Home Blog Logo Copyright and Trademark: Protection, Registration, Types

Logo Copyright and Trademark: Protection, Registration, Types

Jump to Section

What is Logo Copyright and Trademark?

Logo copyright is the process of protecting a logo design from being used in an unauthorized way. By comparison, a logo trademark is a mark that protects your brand and gives the trademark owner rights to prevent anyone else from using it.

Both terms are important to know about. When combined, logo copyright and trademark provide layered protection for your logo so that it can’t be used without your permission while avoiding customer confusion.

Read the rest of this article to explore how logo copyright and trademark works, and how a lawyer can help you with the processes.

What is Logo Copyright?

Logo copyright is the exclusive right to use and promote your logo design. No other party is allowed to copy or use it without your clear permission. When you have a logo copyright, it gives you the confidence to know that you legally own the logo so that others can’t infringe on those rights.

How Do You Get Logo Copyright?

If you want to secure logo copyright, you need to file it with the U.S. Copyright Office. You’ll need to sign up, enter details for the graphics you wish to use in your logo, and attach a vector file of the logo. After you pay a fee for the registration, you’ll have to wait for your submission to be approved, which can take a few months.

Although registration is optional, it’s worth doing to give you a strong legal standing should another party infringe on your copyright.

It’s also worth considering that while you will have automatic copyright protection for an original logo once it’s created, acquiring logo copyright is only a way to protect your artistic originality. It doesn’t protect your brand identity.

What is a Logo Trademark?

Logo trademark is the process of registering your logo as a brand identifier. It gives you legal protection for your logo so that you can distinguish your goods or services from those of competitors.

What are the Common Types of Logo Trademarks?

There are various types of logos that can be trademarked, such as:

  • Wordmarks, or text-only logos. An example is the Coca-Cola logo.
  • Pictorial marks. These are logos containing images, with a popular example being the Apple logo.
  • Abstract marks. This can include shapes or forms, such as the three lines in the Adidas logo.
  • Mascot logos. In some cases, companies choose characters or mascots as brand representations, such as the KFC Colonel Sanders logo.
  • Combination marks. Companies can use text and images or symbols in their logos. An example is the Lay’s logo.
  • Emblem logos. These logos use a company name with imagery that’s included in a badge or shield, such as the BMW logo.

How Do You Register a Logo Trademark?

Once you have your logo design, there are specific steps to follow when you want to register it as a trademark.

  • Conduct a trademark search. You must search for any similar logos registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to avoid accidentally infringing on another party’s trademark.
  • Gather important information. To register your logo trademark, you’ll require information about your company name, a clear logo representation, and a description of the goods/services that will be represented by the logo.
  • Submit your application. You’ll submit the application to register the logo trademark on the USPTO.

After you submit your application, the USPTO will review it and get in touch with you if they have any queries or seek clarification about anything. When approved, your logo trademark will be published in the USPTO’s Official Gazette, giving third parties the chance to oppose your trademark registration should they have a reason to believe it clashes with their trademark.

The opposition period lasts for about 30 days. If there are no objections, your trademarked logo will be successfully registered.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid with Logo Copyright and Trademark?

Before securing copyright and trademark registration for your logo, you should avoid these common mistakes.

  • Not conducting a comprehensive logo search. You can’t assume that because there’s no identical logo being used that yours is safe to register. An experienced attorney can help you to conduct a comprehensive search, looking at similar marks that could be problematic.
  • Not maintaining your logo. You have to renew your logo trademark after a specific number of years, and if you don’t you could lose your rights to using it.
  • Assuming that copyright registration is automatic. Although you get copyright when you create a logo, you need to register it so that you can take legal action should someone infringe on it.
  • Filing the trademark or copyright under the wrong class. You have to ensure you correctly classify your goods or services when registering your logo trademark or copyright, or this could leave you unprotected.
  • Registering a copied or derivative logo. It’s crucial to remember that copyright and trademark registration only protects original creations.

How Can a Lawyer Help You With Logo Copyright and Trademark?

It’s advisable to work with a lawyer if you want to secure a logo copyright and trademark. Here is what they’ll do to help you.

