The logo is a very important element to your business. Suppose you have built a brand and the logo of your brand became very popular. After some days you notice another brand is using your logo and generating more traffic than yours.

Then what will you do? 

There is no way other than running to courts and going through legal battles. 

Want to know how to copyright a logo?

You can protect your logo through copyright. The process of copyright involves protecting a unique logo legally which includes a unique or original design or symbol that represents a brand, company or individual.

The logo that you want to copyright must be creative, and unique, and should not be similar to any other brand. Trust me, the logo of a brand plays a very important role in their brand identity and a logo is an asset. The logo of a brand is its Intellectual Property. While you are copyrighting a logo, that means it ensures the exclusive right to its owner and protects the logo from getting infringed.

The process of copyright varies from country to country as per the law of the concerned country, depending upon the Examination of uniqueness, Design creation, and official registration to the concerned intellectual property office.

Now let’s look at How to Copyright a Logo.

Copyrighting a logo involves different steps that may vary from place to place. Let’s look at the general guide:

Create a Unique Logo: To get a copyright for your logo, the uniqueness of your logo is a must. The uniqueness of your logo shows your ownership over the mark. The logo you are wanting to copyright should have creativity in it.

Eligibility: You cannot copyright every logo. The simple and generic logo may not be eligible for copyright. It’s better to have a unique logo.

Search for Availability: You must search for the availability, it might happen that the logo which you want to copyright is already registered. If this happens then your application will get rejected so, it’s always better to do a thorough check about the existing registration before applying.

Application Submission: Complete all the necessary documentation along with the forms and the non-refundable filing fees.

Can you put a Copyright Symbol on your Logo?

Yes, in order to let others know that you are the owner of a copyright, it is usually a good idea to place a copyright notice on your mark.

Due to the Berne Convention, an international agreement governing copyright, a notice is not necessary in many jurisdictions, but it can have legal benefits and act as a deterrent against infringement.

You should think about registering the copyright with the appropriate government agency in order to receive complete protection and legal rights in many countries.

How can you get a copyright for your brand?

Securing a copyright might seem to be easy, but it is a complicated process. You can get a copyright upon those logos which are completely made and created by you. It should not be a generic logo or should not have any similarity with any other logos. 

However, the logo of a brand can be secured under copyright and Trademark laws. Here is a general guide on how can you secure logos, for your brand:

• Logo: 

Your brand's logo may be protected by copyright if it has unique, artistic graphic components.

• Textual and Graphical Information

Copyright protection is available for any original textual (blog posts, marketing copy, etc.) or visual content (pictures, original graphics, etc.) that you use in your branding. It would be comparable to copyrighting a logo.

• Name Brands and Slogans

Although they cannot be protected by copyright, brand names, slogans, and other expressions that serve to distinguish your company may be under trademark law. You can register them with the appropriate government body as trademarks. 

• Packaging or Product Design

Your brand might be shielded by design patent rules if its products or packaging are distinctive. Sending drawings and other supporting materials to your national patent office is usually necessary for this. It is noteworthy that the safeguards afforded to intellectual property rights are contingent upon national laws, and that the methods employed to establish and maintain them may differ throughout nations. Seeking precise information specific to your circumstances and legal jurisdiction, you ought to speak with a lawyer or intellectual property specialist.

The Value of a Copyright Logo

The protection that copyrighting a logo provides for the distinctive emblem of a company or brand makes it crucial.

The following are some main significance you should know about how to copyright a logo:

All Rights Reserved

Without your consent, others are not allowed to distribute, exhibit, copy, or make derivative works of your work.

Protection of Brand Identity

A brand's identity is generally centered on its logo. Copyrighting ensures that the brand image stays constant and unaffected by preventing it from being abused or misrepresented by third parties.

Prevents Unauthorized Use

If your logo is copyrighted, you can legally stop people from using it or create confusingly similar versions of it that could mislead customers or damage the reputation of your company.

Legal Action

Having your copyright registered can give you more powerful legal action if someone violates it. In addition to actual damages and profits, you might be able to recover attorney's fees and statutory damages in a lawsuit.

Enhances the Loyalty of the Brand

A business can greatly benefit from having a copyrighted mark, particularly if the brand becomes well-known. In commercial talks or transactions, it can be employed as a tangible asset or licensed, sold, or both.

Protection of your Brand Internationally

International copyright treaties and agreements allow copyright registration in one country to frequently offer some degree of protection in other countries, notwithstanding the complexity of international copyright law.

Now, a question can come to your mind,

Know How to copyright a Logo?

Securing legal protection for your design and going through the design process are both necessary steps in creating your own copyrighted mark. Here's a detailed how-to:

• Recognize your brand

Your brand, its identity, and its values should all be reflected in your mark.

• Investigate

Examine the logos of other businesses, especially those in your sector.

• List all of your ideas.

Make a list or a sketch of your logo design concepts. This could include typeface, color palettes, symbolic motifs, or a mix of them.

• Create the Logo

Employ graphic design software to develop your brand identity.

Verify that the logo is readable, lucid, and eye-catching across a range of styles and sizes.

• Examine and Improve

Consult with friends, mentors, or coworkers for their opinions.

You want your target audience to find your logo appealing, so take their feedback into account and make any necessary adjustments.

• Complete the Design

Finish the design once you're happy with the logo. You should have scalable, high-resolution versions as well as possibly various versions for various applications.

• Enroll in the Copyright

Once your logo is designed and set in a tangible form, it is legally protected by copyright; however, you can also receive further legal protection by registering the copyright with your national copyright office.

• Think About a Trademark

You may also wish to register your logo as a trademark if it is utilized to represent your company or product in the marketplace. Usually, this entails going through an extra procedure with your national trademark office.

Is copyright really important for my brand?

Whether you should trademark, copyright or both depends upon how you are using your brand:

• Although they deal with distinct types of intellectual property and offer various forms of protection, both can be quite advantageous from a legal perspective.
• Copyright laws protect original works of authorship, such as music, art, literature, and software.
• If the brand features a creative and innovative graphic design, copyright law can help you safeguard it.
• This gives you exclusive permission to use, copy, and distribute your work, along with the power to determine who else may use it.
• Words, phrases, symbols, and designs that identify and set apart the source of products or services are protected by trademark law.

Conclusion:

Lastly, a logo copyright is very much essential for your brand to protect it from infringement. A Copyright gives you a lot of legal advantages over your brand and its logo. If you are still having confusion regarding copyright, you can contact Online Legal India, as they have vastly experienced experts. The Experts of Online Legal India have catered to a lot of clients till now and most of them are happy with the services they got from Online Legal India.