Does an old copyright year matter on a clinic website?
It matters a little. An old year in the footer is unlikely to be the reason your rankings move, but it can make a patient wonder whether the clinic is still open or the site is looked after. It takes a few minutes to fix, and you can make it update itself.
- Numbers you can check
Our figures come from a public scan of clinic homepages, and we publish how we counted.
How we count - Your accounts stay yours
Your domain, website and online profile are in your name from day one.
How we work - Month to month
No long contract. Thirty days’ notice, and your accounts and numbers stay with you.
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We work on your website, profiles and settings. Patient records stay in your clinic.
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Why it matters
A footer that says 2019 sits next to your address and hours, which are the details they need to trust. If the year is old, they may also doubt the hours and the booking link. The fix costs almost nothing, and it removes one reason to hesitate.
What the website grader looks at
The grader reads the homepage for a copyright symbol or the word “copyright” followed by a year. If the year is earlier than last year, it flags it. If it finds no year, it doesn’t flag anything.
How to fix it
- Website builders. Edit the footer text in the editor. Some have a setting for the current year.
- WordPress. Edit the footer in the theme settings or the footer widget. A developer can replace the typed year with one that updates itself.
- Use one year or a range. “© 2026” followed by your clinic name is fine. “© 2012-2026” is fine too.
- Or remove it. A footer with no year is better than one with a wrong year.
- Check the whole footer, not just the year. The address, hours and phone number should match your online profile.
Not sure where your clinic stands? We’ll look at it the way a new patient does and send a short written report. No pitch.
Questions owners ask
Does a copyright year have any legal role?
Its legal role is limited and varies by country. Ask a lawyer if you have a specific concern. We can’t give legal advice.
Do other old details matter more?
Yes. A stale offer, old team members or last year’s holiday hours do more harm than the year. Check them while you’re in there.
Can the year update on its own?
Often, yes. Ask your developer or check your builder’s footer options.