Protect your brand secure your logo with trademark or copyright registration
What you need to know (in a nutshell)
- The main difference between trademark and copyright is that trademark registration provides government-authorized protection for your brand, such as your logo or slogan, while copyright arises automatically when you create an original creative work.
- Trademark registration makes it easier to stop copycats from using your logo because you have a registration certificate proving that you own it. Trademark infringement actions are also more straightforward than copyright infringement actions.
- To qualify for trademark protection, a logo must be distinctive and original, and must not resemble the logo of other traders in the same industry. Business owners should register their trademarks as soon as possible to ensure that they can stop copycats and strengthen the reputation of their brand among customers
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Many business owners come to us wondering if they should trademark or copyright their logo to protect it. Knowing the difference between these two important legal concepts can be difficult for those without a law degree, but luckily It’sn’t too complicated! Copyright is an exclusive right given upon creating any kind of original creative work and gives you protection from copies being made of your logo; however, proving ownership over the design as well as that someone has copied substantial parts may prove challenging at times. When you obtain copyright in a piece of work such as your unique logo, you are granted sole authority over its use and reproduction - which means only you have permission to copy and distribute this material throughout various platforms taking action against anyone who attempts direct replication. Although there are some obstacles associated with demonstrating proof of ownership when needed, it’s still essential for entrepreneurs looking out for reliable safeguards surrounding their intellectual property assets!
Having a trademark registration for your brand – such as a name, logo or slogan – provides official government protection. Should someone copy your logo and you have it registered as a trademark, stopping them is far simpler because of the certificate that confirms ownership. Trademark infringement actions are much more direct than copyright violation claims too. If you use your logo to make customers recognise products associated with your business then it’s advisable to register the mark to protect yourself against any potential imitators who could damage both branding and reputation by profiting from unauthorised replication of materials used within advertising campaigns or on merchandise sold under its banner - making sure that ultimately all profits go back into protecting what makes up an integral part of success: Your brand identity!
Business owners should take steps to register their trademarks as soon as possible, whether they are just launching or have already been trading for some time. Doing so will give them exclusive rights over their logo and other brand assets such as the business name, slogan and product names. Registering a trademark is also beneficial in stopping copycats from infringing on your intellectual property too; adding the registered symbol (r) to your logo can further demonstrate how seriously you’re taking this issue of protecting your brand reputation with customers. To ensure that it meets all eligibility requirements for trademark protection though, make sure that you carefully evaluate its characteristics first before applying!
It’s essential to ensure that your logo stands out, as well as is unique and distinct from any other logos in the same industry. Additionally, you should make sure to secure ownership rights of the design when using an online logo generator or a professional designer for creating it from scratch. This will be beneficial so that no one else has access to use such a symbol associated with your business brand identity.