The copyright symbol..

Copyright symbol can be use by anyone, but only after that person/company send an application to the copyright committee or government for the copyright. So, only government can grant that symbol to those deem rightful. Different copyright symbol like the 'C' and 'TM' applies to different type of copyright, which usually depend on the type of property/thing that you applied the copyright for. Different country may issues copyright differently. That is why there are cases where product with copyright from US didn't get their copyright in other country. Usually it is enough to just send the application of copyright to only one country, but in cases where global use of the product/thing is done, it is better to play the card safely by applying to other country's too. Hope this little info that i still remember from my Bioethics class helps.