Legal notice

Under U.S. copyright law, all original art is automatically copyrighted the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible medium. A formal notice or symbol is no longer legally required to establish protection.
Copyright Law
  • Automatic Protection: Artists are not required to register their work or include a copyright symbol to retain ownership.
  • Exclusive Rights: The creator holds the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, display publicly, and create derivative works from their art.
  • Copyright Notice: Including a notice (e.g., © [Year] [Name]) is optional. However, it prevents infringers from claiming "innocent infringement" in legal disputes.
Licensing & Usage
  • Usage Permissions: Just because artwork is publicly displayed or easily found online does not mean it is free to use or in the public domain. 
  • Commercial vs. Personal: Using art for commercial purposes (promotions, merchandise, branding) requires a licensing fee and explicit written permission from the artist. 
  • Public Domain: Works typically enter the public domain only after the copyright has expired (generally 70 years after the creator's death).