When you post any creative digital art online there is a risk that it can be stolen by other users. So, when you become a logo designer it’s important to protect your work so your designs can’t be plagiarized. The only way to protect your logo is to copyright it. In this article
By copyrighting your brand logo design, you prevent unscrupulous people from using your logo for their own personal gain. Find out more about copyrighting and why it’s crucial for your brand’s creative intellectual property.
Table of Contents
What is Copyrighting?
Copyright is protection provided by the laws of the United States of America for original works of art, graphics, literary work and of course logo designs. The purpose of copyrighting your logo is to provide control of ownership and distribution of creative works.
The symbol to use for copyrighting works of art is ©. However, you can also add “Copr” or “Copyright” or even the name and year of publication. For example, you can add © 2021 by MyLogo.com at the bottom of your website because this shows you claim the rights to everything on your webpage.
Why Should You Copyright Your Brand Logo Design?
Copyrighting protects your logo design against all unlicensed copies. But did you know you already have a copyright over your logo the moment you created it? According to the U.S Copyright law every piece of the original work created is automatically under the protection of the legislation.
When you register your logo design to be copyrighted you have the power to sue anyone who tries to use your logo to pass it off as their own. It’s crucial that you get your logo copyrighted so you can be in charge of how you use your logo to brand your business however you like it.
How to Copyright Your Brand Logo Design
Plan to Copyright Your Brand Logo before Going Live
As soon as you post your logo online, anyone will have access to it. Before you go live with your logo, you should copyright it first so that it’s fully protected.
Fill Out a Copyright Registration Form
To apply your logo design copyright, get your original design printed and save it into an electronic file too. You can apply for your copyright registration online. Follow these easy steps to get it done:
- Visit the US Copyright Office website
- Select Electronic Copyright Registration
- Fill the Form VA online to copyright your work in Visual Arts
- Place the name of the creator of the logo on the form
- Include the correct contact information of the owner of the logo
- Submit your form
- Follow the prompts to make the payment online
- Send two physical copies of your work by post
- Waiting for your certificate of approval before posting your logo online
How to Transfer a Logo Copyright
If you’ve created a logo for a company you will have to transfer the ownership of the copyright to your client. When you send the logo design to your client and they’ve paid the client doesn’t become the owner of the copyrighted logo automatically.
To transfer the copyright of the logo to your client, follow the steps above. Instead of filling in your details, fill in the information of the person you want to transfer the copyright to. You can also sign a written contract that states you’re transferring all ownership of the logo to your client.
The Cost of Copyrighting Your Logo
The advantage of copyrighting your logo is that it’s affordable. You may pay a registration fee between $36 and $85 but this will depend on whether you’re applying online or via physical mail. Once your registration has been approved, you can control the following:
- How to publish your logo
- The way it’s presented to the public
- How you distribute it
When You Can’t Copyright Use a Trademark
It’s important to note that there are some elements of a logo you can’t copyright such as the following:
- Logo colours
- Titles
- Names
- Calendars
- Slogans
- Symbols
- Variations of lettering
However, you can protect these features if you use trademarks. Using a trademark will protect all the details of your original logo design that copyrighting can’t such as colours, fonts and names. If you want to fully protect your brand identity then register a trademark for your slogans, logos and company name.
Final Thoughts
As you can see there’s a difference between copyrighting and trademarks. You can use one or the other or register a trademark for both so no part of your logo can be used by third party organizations.
By copyrighting your logo, you can take legal action against anyone who tries to use your original works for their personal gain.
Use the information in this article to help you get your logo design copyrighted so your brand can be fully protected.
Also Read: Right Time to Register Your Brand.
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Author Bio
I love writing. If someone asks who Anthony Scott is, my colleagues and friends will tell you that I’m a geek into gadgets, photography and software. I like to find out how things work, and if possible write about it. I’m new in this field of content writing, and I hope I can succeed in convincing readers with my writing.