Nordisk Copyright Bureau
Information on the cover/label
- copyright symbol and (P) symbol
On music recordings you will often see both the © symbol and the (P) symbol (an encircled P). Here is an explanation:
(C) symbol
This is an internationally accepted symbol that shows who owns the copyright in the recorded music. The © symbol should be followed by the name of the author + the year the music was first published. This indication may be of a practical nature, however, legally it is of no importance in NCB's territory of administration (in some other countries that have not ratified the international Berne Convention of copyright, the © indication may constitute a formal requirement by law). However, in the Nordic and Baltic countries copyright is automatically assumed whether you use the symbol or not.
(P) symbol
This symbol identifies the individual or company (usually a record company) that claims the copyright ownership of the recording (phonographic rights). The (P) symbol should be followed by the year of first publication and the name of the record company ("P" is short for "Published"). If the recording reproduces orginal film soundtracks the year indicated after the (P) should be the first exhibition of the film. Otherwise the year indicates the year the audio recording (CD, DVD audio, vinyl etc) was first published.
