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Copyright Disclaimer

Two different things are called a "copyright disclaimer": a notice claiming your own work, and a fair use statement about someone else's. This generator writes both. Keep only the one you need.

Free template, not legal advice. Replace every [bracketed] field, make sure it matches what you actually do, and get a lawyer's review for anything high-stakes. How clauses are sourced.

1 Your details
2 Which disclaimers?
+ Anything else

Only this description, your business name and chosen laws are sent to the AI. Check the draft carefully; it is a starting point, not legal advice.

Answers auto-save in this browser only.

Disclaimer

[Bracketed] fields are placeholders · Template, not legal advice

Copyright notice

© [Year] [Business name]. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise stated, the text, images, video, audio, code and design of [Website or app name] are owned by [Business name] or used under licence. You may share links and short quotations with attribution, but you may not copy, republish, sell or distribute our content without our prior written permission. To request permission, email [contact email].

Fair use notice

[Website or app name] may contain copyrighted material that its owner has not specifically authorised us to use. We use this material for [commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research], and we believe this is a fair use under Section 107 of the US Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 107). All rights to that material remain with its owners. If you own material shown here and believe its use is not fair use, contact [contact email] and we will review it promptly.

External links

The website may link to external websites that we do not own or control. We do not guarantee the accuracy or availability of those sites, and a link does not imply endorsement. Please read the terms and privacy policies of any site you visit.

Contact

Questions about this disclaimer can be sent to [contact email]. Last updated: [Effective date].

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Copyright notice vs fair use statement

A copyright notice ("© 2026 Your Name. All rights reserved.") tells people who owns the work. In the US, copyright exists from the moment a work is fixed, and a notice has been optional for works published since March 1, 1989. It is still useful: under 17 U.S.C. § 401(d), a proper notice stops an infringer from claiming they innocently infringed to reduce damages.

A fair use statement is about material owned by someone else. It says you believe your use is fair under Section 107 of the Copyright Act, which weighs four factors: the purpose and character of the use (including whether it is commercial or transformative), the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount used, and the effect on the market for the original.

A disclaimer does not make a use fair

Fair use is decided by those four factors, not by a statement. The US Copyright Office says plainly that acknowledging the source of copyrighted material does not substitute for getting permission. A fair use notice shows good faith and tells the owner how to reach you, but it will not stop a takedown or a lawsuit if the use is not actually fair.

On YouTube, a fair use statement in the description does not prevent Content ID matches or copyright strikes. YouTube decides on claims under its own process, and a disputed claim is ultimately a legal question.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good text for a copyright disclaimer?

For your own work: "© [Year] [Name]. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced without written permission." For someone else's material: "This video contains copyrighted material used for commentary and criticism. We believe this constitutes fair use under Section 107 of the US Copyright Act. All rights belong to their respective owners." Adjust the purpose to what you actually do.

What is the copyright disclaimer under Section 107?

It is a statement saying you believe your use of copyrighted material is fair use under 17 U.S.C. § 107, which allows limited use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. The statement itself has no legal force; the four fair use factors decide.

Do I need a copyright notice on my website?

It is not required in the US for works published after March 1, 1989, but it is cheap protection: it tells visitors who owns the content and blocks an "innocent infringement" defence (17 U.S.C. § 401(d)).

Is it really free? Do I need an account?

Yes, and no. Every generator is free with no sign-up, watermark or paywall. Your answers stay in your browser; they are never sent to our server unless you use the optional AI clause writer or policy checker.

Is a generated policy legal advice?

No. PolicyForge produces a starting template from your answers. It cannot know every detail of your business or every law that applies to you. Read the whole document, replace every [bracketed] placeholder, make sure it describes what you actually do, and have a lawyer review it if you handle sensitive data, sell to children, or operate at scale.

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