If I designed something to represent a group of people or a country, what is the best way to have the design/artwork protected? Patent, trademark, copyright? Would it be wise to have the design printed on shirts, caps, bags without it protected or would someone steal my idea?
2006-09-23 13:00:46 · 2 answers · asked by Chrispy 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Other - Arts & Humanities
Hi,
The following remarks are specific the UK, but may have general application to other countries also:
Patents protect inventions and so are not appropriate for you.
Trade marks protect signs which can be used to identify particular goods or services. If this applies to you then a trade mark will be highly advisable. Note that this limitation is quite wide - football clubs have trade marks for their names and logos! Trade marks need to be registered, and a trademark attorney will be able to advise you on this.
Copyright exists automatically in the UK, and protects against copying of certain works which includes graphical works and thus your designs/artwork. To protect your copyright, it is useful to document and date your work.
Registered design protection would also be a possibility in the UK. This needs to be applied for, but does not require copying to be infringed (it will be infringed whether the third party is aware of your design or not). Either a patent attorney or a trade mark attorney should be able to help you with this.
I hope that helps. Best of luck!
2006-09-23 19:57:47 · answer #1 · answered by bilbybobo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are serious about producing your work, it is in your BEST Interest that you create your OWN Logo and Copyright it!! This way you may print it on your merchandise, and be protected (somewhat) from plagiarism, which is rampant in the world of commerce.
Good LUCK to you, and Good Fortune!
2006-09-23 13:09:20 · answer #2 · answered by Aunt Susan 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