  • A lawyer will guide you on choosing the best protection for your brand, such as if you should get copyright, register a trademark, or both.
  • They’ll check that no similar logo is already in use, providing a comprehensive search that prevents your applications from being denied.
  • They’ll prepare and submit your applications, such as with the USPTO, so that you have a greater chance of them being approved.
  • They’ll provide legal protection for your logo so that your rights are enforceable.
  • They’ll help you if a third party tries to violate your rights, such as by drafting a cease-and-desist letter to insist that they stop their activities.

Where Can You Find a Lawyer for a Logo Copyright and Trademark?

If you need to hire a lawyer to help you with securing logo copyright and trademark, you can find a reputable one on an online platform like ContractsCounsel, one of the largest online legal marketplaces that connects clients with vetted, experienced lawyers.

You can search for the most suitable lawyer for your legal requirements by searching on the ContractsCounsel platform according to factors such as the lawyers’ location, expertise, years of experience, and previous projects they’ve completed on the platform. You can also read customer reviews, giving you peace of mind that you’re finding the best lawyer to protect your brand.


ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.


How ContractsCounsel Works
Hiring a lawyer on ContractsCounsel is easy, transparent and affordable.
1. Post a Free Project
Complete our 4-step process to provide info on what you need done.
2. Get Bids to Review
Receive flat-fee bids from lawyers in our marketplace to compare.
3. Start Your Project
Securely pay to start working with the lawyer you select.

Meet some of our Lawyers

Adalbert M. on ContractsCounsel
View Adalbert
5.0 (6)
Member Since:
October 26, 2022

Adalbert M.

Managing Partner
Free Consultation
Port Saint Lucie, Florida
5 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Dynamic Attorney helping people and small business owners protect their assets. Managing Partner at Apfelbaum Martinez Law, in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Offering a wide range of legal services including: Business Law, Commercial Transactions, Estate Planning, Living Trusts and Wills, POA and Advanced Directives, Business Formation, Contract drafting, Business Counsel, Prenuptials and Postnuptials, and more. **Licensed in Florida and fluent in English and Spanish.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Super professional, punctual and with great personality! I am happy with our work!"

Kimbrelly K. on ContractsCounsel
View Kimbrelly
5.0 (2)
Member Since:
November 1, 2022

Kimbrelly K.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Lake Lure, NC
28 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Attorney Kegler has been licensed to practice law in ​the State of North Carolina since 1998. Over the years,​ she has worked in firms that focused on small​ business financing, initial startup formation, to​ starting several businesses of her own with bootstrap​ financing to venture capital funding. As a Certified​ Dream Manager, she couples the skills of listening to​ understand the big picture to get to solutions that not​ only fit today's needs but also the long term needs of​ her entrepreneurial clients.​

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Exposed a number of necessities which I had totally overlooked trying to start things on my own. She was straight-forward about what needed done, offered a thorough plan of action to get us to where we needed to be, and maintained an optimistic, caring, and friendly atmosphere through the project. I would highly recommend her services to anyone looking to start a business!"

Christina S. on ContractsCounsel
View Christina
5.0 (1)
Member Since:
November 1, 2022

Christina S.

Managing Attorney
Free Consultation
Kingsport, TN
15 Yrs Experience
Licensed in TN
Appalachian Law School

I am an attorney who has been practicing for over a decade, experienced in multiple areas of law, both from a litigation and more procedural side. The great thing about my practice is that it has trained me to deal with so many different types of problems and to find solutions in a variety of legal scenarios that are almost never similar.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Christina was prompt and friendly and walked me through the steps I needed to take to file for my name change! She made the process much less intimidating and I highly recommend her services."

Dean F. on ContractsCounsel
View Dean
5.0 (8)
Member Since:
November 18, 2022

Dean F.

