Are Logos Copyrighted or Trademarked?
Likely one of 2 things led you on this search:
- You’re wanting to design a logo and don’t want to get in trouble if you happen to (knowingly or unknowingly) rip off someone else’s logo.
- You fell for someone’s rip off logo and want to know if it’s legal.
The simple answer: Logos are not copyrighted, they are actually trademarked. Whether or not legal action is taken for replicating a trademarked logo is fully up to the company or entity that owns the trademark. A company still has legal rights to their logo even if it’s not trademarked. So, don’t steal it because it’s not trademarked.
The longer answer:
Copyright © vs. Trademark ®
According to the United States Copyright Office, copyright protects original works created in a fixed form including “literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works.” Copyright is identified by the © mark.
According to thee United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), trademark protects “words, names, symbols, sounds or colors that distinguish goods and services from those manufactured or sold by others and to indicate the source of the goods.” If something is trademarked it is identified by the ® mark.
