Expert: Shannon Moore - 8/15/2009

Question
Blessings,

I recently completed an inernship with a church in my city.  During that time I had an internet company create a logo design that had been started by someone else, but never completed.  The company was able to provide us with a fantastic logo, but we were wondering what procedures we how to follow in order to copyright the logo?

Thanks

Answer
Dear Kevin,

Copyrights can be obtained for things of an artistic nature. This includes, of course, poetry, films, sculptures, music, fiction, etc. But can also include things that may not necessarily seem "artistic" in the general sense of the word. Copyrights can also be obtained for advertising copy, games, software programs and blueprints, to name just a few.

To copyright the image, go to http://www.copyright.gov The application can be completed online & costs $35.

To protect a logo within your industry, you would apply for a trademark.

Trademarks can be names of products or services, logos, slogans, packaging and even sounds and smells. In essence, a trademark can be almost anything that is used to identify a particular product or service. Registering a trademark grants the owner exclusive rights to the mark within the specified industry.

Of course, it's necessary to research the mark comprehensively prior to filing to ensure that there is no possibility of infringing upon another party.

This entails searching the pending & registered Federal trademark files and then, if clear, a Federal trademark application can be filed for.

Hope that helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Warmest regards,
Shannon Moore
http://www.tmexpress.com
http://tmexpress.blogspot.com