Managing Attorney
Free Consultation
Castle Rock, CO
30 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CA, CO, TN
University of Mississippi School of Law

Ferraro Law Firm was founded by Dean C. Ferraro. Dean earned his Bachelor's Degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona ("Cal Poly Pomona") in 1992 and his J.D. Degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law ("Ole Miss") in 1996. He is licensed to practice law in the State Courts of Colorado, Tennessee, and California. Dean is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts of Colorado (District of Colorado), California (Central District), and Tennessee (Eastern District). Shortly after earning his law license and working for a private law firm, Dean joined the District Attorney's office, where he worked for five successful years as one of the leading prosecuting attorneys in the State of Tennessee. After seven years of practicing law in Tennessee, Dean moved back to his birth state and practiced law in California from 2003-2015. In 2015, Dean moved with his family to Colorado, practicing law in beautiful Castle Rock, where he is recognized as a highly-effective attorney, well-versed in many areas of law. Dean's career has entailed practicing multiple areas of law, including civil litigation with a large law firm, prosecuting criminal cases as an Assistant District Attorney, In-House Counsel for Safeco Insurance, and as the founding member of an online law group that helped thousands of people get affordable legal services. Pursuing his passion for helping others, Dean now utilizes his legal and entrepreneurial experience to help his clients in their personal and business lives. Dean is also a bestselling author of two legal thrillers, Murder in Santa Barbara and Murder in Vail. He currently is working on his next legal thriller, The Grove Conspiracy, set to be published in 2023.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"I would highly recommend Contract Counsel to friends or family. I received bids relatively quickly and was able to find the best fit for my situation."

Karl D. S. on ContractsCounsel
View Karl D.
4.7 (2)
Member Since:
October 28, 2022

Karl D. S.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Middlebury, Connecticut
14 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CT, MA
Pepperdine University School of Law

Karl D. Shehu, has a multidisciplinary practice encompassing small business law, estate and legacy planning, real estate law, and litigation. Attorney Shehu has assisted families, physicians, professionals, and people of faith provide for their loved ones by crafting individualized estate and legacy plans. Protecting families and safeguarding families is his passion. Attorney Shehu routinely represents lenders, buyers, sellers, and businesses in real estate transactions, researching and resolving title defects, escrowing funds, and drafting lending documents. To date, Attorney Shehu has closed a real estate deal in every town in Connecticut. As a litigator, Attorney Shehu has proven willing to engage in contentious court battles to obtain results for his clients. While practicing at DLA Piper, LLP, in Boston, Attorney Shehu represented the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies in multidistrict litigations filed throughout the United States. He has been a passionate advocate for immigrants and the seriously injured, frequently advising against lowball settlement offers. He is willing to try every case to verdict, and he meticulously prepares every case for trial. Attorney Shehu began his legal career as a consumer lawyer, utilizing fee-shifting statutes to force unscrupulous businesses to pay the legal fees of aggrieved consumers. For example, in Access Therapies v. Mendoza, 1:13-cv-01317 (S.D. Ind. 2014), Attorney Shehu utilized unique interpretations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, Truth-in-Lending Act, and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to obtain a favorable result for his immigrant client. Attorney Shehu is a Waterbury, Connecticut native. He attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel grammar school, The Loomis Chaffee School, and Chase Collegiate School before earning degrees from Boston College, the University of Oxford’s Said Business School in England, and Pepperdine University School of Law. At Oxford, Karl was voted president of his class. Outside of his law practice, Attorney Shehu has worked to improve the world around him by participating in numerous charitable endeavors. He is a former candidate for the Connecticut Senate and a parishioner of St. Patrick Parish and Oratory in Waterbury. In addition, Attorney Shehu has written extensively on the Twenty-fifth Amendment and law firm retention by multinational firms.

Cherryl M. on ContractsCounsel
View Cherryl
Member Since:
November 4, 2022

Cherryl M.

Contract Attorney
Free Consultation
London, GB
8 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CA
University of California, Hastings College of the Law

I am a U.S. lawyer (licensed in California) and have recently relocated to London. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley and a Juris Doctor law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. I have extensive experience in providing legal services and support in areas of business, labor & employment, IP enforcement (patent infringement, copyright & trademark), and other litigation matters; Reviewing, drafting, and editing business and legal documents/contracts; Conducting legal research and analysis, drafting memorandums, pleadings, discovery, document review, various motions, mediation briefs, and other litigation related activities; Reviewing and preparation of templates, policies, and processes for compliance with laws and regulations; educating and advising on legal and compliance issues.

