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If you are basing your work on or just plain using the default theme, you should note that this theme doesn't take the footer from the preferences, but use one hard-coded in the theme.
If you want it to say what you put in the footer area in preferences, you should place <{$xoops_footer}> where you want it in your theme (remember to set the preference "Update module templates from themes/yourtheme folder" to on until the theme is how you want it, then disable it again)