diff --git a/data/args.yml b/data/args.yml
index f30b0a497ef35..6021fe04424f2 100644
--- a/data/args.yml
+++ b/data/args.yml
@@ -7,9 +7,6 @@ full_version: "1.25.0"
 # The previous Istio version identifier the docs describe, used for upgrade documentation
 previous_version: "1.24"
 
-# The year to display in copyright notices
-copyright_year: 2025
-
 # Controls the incarnation of the site
 #
 # when preliminary=false and archive=false, we're building for istio.io
diff --git a/layouts/partials/footer.html b/layouts/partials/footer.html
index 2dd95c97fff7b..2a1e764ce1729 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/footer.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/footer.html
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
         </ul>
 
         <div class="footer-base">
-            <span class="footer-base-copyright">&copy; {{ .Site.Data.args.copyright_year }} the Istio Authors.</span>
+            <span class="footer-base-copyright">&copy; {{ time.Now.Year }} the Istio Authors.</span>
 
             <span class="footer-base-version">
                 {{ $advisory := (i18n "advisory") }}