Which of the following is NOT required for a proper copyright notice?

The correct choice identifies an element that is not a requirement for a proper copyright notice, which is the author's social security number. A copyright notice typically includes the copyright symbol (©), the year of publication, and the name of the copyright claimant. These elements serve to inform the public of the ownership and the date of the work, thereby providing legal protection and clarity regarding the rights associated with the work.

Including the author’s social security number is unnecessary and inappropriate for a copyright notice because it does not contribute to the legal validity of the copyright and could expose the author to identity theft. In summary, while the other components serve as essential identifiers for the protection of the work, the inclusion of a social security number is neither required nor advised in copyright notices.