Not changing the copyright date on your website’s footer won’t get you in trouble with the law. However, it gives an impression that your site is not up-to-date. Placing a copyright notice is still advisable to deter potential plagiarists and stake your claim.

I also understand that, depending on how your sites are coded, it could be tedious work just to update the year. I know, I still see sites showing “Copyright © 2007″ on the footer. You’re planning on keeping your site for a couple more years, right? Why not just do yourself a favor and automate it. That’s one less thing for you to worry about.

Since you’re gonna have to chage it to show 2010, why not insert a code snippet to do it for you every year. As long as your server’s internal clock is correct, it will be showing the correct year.

PHP:
<?php echo date(“Y”); ?>

JAVASCRIPT:
<script type=”text/javascript”>
var d = new Date()
document.write(d.getFullYear())
</script>

ASP.NET:
< %Response.Write(System.DateTime.Now.Year.ToString());%>

ASP:
< %response.write(”Current Year: “&Year(Date))%>