Copyright, trademark and legal symbols
The copyright symbol ©, the registered trademark ® and the trademark sign ™ show up on websites, books, packaging and logos everywhere. This page has them all, along with the sound recording copyright ℗, the service mark ℠, the copyleft 🄯, circled letters and handy office signs like №, §, ¶, ℅ and ℡.
Tap a symbol to copy it and paste it into a website footer, a document, a product label or a presentation.
What each symbol means
- © Copyright: Shows who owns the rights to a creative work, like a book, photo, song or website.
- ® Registered trademark: Used for a brand name or logo that is officially registered.
- ™ Trademark: Used for a brand name or logo that is claimed but not yet registered.
- ℠ Service mark: Like ™, but for a service instead of a product.
- ℗ Sound recording copyright: Used on music albums and recordings.
- 🄯 Copyleft: Shows a work is free to share and change under an open licence.
How to write a copyright notice
A simple copyright notice has three parts: the © symbol, the year and the owner’s name. For example: “© 2026 Your Name” or “© 2026 Your Company. All rights reserved.” You will often see this line in website footers, at the start of books and on photos and artwork. In many countries your work is protected even without the notice, but adding it reminds people who the owner is.
Using ™ and ® correctly
Use ™ after a brand name when you want to claim it as your trademark. Use ® only when the trademark has been officially registered with a government office. It is usually placed right after the name, often in superscript, like BrandName®. You only need it the first time the name appears on a page, or in the most visible place, such as a logo or a heading.
This page is not legal advice. If you are protecting a brand, it is a good idea to talk to a trademark professional in your country.
Office and document signs
Legal and office writing uses a few more handy signs. The section sign § points to a section of a law or contract, like § 12. The pilcrow ¶ marks a paragraph. The numero sign № means “number”, as in № 5. The care of sign ℅ is used in addresses, and ℡ is a telephone sign. The reference mark ※ is common in Japanese notes and forms.
Keyboard shortcuts
On a Mac, Option + G types ©, Option + R types ® and Option + 2 types ™. On Windows, Alt + 0169 types ©, Alt + 0174 types ® and Alt + 0153 types ™ using the number pad. Many apps also turn (c), (r) and (tm) into the symbols automatically. If none of that works, copying from here is the quickest option.
Copyright symbols in HTML
If you build websites, you can write © as ©, ® as ® and ™ as ™ in HTML. Open any symbol with the i button to see its HTML code and Unicode code point, so you can copy exactly what you need for your website footer or template.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I type the copyright symbol ©?
- Copy © from this page. On a Mac press Option + G, and on Windows press Alt + 0169 on the number pad.
- What is the difference between ™ and ®?
- ™ shows you claim a trademark. ® shows the trademark is officially registered. Only use ® for registered marks.
- Do I need the © symbol to protect my work?
- In most countries your work is protected automatically when you create it. The symbol is a helpful reminder, not a requirement.
- What does ℗ mean?
- ℗ is the sound recording copyright symbol, used on albums and audio recordings.
- How do I write © in HTML?
- Use © in your HTML code, or paste the © character directly.