While it is no longer mandatory to mark a work with a copyright notice simply to preserve copyright rights, such notice is necessary to prevent an infringer from asserting an “innocent infringer” defense, thereby avoiding any damages prior to receiving actual notice of the copyright. A standard copyright notice follows the format
© [year of publication] [owner] (i.e. © 2009 RatnerPrestia)
©RatnerPrestia 2010, all rights reserved. Copying for individual use authorized, with acknowledgement of source.