Do you include a copyright notice in your articles? Why or why not?

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   Crystal Tatumposted 11 years ago

   Do you include a copyright notice in your articles? Why or why not?
   
   I never do this, but I see that a lot of folks on here do. Just wondering what the opinions are out there.

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2. 98

   Heather Saysposted 11 years ago

   I always cite my original pics as copyrighted.  I also use the Hub feature to include the copyright notice at the bottoms of my articles.  I never used to do either option-- then many of my hubs were copied all over the internet last year.  It turned me into a bit of a crotchety old man... for lack of a better metaphor.  I since filed claims and had them removed.  I've noticed since putting copyright info on my hubs that I don't see my content copied as much as I used to so maybe it deters people?  Who knows.  I really like the hub option to include the copyright info at the bottom of my hubs.  I've only been doing that recently because it's a new feature.  At the end of the day, people and bots will copy it all anyway, so I can understand why some people don't bother.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I think of it as a professional signature, among other things: like an artist who signs a painting. It's just appropriate and professional and might deter some theft. It's not costing anything to put the statement on there, so why not?

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   Crystal Tatumposted 11 years ago

   Thanks Heather Says. I have been away from HubPages for a while and didn't even realize there was a new feature for copyrights. I think I'm going to put that to use from here on out.

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   jaydawg808posted 11 years ago

   In my pieces that I do write, I definitely include a copyright notice.  It's because this is my original piece of work.  But it seems to me, not many people care about copyrights and adhering to what people write as their own works.  I've seen several pages that have copied my wording exactly as it is on my hubs.  Unless you actually seek out these people by searching, there is no way of you to know they're stealing your work.  And it's next to impossible to get them to take it down.  The internet is brutal, I tell you!

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      Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      "The internet is brutal, I tell you!" :-) That it is, my friend. And, people are shameless and unscrupulous, too. A copyright notice can only help to protect us against such idiocy and ignorance and malice.

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   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   I did but I still found several hubs copied in full to other sites...so it did no good.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Most thieves are unscrupulous, duffsmom! Keep putting the copyright statement on there anyway--it will do no harm, and might deter a few potential thieves or innocent idiots who believe that everything on the internet is free for the taking.

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   MPG Narrativesposted 11 years ago

   I like the new copyright notice feature and always use it now. Previously I had my own copyright notice but I find this feature much easier.  I have had my writing stolen but this feature seems to have slowed that down.

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   stricktlydatingposted 11 years ago

   Yes I do mostly include a copyright notice when I publish a Hub now.  This was because I found several of my Hubs copied and published on other sites online earlier this year.  When I am able to tell the website owner that the page is infringing on my copyright it is useful to be able to state my Hub clearly has a copyright notice on the page, and also I do it to ensure it's clear to anyone who is considering copying my text that the page is copyrighted.

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   Don Bobbittposted 11 years ago

   Absolutely! Even though you may not have filed for Copyright protection formally, you should "date and sign" your work to document it as yours and as being protected. The Copyright notice mark is an indication that your work is yours, it is protected, and you intend to formally file for protection, eventually.
   DON

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9. 94

   Stephanie Henkelposted 11 years ago

   Even though it is not technically necessary (all of your work is copyright as soon as you publish it here), I like to include the copyright notice on my hubs. I think that it shows the public that you are serious and possessive about your writing. I have used both my own copyright notice in the last text capsule of my hub and the new copyright feature in edit mode. I'm not sure which is more effective, or if it makes any difference, but I definitely want one or the other on all of my writing.

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10. 40

    Writer Foxposted 11 years ago

    Unfortunately, displaying a copyright notice will only protect you from having your work used by 'honest' people.  For example, some people mistakenly think that HubPages is like EzineArticles, where anyone is allowed to repost something they find on the website.
    
    I always use a copyright notice on my Hubs and have found that it helps when I file a DMCA notice against plagiarists. One of the problems with HubPages is that the date of your Hub changes with each edit.  This looks like the date you first published the Hub, and I have problems from that when filing against plagiarists. A properly written copyright notice on a Hub can help overcome that assumption. 
    
    When HubPages introduced the new Style Tips, it also invented the automatic copyright notice that Hubbers can use and began "actively discouraging Text Capsule copyright notices." However, you can still create your own copyright notice, and that is what I do for these reasons:
    
    1.  The HP automatic copyright for Hubs does not reflect the actual year content was first published because HP has no idea when the content was first published, nor under what name copyright is held. The HP notice chooses the wrong name and date for my work. Your copyright notice should reflect the date you created the work, which is not necessarily the date you uploaded it to HubPages.
    
    2. When HP started this new copyright option, it was presented with: "From a design standpoint, the numerous styles of copyright notices contribute to an inconsistent experience for HubPages visitors."  And yet this is not the reality.  The notice created for authors is vastly different from the one at the bottom of each page for the HubPages Inc. copyright statement. Notice that the suggested one for authors leaves out the "All Rights Reserved", which my counsel says is a critical omission.
    
