Your logo represents your business. Getting your logo designed can be quite costly involving a lot of work by your designer on your company’s behalf.
It stands to reason then that this special artwork – your business logo – should be protected from someone copying all or parts of it. Your logo artwork can be protected under Copyright Law as a Visual/Artistic work.
If your business logo is your company name without any artistic elements then this would fall under Trademark Law and would protect your company name from being used by another company. Company taglines, slogans or catch-phrases fall under Trademark Law.
If you create your logo, then as soon as it is put into fixed form eg. on paper, in your design programme, on a napkin etc you own the copyright to it automatically. Once in a tangible form, the creator of the artwork owns the exclusive rights to produce or reproduce the artwork.
Once complete, it’s best to legally protect your business logo and have your logo also registered as a trade mark
If a graphic designer / design agency creates your business logo on your behalf, then reputable ones will hand over all the necessary documents regarding copyright and licensing of your logo.
International treaties, such as the Berne Convention, help govern international copyright law.
Copyright law covers works such as: literary, artistic/visual, dramatic/performing arts, musical, sound recordings, and serials & periodicals.
Disclaimer
This information is a general guide to further your knowledge about copyright issues and does not constitute legal advice.
