diff --git a/customFormatExample.json b/customFormatExample.json
index 5f216fb..47d35d3 100644
--- a/customFormatExample.json
+++ b/customFormatExample.json
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 	"version": "",
 	"description": "",
 	"licenses": "",
+	"copyright": "",
 	"licenseFile": "none",
 	"licenseText": "none",
 	"licenseModified": "no"
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 66924f6..1ac3cb5 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ var flatten = function(options) {
             }
 
             if (index === 0) {
-                // Treat the file with the highest precedense as licenseFile
+                // Treat the file with the highest precedence as licenseFile
                 /*istanbul ignore else*/
                 if (include("licenseFile")) {
                     moduleInfo.licenseFile = options.basePath ? path.relative(options.basePath, licenseFile) : licenseFile;
@@ -195,6 +195,36 @@ var flatten = function(options) {
                         moduleInfo.licenseText = content.replace(/"/g, '\'').replace(/\r?\n|\r/g, " ").trim();
                     }
                 }
+
+                if(include('copyright') && options.customFormat) {
+                    if (!content) {
+                        content = fs.readFileSync(licenseFile, { encoding: 'utf8' });
+                    }
+
+                    var linesWithCopyright = content
+                        .replace(/\r\n/g, '\n')
+                        .split('\n\n')
+                        .filter(function selectCopyRightStatements(value) {
+                            return value.startsWith('opyright', 1) &&         // include copyright statements
+                                !value.startsWith('opyright notice', 1) &&    // exclude lines from from license text
+                                !value.startsWith('opyright and related rights', 1);
+                        })
+                        .filter(function removeDuplicates(value, index, list) {
+                            return index === 0 || value !== list[0];
+                        });
+
+                    if(linesWithCopyright.length > 0) {
+                        moduleInfo.copyright = linesWithCopyright[0]
+                            .replace(/\n/g, '. ')
+                            .trim();
+                    }
+                
+                    // Mark files with multiple copyright statements. This might be
+                    // an indicator to take a closer look at the LICENSE file.
+                    if(linesWithCopyright.length > 1) {
+                        moduleInfo.copyright += '*';
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
     });
diff --git a/tests/test.js b/tests/test.js
index 6df80d9..deae151 100644
--- a/tests/test.js
+++ b/tests/test.js
@@ -502,6 +502,28 @@ describe('main tests', function() {
         });
     });
 
+    describe('handle copytight statement', function(){
+
+        it('should output copyright statements when configured in custom format', function(done) {
+            checker.init({
+                start: path.join(__dirname, '../'),
+                customFormat: {
+                    copyright: '', // specify custom format
+                    email: false,
+                    licenseFile: false,
+                    licenseText: false,
+                    publisher: false
+                }
+            }, function(err, output) {
+                assert(output.hasOwnProperty('abbrev@1.0.9'), 'Check if the expected package still exists.');
+                assert.equal(output['abbrev@1.0.9'].copyright, 'Copyright (c) Isaac Z. Schlueter and Contributors');
+                done();
+            });
+
+        });
+
+    });
+
     describe('should only list UNKNOWN or guessed licenses successful', function() {
         var output;
         before(function(done) {