how to patent a logo/ claim ownership of a logo

[chrisni1986]

basically im starting my own business and ive had a logo etc designed which ive paid graphic designer to do, i was wondering does anyone know how i would go about making sure that this logo is registered as my own so that no-one steals it and tries to use it as their own??

[JC-Furio]

Logo for a brand sort of thing i presume?

http://www.trademarksolicitors.biz/

Not sure?

[djrem]

UK Law im sure means you own the copy right as soon as you write "copyright" on it.

[mrolinc]

UK Law im sure means you own the copy right as soon as you write "copyright" on it.

That's basically true. However, in the event of a dispute, it a lot more favourable to have the work registered, which you can do online (https://secure.copyrightservice.co.uk/register/reg_online) at a cost of £35 for 5 years, or £60 for 10 years.

However, as Rem said, copyright occurs when work is created by an individual or a company, and it is original. It also needs to show a level of labour & skill. So basically, you actually made it and not simply stolen it, or attempt to copyright something so blatently obvious that it is impossible.

It is important to protect your work through a copyright notice;


Copyright notices

The notice should be obvious and legible, and if applicable, (e.g. web sites) the notice should appear on every page.

Mark any copies of your work with a notice, on the body of the work as well as the cover or sleeve.

The notice should take the form of:

* The actual term copyright.
* The copyright symbol ©.
* The year.

Normally when first published, but for unpublished work, use the year it was written.
* The name of the owner.

This can be an individual, collective or organisation.

e.g. Copyright © 2000 Joe Smith.
* For sound recordings you should also include a phonogram rights notice for the sound recording itself, using the phonogram symbol phonogram copyright symbol to denote the copyright of the sound recording.

e.g. Copyright © 2000 Joe Smith/phonogram copyright 2000 Joe Smith


From here (http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p02_protecting_copyright), a very good resource.