Copyright Symbol © Copy and Paste — How to Type & Use It

April 28, 2026

Copy the Copyright Symbol Here

The copyright symbol © is one of the most recognized legal symbols in the world. Copy it and its related symbols right here:

© — Copyright sign (U+00A9)
℗ — Sound recording copyright / phonogram (U+2117)
Ⓒ — Circled capital C (U+24B8)
🄯 — Copyleft symbol (U+1F12F)

Highlight the symbol you need, copy it, and paste it anywhere — websites, documents, social media bios, photos, and more.

What Does the Copyright Symbol Mean?

The © symbol indicates that a creative work is protected by copyright law. It tells the world: "This work is owned by someone, and you need permission to reproduce, distribute, or adapt it."

Copyright protection is automatic in most countries. The moment you create an original work — writing, music, art, photography, software — it is copyrighted. You do not need to register it or use the symbol for protection to apply. However, using © makes your ownership explicit and strengthens your legal position if someone copies your work.

The standard copyright notice format is:

What Can Be Copyrighted?

Written content — books, articles, blog posts, poems
Visual art — paintings, illustrations, photographs, graphics
Music — compositions, lyrics, recordings
Software — source code, applications, games
Film and video — movies, animations, YouTube videos
Architecture — building designs and plans

Copyright does not protect ideas, facts, names, titles, slogans, or functional designs. Those may be protected by trademarks or patents instead.

How to Type © on Windows

Alt + 0169: Hold Alt, type 0169 on the numeric keypad (Num Lock must be on), release Alt. The © symbol appears.
Character Map: Press Windows + R, type "charmap", press Enter. Search for "copyright" and copy it.
Windows Emoji Panel: Press Windows + period (.) to open the emoji picker, then search "copyright."
Microsoft Word: Type (c) followed by a space — AutoCorrect converts it to © automatically.

How to Type © on Mac

Option + G: Hold Option and press G. The © symbol appears instantly. This works in every Mac application.
Character Viewer: Press Control + Command + Space, search "copyright," and double-click to insert.

How to Type © on iPhone

The iOS keyboard does not have a © key. Two easy methods:

Text Replacement: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Tap +, paste © as the phrase, and type "(c)" as the shortcut. Now typing (c) autocorrects to ©.
Copy from this page: Long-press © above, tap Copy, then paste wherever you need it.

How to Type © on Android

Gboard: Tap ?123, then =<, and look for © in the symbols panel.
Samsung keyboard: Tap !#1, then swipe to the second symbols page.
Any keyboard: Copy © from this page — always the fastest option.

HTML and CSS for the Copyright Symbol

For web development:

HTML entity: © renders as ©
HTML decimal: © renders as ©
HTML hex: © renders as ©
Unicode: U+00A9
CSS: content: "\00A9" for pseudo-elements

© vs ™ vs ® — What is the Difference?

These three symbols are frequently confused. Here is the breakdown:

© (Copyright): Protects original creative works — writing, art, music, photos, software, video. Automatic upon creation.
™ (Trademark): Claims ownership of a brand name, logo, or tagline. Does not require registration — anyone can use it to signal a claim.
® (Registered Trademark): An officially registered trademark with a government agency (like the USPTO in the United States). Using ® without registration is illegal in many countries.

The Sound Recording Copyright ℗

The ℗ symbol (phonogram copyright, U+2117) is specifically for sound recordings. You will see it on music albums and audio releases. It is distinct from © — the © covers the musical composition (lyrics and melody), while ℗ covers the specific recording itself. Most commercial music uses both symbols.

The © symbol works perfectly on all major platforms — Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube. Common uses:

Quick Reference

All copyright-related symbols in one place:

From website footers to Instagram bios, the copyright symbol is essential for protecting your creative work. Bookmark this page to copy © anytime you need it.