<p>I need to include a copyright statement at the top of every Python source file I produce:</p>

<pre><code>#   Copyright: © 2008 etc.
</code></pre>

<p>However, when I then run such a file I get this message:</p>

<p>SyntaxError: Non-ASCII character '\xa9' in file MyFile.py on line 3, but no encoding declared; see <a href="http://www.python.org/peps/pep-0263.html" rel="noreferrer">http://www.python.org/peps/pep-0263.html</a> for details.</p>

<p>Apparently Python isn't happy about the copyright symbol because it assumes the source file is all in ASCII. Either I need to make my first line be:</p>

<pre><code># -*- coding: iso-8859-1 -*-
</code></pre>

<p>to tell Python I'm using Latin encoding, or I can change the copyright statement to: </p>

<pre><code>#   Copyright: \xa9 2008 etc.
</code></pre>

<p>which just possibly doesn't have the same legal standing.</p>

<p>Is there a more elegant solution?</p>

The copyright symbol in ASCII is spelled
```
(c)
```
or "
```
Copyright
```
".
See circular 61,
Copyright Registration for Computer Programs
.
While it's true that the legal formalism (see Circular 1,
Copyright Basics
) is
The symbol © (the letter C in a
  circle), or the word “Copyright,” or
  the abbreviation “Copr.”; and...
And it's also true that
To guarantee protection for a
  copyrighted work in all UCC member
  countries, the notice must consist of
  the symbol © (the word “Copyright” or
  the abbreviation is not acceptable)
You can dig through circular
3
and
38a
.
This has, however, already been tested in court.  It isn't an interesting issue.  If you do a search for "(c) acceptable for c-in-a-circle", you'll find that lawyers all agree that (c) is an acceptable substitute.  See Perle and Williams.  See Scott on Information Technology Law.