If you’ve ever wondered whether your logo, slogan, or product design should be trademarked or copyrighted — you’re not alone. There is a lot of confusion as to what each one protects. Trademark and copyright law protect very different things.
Let’s clarify so that you don’t lose your legal rights.
Trademarks Protect Your Brand Identity
A trademark identifies the source of your goods or services. It can be a name, logo, slogan, sound, or even packaging design that helps customers recognize your unique business. It is the face of your business.
For example:
- The Nike “swoosh” logo = trademark
- “Just Do It” slogan = trademark
- The word “NIKE” = trademark
Trademark protection ensures that no other company can sell similar products using a confusingly similar mark. Registering a trademark federally, gives exclusive nationwide rights, legal presumption of ownership, and the ability to stop infringement in the U.S.
Copyrights Protect Your Creative Work
A copyright, protects creative expression. It does not identify your brand. It covers things like:
- Books, blogs, and articles
- Photographs and artwork
- Music, videos, and choreography
- Website content and design
If your business produces creative content, registering copyrights prevents others from copying or reproducing your work without permission.
When Do You Need Both?
Many businesses actually need both protections.
For example:
- Your logo design can be copyrighted as artwork and trademarked as a brand identifier.
- A website may contain copyrighted text and photos, while the brand name itself is a trademark.
Working with an intellectual property attorney helps you develop a full protection strategy that covers every asset — from your logo to your marketing materials.
Why It Matters
Competitors can mimic your brand or reuse your content without proper protection. You may lose sales, reputation, and legal recourse. Securing both trademark and copyright rights, creates a legal moat around the business identity and creative endeavors.
Contact Ganesan Law, www.ganesanlaw.com for brand and creative assets protection through trademark and copyright registration.
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