Copyright ©, Trademark ™ & Registered ® Symbols — Copy & Paste
The copyright ©, trademark ™, and registered ® symbols are three of the most important legal symbols in the world. They protect intellectual property — your creative work, your brand name, and your registered marks. This guide explains what each symbol means, when to use it, and gives you instant copy-paste access plus keyboard shortcuts for every device.
Quick Copy: Intellectual Property Symbols
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Copyright Symbol (©) — What It Means
The copyright symbol © (U+00A9) indicates that a creative work is protected by copyright law. This includes books, music, artwork, software, websites, photographs, and any other original creative expression. In most countries, copyright is automatic — you own the copyright the moment you create something original. However, adding the © symbol strengthens your claim and makes it clear the work is protected.
The standard copyright notice format is: © Year Copyright Holder. For example: "© 2026 iLoveSymbols" or "© 2026 John Smith. All rights reserved."
Trademark Symbol (™) — What It Means
The trademark symbol ™ (U+2122) indicates that a word, phrase, logo, or design is being used as a trademark — a brand identifier. You can use the ™ symbol even if you have not registered the trademark with any government office. It puts people on notice that you consider the name or logo to be your brand.
Use ™ for: brand names, product names, slogans, logos, and any identifier that distinguishes your goods or services from competitors.
Registered Trademark Symbol (®) — What It Means
The registered trademark symbol ® (U+00AE) is used only after a trademark has been officially registered with a government trademark office (such as the USPTO in the United States). Using ® without an actual registration is illegal in many jurisdictions.
Registration provides stronger legal protection than an unregistered ™ mark, including the right to sue for trademark infringement and the presumption of nationwide ownership.
© vs ™ vs ® — Quick Comparison
© Copyright — Protects creative works (writing, art, music, code). Automatic upon creation. No registration needed to use the symbol.
™ Trademark — Protects brand identifiers (names, logos, slogans). Can be used without registration. Establishes common-law rights.
® Registered Trademark — Same as ™ but with official government registration. Provides maximum legal protection. Cannot be used without a valid registration.
℠ Service Mark — Identical to ™ but specifically for services (rather than goods). Used by service-based businesses.
℗ Phonogram — Protects sound recordings specifically. Used in the music industry.
How to Type These Symbols
Windows — Copyright ©: Hold Alt and type 0169 on the numeric keypad.
Windows — Trademark ™: Hold Alt and type 0153 on the numeric keypad.
Windows — Registered ®: Hold Alt and type 0174 on the numeric keypad.
Mac — Copyright ©: Press Option+G.
Mac — Trademark ™: Press Option+2.
Mac — Registered ®: Press Option+R.
iPhone/Android: Long-press the C key for ©, the R key for ®, or use the emoji keyboard to find ™.
HTML codes: Use © for ©, ™ for ™, and ® for ®.
When to Use Each Symbol
Use © when: You are publishing original creative content — blog posts, photos, videos, software, music, designs, or any expressive work.
Use ™ when: You are using a brand name, product name, or logo that you want to protect as a trademark, whether or not it is registered.
Use ® when: Your trademark has been officially registered with a government office. Do not use ® without a valid registration.
Use ℠ when: You want to protect a service brand name (consulting, software-as-a-service, etc.) without formal registration.
Complete Legal Symbols Collection
For more symbols you can use in your content, check out our complete symbol collection or explore our guides on check mark symbols and bullet point symbols.