Website Copyright Policy
Asserts your ownership of the content on your site and sets out how you handle infringement complaints.
The shortest document on the site and the one most often paired with terms of use. It states that the content is yours, sets the limits of what visitors may do with it, and gives a process for someone to report infringing material.
That process matters most if your site hosts anything users upload. Having a stated complaints route is what turns 'we host user content' from an open-ended risk into a managed one.
Use it when
- Publishing original writing, photography, video or design
- Running a site where users can upload or post content
- Pairing with website terms of use for a complete set
- You have had content scraped and want a stated position
Use something else when
- You need US DMCA safe harbour, which has its own registration and agent requirements this document does not satisfy
What is in the document
Every section of the website copyright policy, as it appears in the file you download.
Questions
Do I need a copyright policy if I already have terms of use?
Not strictly, but they do different jobs. Terms govern use of the service; the copyright policy asserts ownership and gives a complaints process. Sites hosting user content benefit most from having both.
Does copyright apply automatically in Canada?
Yes. Copyright exists as soon as an original work is fixed in a material form. Registration is optional and provides evidentiary benefits, but you do not need it to own or assert copyright.
What is Canada's equivalent of DMCA takedowns?
Canada uses a notice-and-notice regime rather than notice-and-takedown. A rights holder sends notice to the intermediary, who must forward it to the subscriber. There is no obligation to remove content on notice alone.