Myron M. on ContractsCounsel
View Myron
Member Since:
November 3, 2022

Myron M.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Dallas, Texas
28 Yrs Experience
Licensed in TX
South Texas College of Law

For over 20 years Myron E. Mims Esq. has provided legal and consulting services to small and medium sized businesses. Mims served as regional counsel for a real estate investment and development firm where he managed the Company’s contract execution and management, and dispute resolution affairs. Mims was responsible for oversight and risk management of all legal affairs, including management of a robust litigation docket consisting of a seven figure, multi-party construction lawsuit, and multiple vendor and tenant disputes. Mims prepared new contract docs and implemented execution and management processes that lead to the reduction of litigation. As a managing partner of Nixon Mims, LLP Mims provided legal and consulting services to clients of that consisted of real estate, construction, telecommunications, media and food industry businesses. Mims routinely assisted clients with developing corporate governance and management protocols, strategic planning initiatives, and advised clients in the negotiation and execution of complex business transactions. Mims routinely provided operational oversight and technical analysis for management. During this period Mims obtained firsthand experience of the access to capital impediments and challenges that growth-stage businesses face.

Maigan W. on ContractsCounsel
View Maigan
Member Since:
November 2, 2022

Maigan W.

Principal Attorney
Free Consultation
Los Angeles, California
5 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CA
California Western School of LaW

Maigan is a registered nurse and attorney with tech, start-up, and blockchain legal experience. Maigan acted as general counsel for a software-as-a-service company for three years. Maigan has a unique understanding of crypto and smart contracts. As a registered nurse, Maigan is in a unique position to understand health law issues and graduated with a concentration in health law distinction. Maigan is happy to help you create a business entity, draft and negotiate contracts and agreements, apply for trademarks, draft terms of service and privacy notices, assist with fundraising, and act as a consultant for other attorneys looking for someone who understands blockchian/crypto. Maigan speaks conversational Spanish.

David W. on ContractsCounsel
View David
Member Since:
November 2, 2022

David W.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Texas
10 Yrs Experience
Licensed in TX
South Texas College of Law

Founder David W. Weygandt, the Singing Lawyer, is passionate about helping families and businesses stay in tune with what they care about and avoid conflict. When injustice has been done, David is proud to stand up to the modern Goliath and vindicate your rights on your behalf. David lives and practices law in The Woodlands, Texas, and assists clients all across Texas.

Ari G. on ContractsCounsel
View Ari
Member Since:
November 28, 2022

Ari G.

Of Counsel
Free Consultation
Ann Arbor, MI
5 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MI
University of Michigan

Ari is a transactional attorney with substantial experience serving clients in regulated industries. He has worked extensively with companies in regulated state cannabis markets on developing governance documents (LLC operating agreements, corporate bylaws, etc...), as well as drafting and negotiating all manner of business and real estate contracts.

Jessica F. on ContractsCounsel
View Jessica
Member Since:
January 24, 2023

Jessica F.

Solo Law Practice
Free Consultation
New York, New York
24 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NY
University of Dayton School of Law

I'm a knowledgable and experienced New York licensed attorney with strong contract drafting and negotiation skills, a sophisticated business acumen, and a background working in entertainment and technology law.

Find the best lawyer for your project

Browse Lawyers Now

Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.

View Trustpilot Review

Need help with a legal contract?

Post Your Project

Get Free Bids to Compare

Hire Your Lawyer

CONTRACT LAWYERS BY TOP CITIES
See All Trademark Lawyers
LOGO COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK LAWYERS BY CITY
See All Logo Copyright And Trademark Lawyers

Contracts Counsel was incredibly helpful and easy to use. I submitted a project for a lawyer's help within a day I had received over 6 proposals from qualified lawyers. I submitted a bid that works best for my business and we went forward with the project.

View Trustpilot Review

I never knew how difficult it was to obtain representation or a lawyer, and ContractsCounsel was EXACTLY the type of service I was hoping for when I was in a pinch. Working with their service was efficient, effective and made me feel in control. Thank you so much and should I ever need attorney services down the road, I'll certainly be a repeat customer.

View Trustpilot Review

I got 5 bids within 24h of posting my project. I choose the person who provided the most detailed and relevant intro letter, highlighting their experience relevant to my project. I am very satisfied with the outcome and quality of the two agreements that were produced, they actually far exceed my expectations.

View Trustpilot Review

How It Works

Post Your Project

Get Free Bids to Compare

Hire Your Lawyer

Want to speak to someone?

Get in touch below and we will schedule a time to connect!

Request a call

Find lawyers and attorneys by city