diff --git a/contrib/devtools/copyright_header.py b/contrib/devtools/copyright_header.py
--- a/contrib/devtools/copyright_header.py
+++ b/contrib/devtools/copyright_header.py
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@
 
 
 def applies_to_file(filename):
-    return ((EXCLUDE_COMPILED.match(filename) is None) and
-            (INCLUDE_COMPILED.match(filename) is not None))
+    return ((EXCLUDE_COMPILED.match(filename) is None)
+            and (INCLUDE_COMPILED.match(filename) is not None))
 
 ################################################################################
 # obtain list of files in repo according to INCLUDE and EXCLUDE
@@ -412,9 +412,9 @@
     start_year, end_year = parse_year_range(year_range)
     if end_year == last_git_change_year:
         return line
-    return (before_copyright + copyright_splitter +
-            year_range_to_str(start_year, last_git_change_year) + ' ' +
-            ' '.join(space_split[1:]))
+    return (before_copyright + copyright_splitter
+            + year_range_to_str(start_year, last_git_change_year) + ' '
+            + ' '.join(space_split[1:]))
 
 
 def update_updatable_copyright(filename):
@@ -423,8 +423,9 @@
     if not line:
         print_file_action_message(filename, "No updatable copyright.")
         return
-    last_git_change_year = get_most_recent_git_change_year(filename)
-    new_line = create_updated_copyright_line(line, last_git_change_year)
+    now = datetime.datetime.now()
+    current_year = now.year
+    new_line = create_updated_copyright_line(line, current_year)
     if line == new_line:
         print_file_action_message(filename, "Copyright up-to-date.")
         return
@@ -432,7 +433,7 @@
     write_file_lines(filename, file_lines)
     print_file_action_message(filename,
                               "Copyright updated! -> {}".format(
-                                  last_git_change_year))
+                                  current_year))
 
 
 def exec_update_header_year(base_directory):