You need your business logo to be distinctive, eye-catching and memorable. These are the design qualities that make a logo great. Unfortunately, these count for nothing if you don’t have a legal logo design. Legal wrangling over licensing issues could land you in big trouble. It could damage your brand image and will most certainly cost you additional time and money if you have to start over and redesign your logo.
Problems tend to arise when you design your own logo using icons and illustrations from online stock libraries such as Shutterstock and iStockPhoto. Understandably, when you are creating your own logo, the focus may be more on the visual impact than the legal dos and don’ts. However, you should always read the small print. It will tell you that, for example, you can’t use any Shutterstock image as part of a trademark, service mark or logo.
Elsewhere, iStock is also specific about how you can (or cannot) use its licensed content: “You may not use content as part of a trademark, design mark, tradename, business name, service mark, or logo.” There isn’t much of a workaround either. When it comes to intellectual property rights, all of the licensed content is owned by either iStock or the artists who supply the content.
You can attempt to purchase an exclusive licence to an image but pricing very much depends on whether the artist wants to sell the exclusive copyright to their work. Furthermore, the artist will not assume responsibility for prior use, so it is entirely possible that the image is already associated with another business. Do you want to take the risk?
At TRCREATIVE, we eliminate that risk. We are an established design agency in Cheshire with over 10 years’ experience in the industry. It is our job to create bespoke brand identities that not only have a unique, relevant, distinctive appearance but also meet legal requirements when it is time to trade mark and register your logo design.
Taking your brand to the next level is a complex process. Your corporate image is key to creating a professional and trustworthy brand. It is about celebrating identity and making promises that your brand can keep. You will have peace of mind with a well-respected design agency. You can put your logo in our hands.
Our creative process is both in-depth and above board. We have a very specific way of working that involves careful research, allowing us to create a corporate image that is true to a defined brand strategy. An integral part of our job is to explore and experiment with colours, fonts and shapes to create logo designs that are truly different and special.
Above all, we understand the legalities involved in the design world and we know how to protect your brand identity. We’re here to help, not only in a creative way but also when it comes to intellectual property law. Is your logo legal? It is with TRCREATIVE.
