# Update the copyright info

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/update-the-copyright-info/230157>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [February 20, 2004, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/update-the-copyright-info/230157 "2004-02-20T04:30:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/update-the-copyright-info/230157/1 "2004-02-20T04:30:53Z")

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> [@Chicago Reader](#):
>
> Contents of the Straight Dope Message Board and the Straight Dope Web site are copyright 1984-2003 by the Chicago Reader, Inc.

Might want to update that to include this year’s posts.

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**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/update-the-copyright-info/230157/2 "2004-02-20T05:11:49Z")

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Might as well include next year’s posts, too.

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/update-the-copyright-info/230157/3 "2004-02-22T05:06:23Z")

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As of the 1996 Copyright Code, it’s no longer necessary to place a symbol or the year on anything to ensure that it is copyrighted. Everything is now automatically copyright from the moment it is in print.

I admit I still like to see the date to know when something was published and so, as a courtesy to others, I highly recommend putting the date there, but it doesn’t change anything not to.