© After a Person’s Name

Sovereign citizens frequently misuse the copyright symbol (©) after their name based on a misunderstanding of copyright law and its purpose. Here’s how:

• Misinterpreting Copyright Law: Copyright protects creative works like writings, music, or art [1]. Sovereign citizens believe placing a © after their name claims copyright over their legal identity, supposedly making them immune to legal proceedings [2]. This concept has no basis in copyright law.
• False Protection from Legal Action: They mistakenly think the copyright symbol shields them from lawsuits, arrests, or any legal action the government might take [2]. Copyright law doesn’t grant such immunity.
• Attempt to Confuse Legal System: Sovereign citizens might use the © symbol as a tactic to introduce confusion during legal interactions. They hope it creates a smokescreen and disrupts legitimate legal processes [3]. Courts see through this tactic and focus on the legal merits of the case.

Important to Remember:

• Copyright protects creative expression, not a person’s legal identity.
• Using the © symbol after a name offers no legal protection from lawsuits, debt collection, or law enforcement.
• Courts won’t recognize the misuse of copyright symbols as a valid legal defense.

Citations:

• [1] U.S. Copyright Office (.gov): Copyright Basics chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ01.pdf 
• [2] Anti-Defamation League: The Sovereign Citizen Movement https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/sovereign-citizen-movement-united-states 
• [3] Southern Poverty Law Center: Sovereign Citizens: https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/sovereign-citizens-movement