I have always included a copyright notice in the exif data on every photo I process for the net, and though I don't use it (I'm a flickr man myself), apparently that copyright shows up when pictures are posted on facebook.

So today, I got challenged about my right to use a Copyright symbol :-o after a friend posted some of my pictures on their facebook page. I was told that apparently, I need to purchase a Copyright License and have a license number before I can copyright my pictures (or perhaps just before I can use the Copyright symbol...)?

Now, I always understood that the photographer automatically has copyright of their own photos... is it just that I'm not allowed to use the Copyright symbol to advertise the fact? Or is a Copyright License for different purposes - such as commercial use of your photos (something I aspire to, but is probably a long way off).

Can anyone tell me if I'm really doing something wrong here?
Cheers
Grum.