![]() ![]() Let’s take a look at how the term ‘copyrights’ can mean different things to you as a designer and to small businesses that happen to be your clients. Two sides of the story to the copyrights perspective – the designers’ side and the SMBs’ side. What does it mean? And why it’s there in the first place to begin with? Who really owns the copyrights on the logo here?Īs usual there’s two sides of the coin. Registered trademarks can be identified by the abbreviation ‘TM’ or the ® symbol (N.B.But as a logo designer, when you see the word ‘copyright’ attached with a logo design, you can’t help but feel curious. It can include a name, word, slogan, design, symbol, or anything unique to the identity of the company (or company products). But if you want to protect a slogan you are probably better off protecting it under trademark (see below).Ħ – Your company name isn’t protected by CopyrightĬopyright doesn’t protect names in their own right, but your trading name will be automatically protected by ‘Passing-off’ legislation which is designed to stop a person or organisation from poaching trade from a more established company.ħ – Protect your brand’s identity with a TrademarkĪ trademark is a legal concept which protects the identifying traits of a brand. However, if it is a phrase long enough, and complex enough then it might be protected (but it is unlikely to be a good tagline). However, such a simplified ideas which is only 2, 3, or 4 words long will be almost impossible to protect under Copyright as you can’t prove that the expression is unique. The best course of action is to start with an original character idea.ĥ – Taglines/Slogans might be protected by CopyrightĪn effective tagline or slogan is usually very short – the most simplified statement of what you do or what you stand for. If you aren’t sure, don’t risk it – get advice from a lawyer. You can still use the same basic idea or inspiration, but you have to make sure that the character is drawn (expressed) in a genuinely unique way. This is why you need a professional logo designer to execute your logo design – their original, creative interpretation of your ideas (custom designed from scratch) will be guaranteed to be uniquely expressed.Ĥ – Be careful with characters if they are inspired by something famousĬharacters are protected by copyright, so you have to be careful if you want to draw upon a figure from literature or film in your logo. This is because they are made using templates so the expression of the idea is not original. You can’t claim copyright for a logo that has been created on a free logo maker. Two logos with a company name and a spanner icon next to them (while potentially being based on the same idea) are still likely to have many aspects that make them different (font used, or the style or placement of the spanner).ģ – You need unique designs to claim copyright for a logo (why you need a professional logo designer) What does this mean in terms of protecting your logo? It means that the execution is everything. If you are the holder of a logo Copyright then you are able to take legal action against someone who has infringed or plagiarised your logo design.Ģ – Copyright doesn’t protect ideas – it protects the expression of ideasĬopyright can’t protect an idea because an idea doesn’t exist as an original intellectual work until it has been expressed and recorded. So here (broken into easy-to-digest knowledge nibbles) are the 7 important things business owners need to know about copyright and logos.Ĭopyright is a legal concept that deals with the right to copy original intellectual work. ![]() One important legal topic that it is vital to have a good beginner’s grasp on is Copyright and Intellectual Property. Unfortunately it is a heavy subject, but in bitesize pieces it builds a useful arsenal of essential business knowledge. ![]() Every savvy business professional should know as much as their head can handle about it. ![]()
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