It is easy to reference any Unicode character in Java source provided you know its four digit code. For example, the copyright symbol can be placed in a String as follows;

 String copyright = "Copyright u00A9 1998, YourName.";

But the following tiny class will make such references to special characters much more legible.

 public final class Unicode {    public static final String COPYRIGHT  = "u00A9";    public static final String REGISTERED = "u00AE";    public static final String DEGREE     = "u00B0";    public static final String PLUSMINUS  = "u00B1";    public static final String SQUARED    = "u00B2";    public static final String CUBED      = "u00B3";// Private constructor, prevents instantiation    private Unicode() {}}

With this class, the original line of code becomes;

 String copyright = "Copyright " + Unicode.COPYRIGHT + " 1998, YourName.";

Of course, you can add the definitions for any other characters that your application needs.