Tekijänoikeusmerkintä

Tekijänoikeusmerkintä, often referred to as a copyright notice, is a symbol or statement used to indicate that a work is protected by copyright. The purpose of a tekijänoikeusmerkintä is to inform the public about the existence of copyright protection and to potentially deter unauthorized use of the work.

In its most common form, a tekijänoikeusmerkintä consists of the symbol ©, followed by the year of first publication and the name of the copyright owner. For example, © 2023 Tekijä Oy. While this specific format is widely recognized, the exact requirements for a tekijänoikeusmerkintä can vary by jurisdiction.

Historically, a formal copyright notice was often a legal requirement for copyright protection to apply. However, under international treaties such as the Berne Convention, copyright protection is generally automatic upon the creation of an original work. Consequently, a tekijänoikeusmerkintä is no longer strictly necessary in many countries to establish copyright.

Despite this, using a tekijänoikeusmerkintä is still considered good practice. It clearly communicates the owner's intent to reserve copyright and can serve as a deterrent against infringement. It can also help to prevent innocent infringement by informing potential users of the work's protected status and the identity of the rights holder. In some jurisdictions, providing a notice may affect the availability of certain legal remedies, such as statutory damages, in the event of infringement.