Copyright and trademark symbols
Three small circles do most of the legal signalling on the internet: © for copyright, ™ for a trademark claim, ® for a registered trademark. They look interchangeable and are not — each asserts a different status, and one of them (®) is only lawful to use when a registration actually exists. This page copies all five marks in the family, explains exactly what each claims, and gives the keyboard routes for each one.
Copy the marks
© vs ™ vs ®: what each mark actually claims
| Mark | Name | What it claims | Who may use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| © | copyright symbol | The work is protected by copyright — text, images, music, code, design | The rights holder; protection is automatic on creation in most countries, the notice is a public claim |
| ™ | trademark symbol | The name/logo is claimed as a trademark for goods | Anyone genuinely using the mark in trade — no registration required |
| ® | registered trademark symbol | The mark is officially registered with a trademark office | ONLY the registration owner, and only for the registered goods/services in that jurisdiction |
| ℠ | Service mark | Same claim as ™, but for services rather than goods | Service businesses using the mark in trade |
| ℗ | Sound recording copyright | The P-in-a-circle claims copyright in a sound recording (phonogram) specifically | The recording’s rights holder, on albums and releases |
The one rule to respect: ® is not a decoration. Using the registered trademark symbol for an unregistered mark is improper and, in many jurisdictions, unlawful — it can also undermine a later application. Until a registration certificate exists, ™ (goods) or ℠ (services) makes the same visual claim honestly. This page explains symbols, not law: for a filing or a dispute, a trademark attorney in your jurisdiction is the right stop.
Ready-made notices to copy
How to type each mark
| Mark | Windows | Mac | Word / HTML |
|---|---|---|---|
| © | Alt + 0169 | Option + G | 00A9 Alt+X · © |
| ™ (the tm symbol) | Alt + 0153 | Option + 2 | 2122 Alt+X · ™ |
| ® | Alt + 0174 | Option + R | 00AE Alt+X · ® |
| ℠ | Word: 2120 Alt+X | Character Viewer | ℠ |
| ℗ | Word: 2117 Alt+X | Character Viewer | ℗ |
Editors often help: Word and Google Docs autocorrect (C) into © and (R) into ® as you type — which is convenient for the tm character symbol too when (TM) is typed in Docs. On phones, long-press the © key area or copy from this page.
Explore more
Every mark’s name and code is listed in the symbol names and meanings guide, and the punctuation family these sit beside lives on the punctuation symbols hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register copyright to use ©?
In most countries, no: copyright arises automatically when the work is created. The © notice is still useful — it names the owner and year and removes any “I didn’t know” defence.
Can I put ™ on my logo today?
If you are genuinely using (or about to use) the name/logo in trade, ™ simply announces your claim — no filing needed. It grants no registration rights by itself.
When can I switch ™ to ®?
Only after the trademark office grants the registration, and only for the goods/services and territory it covers. Until then, keep ™.
What is the correct copyright notice format?
© + year of publication + owner name: “© 2026 CoolSymbol”. “All rights reserved” is optional tradition — widely kept, legally unnecessary in most places.
What does ℗ mean on albums?
Copyright in the sound recording itself (the phonogram) — distinct from © for the underlying songs/compositions, which is why album credits often carry both.