    3. Most visitors can't even find the suggested copyright notice in its cluttered location on the Hub and in the tiny grey font.
    
    Since using your personal copyright notice in a Hub will generate a Style Tip warning, on newer Hubs I display my copyright notice in an image.
    
    HubPages Inc. will do nothing if your work is plagiarized.  It fails to send a DMCA notice even when the entire site has been duplicated.  Since the onus to protect your work is on each individual author, I strongly recommend the use of a personal copyright notice.
    
    I put my notice at the bottom of each Hub.

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       Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I totally agree, Writer Fox! Couldn't have said it better! Thanks for enumerating things so clearly. I, too, put my notice at the bottom of each article, though I take a "hit" with the style tips, which I think is totally unfair and unethical of HP.

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11. 83

    bravewarriorposted 11 years ago

    I show it on everything I write.  According to the US Copyright Office, a writer's words are automatically copyrighted, whether in print or online.  However, they recommend showing the approved copyright verbiage (such as provided by HP) to cover the writer in the event a plagiarism issue ever goes to court.  It protects the writer.  If I were you, I would show it on everything you post and mark it on all you write and store on your computer.

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       Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Excellent advice! I totally agree!

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    Patkayposted 11 years ago

    I do not put that copyright notice on my hubs. I think these thieves will still do it even when there is a copyright notice. That is my view. But after reading some of the replies, it seams it is worthy having one in place.

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       Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       It may deter a few potential thieves, Patkay, so you might as well: nothing to lose!

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    epbooksposted 11 years ago

    I definitely do.  It is super easy to steal content from the web, so I think it's important we use the copyright notice.  I don't formally copyright each post, but I do copyright my books with the copyright office.

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    Learn Things Webposted 11 years ago

    I do now that Hubpages offers that feature. Dishonest people will still steal others work of course. But it may protect your writing from honest people who may not understand copyright law.

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    Express10posted 11 years ago

    I do but that doesn't stop people from being thieves. I have found my hubs copied in their entirety or in part elsewhere on the web. I still think it's a good idea to show that you mean business and make sure you follow up when you find your work has been stolen or used without your permission.

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    chef-de-jourposted 11 years ago

    I didn't use a copyright notice on any of my hubs for months when I first started but since the great plagiarism debate about 4-6 months ago here on HP I decided to add the symbol and write a little note.
    This debate was based on the discovery of two sites set up to scrape the content of HP and publish hundreds of stolen hubs!! Mine included. These two awful sites are no longer operating but no doubt others will turn up and do similar 'illegal' things.
    
    I was outraged and wanted to do something to counteract the feelings of helplessness.
    
    Writing online is a dangerous business. There are no absolute guarantees that your work will not be copied, stolen or plagiarised. All we can do as writers is to keep writing quality content and when nasty things do happen act swiftly and together. Many hubbers are now seasoned campaigners. I salute those who act positively.
    
    I wish you a smooth writing career!!

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       Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks, chef-du-jour! I totally understand your feelings and your response--some of my work was stolen, too. I only wonder how much of it was stolen and published in other languages? Scary thought! Happy writing to you!

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    romasenposted 11 years ago

    Every article is a Piece of creative work, and the creator has a natural right over it, hence you cannot be stopped from clearly Displaying your name and contact info. It is your constitutional right as well as natural right that cannot be challenged

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       Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Well said! HubPages's standard copyright statement is insufficient, according to my attorney, so I use my own even though I get dinged for it by HubPages (totally unfairly in my opinion!).

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    peachpurpleposted 11 years ago

    i agree. I have some of my hubs with small notice that it it copyright by me. I don't use the feature at HP. Seems that need to pay money, is it?

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    Laura Schneiderposted 11 years ago

    I work hard on my articles for HubPages, and don't want to see them stolen. If someone chooses to steal my work, I want to be very sure they know that they are stealing something from me, personally. So, I use a custom copyright statement (for which HubPages dings me) recommended to me by my lawyer to protect my work and myself in cases where I have used trademarks, for example, in my article or photos that I did not take myself. (Though, I rarely use photos I didn't take myself, however. Mostly in my earliest articles, and I'm going back and replacing them with my own photos when possible.)
    
    The statement that I always use is, "All text, photos, videos, and graphics in this document are Copyright © 2013 Laura D. Schneider unless indicated otherwise or unless in the public domain. All rights reserved. All trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners." I place this at the bottom of all of my articles. Using the word "Copyright" (spelled out) is extraneous, but my lawyer felt that it supplemented the (c) symbol for those in perhaps other countries who were not familiar with it. The word is also translated, should an auto-translation program be used to convert my article into a different language, so it makes the point in the person's native language in that case. Note that the year of the copyright obviously changes depending on what year it is. :-) That's the only variable. For photos, I include the statement, "Copyright © 2013 Laura D. Schneider. All rights reserved." This statement goes in the "source" box, not the comments/caption box.

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