Sometimes, writing something great feels like sharing a piece of your soul. You’ve worked hard, stayed up late, and poured everything into your blog post, video, photo, or maybe a catchy meme. And the last thing you want is someone grabbing it without asking, pretending it’s theirs, or using it in ways that just feel…off.
You want to share your work, yes. You want to express yourself, connect with people. But you also want to protect what’s yours. That’s where copyright disclaimers come in. They’re like friendly but firm signs that say, “Here’s how you can use this—and here’s how you can’t.” Simple, clear, respectful.
Now, let’s look at different copyright disclaimer samples you can actually use. They come in different styles and lengths, so you can pick what feels right for your tone, your platform, and your needs.
Copyright Disclaimer Samples
Here are 15 examples you can use right away. Pick one that fits what you need, change it to match your situation, and add it to your site.
1. Basic Website Copyright
“© [Year] [Your Name/Company]. All rights reserved. The content on this website, including text, images, graphics, and other material, is protected by copyright law. No part of this website may be copied, reproduced, or used in any form without prior written permission.”
This sample covers all the basics. It states who owns the content, when the copyright began, and what people need to do if they want to use your stuff. It works great for small business websites, personal blogs, or any site where you want full control over your content.
2. Blog Post Specific
“© [Year] [Your Name/Blog Name]. This post and its contents (text, images, and other media) are the property of [Your Name/Blog Name]. You may share a link to this post, but the content itself may not be copied, reproduced, or distributed without permission from the author.”
This option focuses just on blog posts. The nice thing about this one is that it allows sharing links (which helps you get more readers) while still protecting the actual content. Perfect for bloggers who want their work to spread but still keep control of it.
3. Educational Resource Protection
“© [Year] [Your Name/Organization]. These educational materials are provided for personal learning purposes only. Teachers and students may print single copies for personal use, but redistribution, commercial use, or publishing these materials online without permission is strictly prohibited.”
Teachers and education websites will find this helpful. It lets students and other teachers use the materials for learning while stopping others from taking and selling your hard work. The clear permission for printing single copies makes it user-friendly.
4. Photography Portfolio
“© [Year] [Photographer Name]. All photographs displayed on this website are the exclusive property of [Photographer Name] and are protected under copyright law. Any use, reproduction, or distribution without prior written consent is strictly prohibited. For licensing information, please contact [email address].”
Photographers need strong protection since images are so easy to copy. This sample makes it clear that the photos belong to you while also giving people a way to contact you for legitimate use. The mention of licensing shows you’re open to working with people who ask first.
5. Friendly Creative Commons
“© [Year] [Your Name]. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. This means you can share and adapt this material for non-commercial purposes, as long as you give appropriate credit to [Your Name] with a link back to [Your Website].”
Some creators want their work to be shared widely. This Creative Commons option lets people use and build on your content while still requiring them to give you credit. The non-commercial part makes sure nobody profits from your work without talking to you first.
6. Software or App Disclaimer
“© [Year] [Company/Developer Name]. All rights reserved. This software and its code are protected by copyright law and international treaties. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution may result in civil and criminal penalties.”
App developers and software companies need stronger language. This sample makes it clear that both the software itself and the code behind it are protected. The mention of penalties helps discourage copying.
7. E-Book Protection
“© [Year] [Author Name]. All rights reserved. This e-book is protected by copyright laws. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher or author.”
E-books can be easily copied, so this comprehensive disclaimer covers all the ways someone might try to copy or share your work without permission. The detailed list of prohibited actions helps close potential loopholes.
8. Video Content
“© [Year] [Creator/Channel Name]. All videos and content on this channel are copyright protected. Sharing through the platform’s built-in share functions is encouraged, but downloading, re-uploading, or using portions of these videos without permission is prohibited.”
Video creators can use this to protect their content while still encouraging sharing through official channels like the “Share” button on YouTube. This balances protection with the social nature of video platforms.
9. Music or Audio
“© [Year] [Artist/Producer Name]. All rights reserved. This music/audio content is the property of [Artist/Producer Name]. Streaming through official platforms is permitted, but downloading, remixing, or using this music without a license is prohibited. For licensing inquiries, contact [email address].”
Musicians and podcasters need to protect their audio while allowing normal listening. This sample lets fans enjoy the content through official channels while preventing unauthorized downloads or remixes.
10. Short and Simple
“© [Year] [Your Name/Company]. All rights reserved. Please ask before using or sharing any content from this site.”
Sometimes simple works best. This ultra-short disclaimer gets the point across without legal jargon. It’s friendly but firm, perfect for personal websites or blogs with a casual tone.
11. Custom-Use Permission
“© [Year] [Your Name/Company]. All rights reserved. You may quote short passages (less than 100 words) from articles on this site with proper attribution including the author’s name and a link to the original content. For any other use, please contact [email address].”
This balanced approach allows limited use without permission (with proper credit) while requiring contact for anything more substantial. It’s great for blogs and information sites that want to encourage discussion of their content.
12. Membership Site Content
“© [Year] [Site Name]. All materials in the members’ area are proprietary and protected by copyright. These resources are for paying members only and may not be shared, distributed, or resold. Violation may result in immediate termination of membership and possible legal action.”
Membership sites need to protect their premium content. This sample makes it clear that sharing login information or content from behind the paywall isn’t allowed. The consequences mentioned help reinforce the seriousness of the rules.
13. Digital Product Store
“© [Year] [Store Name]. The digital products sold on this site (including but not limited to templates, graphics, fonts, and e-books) are licensed, not sold outright. Each product comes with its own license terms specifying allowed uses. Generally, products are for personal or single business use unless otherwise stated. Reselling or redistributing these digital goods is prohibited.”
Digital product sellers need to clarify that customers are buying a license to use the product, not unlimited rights to do whatever they want with it. This disclaimer explains that concept while pointing to individual product licenses for specifics.
14. Collaborative Project
“© [Year] [Project Name] Contributors. This collaborative work is protected by copyright. Individual contributors retain rights to their specific contributions while granting [Project Name] a license to display, distribute, and maintain the collective work. For permission to use any part of this project, please contact [email address].”
For wikis, open-source projects, or any site with multiple contributors, this sample clarifies that both individual pieces and the whole project are protected. It acknowledges contributor rights while establishing project-wide rules.
15. International Protection
“© [Year] [Your Name/Company]. All rights reserved worldwide. This content is protected by copyright laws in the United States and through international treaties and conventions. Unauthorized use is prohibited and may violate laws in multiple jurisdictions.”
If you have an international audience (and most websites do), this sample emphasizes that your copyright protection extends globally. This can be added to any of the other samples for extra clarity about worldwide protection.
Wrapping Up
Adding a copyright disclaimer to your website or intellectual property isn’t just a legal step—it’s a way to set clear boundaries. These 15 samples give you a starting point, but you should always adjust them to fit your specific needs.
The best disclaimer is one that matches your content type and how you want people to use your work. Some creators want tight control, while others are happy with just getting credit. What matters is that you’ve thought about it and made your wishes clear.
So take a few minutes today to add that copyright notice to your site. It’s a small task that can save you big headaches down the road. Your future self will thank you!