Most people state th

Answer 1

Most people state their actual names, sure, because they want to be identified as the author, but one does not have to do this. One could in theory register using a pseudonym or a pen name, and use that in the notice. However, the details in the registration form would include identification items that must actually identify the actual person/author. As far as I am aware, one may use a company name (if the company owns the rights) or a dba, if the dba is the name under which the entity goes. If in LIbrary of Congress - where these copyrights get registered in the US - the registration details included "Company A and Company B" and the name under which you want to have this copyright registered, then yes, you could do it (though I agree it looks funny, and I would not recommend it, since you are not specifying to the reader who actually owns the rights - is it A...is it B...is it joint?) so most people use one name and if there are multiple owners, that gets sorted out through a contract between the various owners, setting forth the rights, etc. B the way, food for thought: the "ALL RIGHTS RESERVED". It doesn't hurt anything, though it is no longer legally required, by all means. Recall, the whole idea behind the notice is to provide an explicit warning. Copyright itself exists even when there's no notice of a copyright. Adding the words "All rights reserved" does not strengthen the copyright itself (however, I agree that having it might serve as a more forceful warning to people who may wish to make use of the content.