Do I need to copyright / protect my designs for my t-shirt company?

Question

I am starting a t-shirt company. I have designs available at a local store, but I am sending these designs as well as some unprinted ones to larger stores and web sites. Do I need to copyright the designs, make a non-disclosure agreement, or otherwise protect them from being stolen? If so, how would I go about doing so?

Answer 1

You can do this at the US Copyright Office – see the last 2 links in the source box. The application is fairly simple & the cost is $45 per application.

Despite what others state, a "poor man's" copyright is NOT the same as registering it. Here's what the US Copyright Office has to say:

"The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a 'poor man’s copyright.' There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration."

If you're talking about the clothing line's logo and/or name, 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 and State trademark files as well as the US National Common-Law files. Then, if clear, you can decide if you would like to file for a Federal or a State trademark.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 2

Copyrights could be obtained for problems with an resourceful nature. This includes, of direction, poetry, videos, sculptures, song, fiction, etc. yet may additionally contain issues that isn't unavoidably look "resourceful" interior the final experience of the be conscious. Copyrights can be obtained for promoting replica, video games, application courses and blueprints, to call in basic terms some. you're able to try this on the U. S. Copyright place of work – see the final 2 hyperlinks interior the source container. the applying in all fairness straight forward & the cost is $40 5 in line with application. even with what others state, a "undesirable guy's" copyright isn't comparable to registering it. right here is what the U. S. Copyright place of work has to declare: "The prepare of sending a replica of your individual artwork to your self is commonly stated as a 'undesirable guy’s copyright.' there isn't any provision interior the copyright regulation on the subject of the type of form of safety, and that is not an alternate choice to registration." emblems could be names of goods or centers, emblems, slogans, packaging or perhaps sounds and scents. In essence, an indicator could be in basic terms approximately something this is used to perceive a undeniable service or product. Registering an indicator provides the owner unique rights to the mark interior the specified industry. of direction, that is mandatory to analyze the mark comprehensively beforehand of submitting to make certain that there isn't any possibility of infringing upon yet another party. wish that enables! I wish you lots success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 3

Yeah you should in case someone tries to copyright your products and services.