Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Eric, I am aware that absolutely no copyright notice is really needed, for as soon as someone writes an article, it is automatically a copyrighted piece. However, not everyone is aware of this and if there is not notice, or the notice is old, then people are more apt to steal other people's work. Hence, I am concerned and will continue to update my copyright notice till HP has updated standardized notice. Thanks.

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            Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Phyllis, your point is right on the money - literally. I spent 3 hours yesterday with 3 high dollar lawyers and 6 clients. The sole issue was "refusal of service" --- we all know it as the sign in the restaurant in red letters telling us they have the right to refuse service to anyone.
            Our meetings were about how to tell a Negro old lady in a wheelchair that we cannot service her needs.
            (I right here again because your assertion is false and people need to get that -- you are spewing urban legend -- your stuff is not, not not ever automatically copyrighted --- period and end of story) NSA has a copy of it before you publish -- think of that.

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            1. 97

               Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Eric, you will not not not drag me into one of your infamous debates -- end of story for you. Following is some info from the US Copyright Office you may find interesting:
               
               When is my work protected?
               Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device.
               
               Do I have to register with your office to be protected?
               No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration.”
               
               http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html
               
               BTW: I turn to HP for this feature suggestion, not you. I do thank you though for your input.

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                  Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  I will leave it. But you take one or four sentences out of something and declare it the law. Why in the heck do lawyers and judges go to law school when it is just so simple.
                  You take this out of context and apply it wrongly and people should know that because it is false legal advice.
                  I reckon I will get "infamously" banned because I am not being nice about this.

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   2. 91

      Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The copyright notice for the hub is for when the hub was first published.This helps to prove that your hubs was published on a particular date especially for plagiarists. Changing that could be detrimental to you if your content is stolen. Remember that Google checks each URL to see which was first placed on the net when a complaint is lodged. If you published an article in 2011 and someone stole it in 2012, then it would be hard to prove it's yours if the copyright says 2013.

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         Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Well, that is a very good point, Cardisa, thank you. Maybe I will reconsider updating the copyright date. On our account page, with the list of hubs, it does have the date first published. Do you think that is sufficient in case of plagiarism?

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            Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            It could be. You could place your copyright as " Copyright 2011 - 2013" (example). I leave mine the way HP puts it because it's easier when Google checks the URL to see the notice. They don't have access to our account page.

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         2. 0

            sheilamyersposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I was going to tell you the same thing as Cardisa. When I ran my website and updated a page I always left the original copyright date and added the dash then whatever year it was updated. I've noticed that along with the copyright date, HP also adds a notice with the date of when the hub was last edited so that should cover both the original copyright and any changes you make. If you aren't using the feature that automatically adds the copyright date, just be sure to remember to add it yourself and make sure the update info gets posted when you edit any hubs.

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      The Examiner-1posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Phyllis,
      I was going to suggest sort of what Cardisa mentioned. I was thinking of how they do it in written books - they leave the original year and add each year that it was edited. (e.g. - copyright 2013, 2014...)

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         Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, you are right. Both you and Cardisa have sensible solutions that are helpful. Thank you both.

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            The Examiner-1posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            You are welcome.

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      Genna Eastposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Good question, Phyllis. :-) 
      
      Cardisa brought up an excellent point.  You want to protect your work from the date it was originally created; thus, the importance of the original date. 
      
      I don't use HP's standard...I use the word, "copyright, plus the symbol, my name and the date, and "all rights reserved."  I always copyright my work with the Library of Congress as well so that I can file suit, if necessary, for copyright infringement.

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         Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         That is how I did it also, Genna, until HP added the standard notice. I think I will go back to my original way.  I do not like the placement of the standard notice anyway.

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   5. STAFF

      pauldeedsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The date in a copyright notice is supposed to be the year of first publication.  Here's the U.S. Guide to copyrights.  What you are supposed to do if you make significant updates to the content after publication is a little murky, but here is one interpretation.  If the content hasn't been updated, then including the current year (e.g. 2010-2014) probably is not the right thing to do.

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         Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you, Paul, this really helps. Now I know what to do. I appreciate this.

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   Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years ago

   Hmmmm .... That is true, that Google does not have access to our account page. I think I will just leave the HP notice as it is.

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3. 42

   Writer Foxposted 10 years ago

   I've already started updating mine.  This is the notice I use:
   Copyright © 2011 - 2014 Writer Fox™. All Rights Reserved.
   
   The notice should begin with the date the content was created and end with the new year.

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      Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That is what I will do now also, Writer Fox. I am glad to see so many agree on the same thing. I will use my own notice and just add the dash and the new year.

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         Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I've also started putting my copyright notice inside a graphic so it doesn't get the 'Style Tip' notice:
         
         

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            Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Good idea !

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               Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               (On the Hub, it's in the same size font as the rest of the Hub so you can't even tell that it's a graphic!)

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