Copyright and Trademark Symbols
Copy ©, ®, ™, ℠ and ℗ with one click and see exactly when each one should be used. Every symbol lists its Unicode, HTML, Alt, Mac and Word codes, and the built-in makers write a correct copyright notice or format your brand name with the right mark.
Last updated: October 24, 2026
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How to use the Copyright and Trademark Symbols
Copy a mark: click ©, ®, ™, ℠ or ℗ at the top, or any symbol in the grid.Check the meaning: the details panel explains what the selected mark is used for, plus all its codes.Write a notice: enter the owner and years in the Copyright notice maker and copy the text or HTML.Format a brand: switch to the Trademark formatter, type your brand and choose ™, ® or ℠.Learn the shortcut: open “How to type” for Windows, Word, Mac, Google Docs and phone steps.Which mark should I use?
Symbol Name Protects / signals Registration needed? Windows Alt Mac HTML
© Copyright Creative works: writing, photos, art, music, code No Alt+0169 Option+G ©℗ Sound recording copyright A specific audio recording No – – ℗™ Trade mark A brand claimed for goods No Alt+0153 Option+2 ™℠ Service mark A brand claimed for services No – – ℠® Registered trademark A brand registered with a trademark office Yes Alt+0174 Option+R ®
Copyright vs. trademark in plain words
Copyright protects original creative expression: an article, a photo, a song, a drawing, a piece of software. It exists automatically as soon as the work is created and fixed, and in the US it generally lasts for the author’s life plus 70 years. The © notice simply announces who owns it and since when.
Trademarks protect the names, logos and slogans that tell customers who makes a product or provides a service. Rights come from using the mark in business, and registration adds stronger, nationwide protection. That is why ™ and ℠ are free for anyone to use as a claim, while ® is reserved for registered marks. A single product often carries both: the brand name is a trademark, while the packaging text and artwork are protected by copyright.
Tips for using these symbols correctly
Follow the US notice format: symbol (or “Copyright”/“Copr.”), year of first publication, owner: “© 2026 Maple Leaf Studio LLC”. A range such as 2019–2026 is common for websites that are updated over time.Use the right character. Ⓒ, ⓒ and (c) look similar but are not the copyright sign; search engines, screen readers and fonts treat © (U+00A9) differently from circled letters.Mark the first mention. Most style guides add ™ or ® at the first or most prominent use of a brand in a document rather than every time.Stop Word from changing (c). If you need the letters “(c)” in a list, press Ctrl+Z right after Word auto-corrects them, or turn the entry off in AutoCorrect options.Keep marks out of URLs and file names. Use plain names such as “brand-guide.pdf”; symbols in file names and web addresses get encoded or rejected.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type the copyright symbol ©? On Windows hold Alt and type 0169 on the numeric keypad, or type (c) in Microsoft Word and it auto-corrects to © (Ctrl+Alt+C also works in Word). On a Mac press Option+G. In HTML write ©. On a phone, use your keyboard’s symbols page or copy © from this page.
What is the difference between ™ and ®? ™ (trade mark) can be used by anyone claiming rights in a brand, logo or slogan, whether or not it is registered. ® (registered) may only be used once the mark is registered with a national trademark office, such as the USPTO in the United States, and only for the goods or services covered. Using ® on an unregistered mark can be unlawful.
When should I use the service mark symbol ℠? Use ℠ for an unregistered mark that identifies services rather than goods, such as a consulting, cleaning or restaurant brand. It works like ™ but for services. After the mark is registered, switch to ®.
What does the ℗ symbol mean? ℗ is the sound recording copyright symbol (P for phonogram). It appears on albums and audio releases to claim copyright in the recording itself, for example ℗ 2026 Example Records. The © symbol on the same release usually covers the artwork, text and composition.
Do I need a © symbol to protect my work? In the US, works are protected by copyright as soon as they are fixed in a tangible form, and a notice has been optional for works published since March 1, 1989. A notice is still useful: it shows who owns the work and, under US law, prevents an infringer from claiming innocent infringement. A US notice has three parts: ©, the word Copyright or Copr.; the year of first publication; and the owner’s name.
What are the Alt codes for ©, ® and ™? With Num Lock on, hold Alt and type on the numeric keypad: Alt+0169 for ©, Alt+0174 for ® and Alt+0153 for ™. The service mark ℠ and sound recording ℗ have no Alt code; in Word type 2120 or 2117 and press Alt+X, or copy them from this page.
Why does my ® look too big next to the brand name? Many fonts draw ® at full letter height, while ™ is already small and raised. Put ® in superscript (in HTML, Brand<sup>®</sup>) and reduce its size slightly. The trademark formatter on this page can add the superscript for you.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy? Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected]
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