Finances foil me again...

[wednes]

Why does it cost so much to trademark a logo? How do I get around it?
I just want to make sure nobody steals my new logo (see icon) that H made me. It's so cool, and I'm using it on my new business cards and letterhead and stuff. I might even wiffle on over to Cafe Press and get like, a messenger bag or hat with my sweet logo. I was also thinking of having some buttons made up to give out at signings. You have to have cool swag to give out at these things. Generates buzz.

Speaking of money, I didn't go to work today. I'm just too damn sore from my ridiculous fall, which is even more ridiculous if you ask me. Since you didn't though, I'll just drop it. ;-]

Seriously though, how can I protect my logo without having to spend a couple hundred dollars?

Comments

[itches]

'how can I protect my logo without having to spend a couple hundred dollars?'

A baseball bat and frequent google searches.





Don't pretend you didn't see that joke coming!

[wednes.livejournal.com]

LOL

[lickingtoad.livejournal.com]

itches beat us all to it -- mine was to be "... challenge everyone who's seen it to a knife fight for the rights in perpetuity."

My duly-anointed champion will be Deadeye Dunston, the chimpanzee. (Furious George is still laid up.)

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Ha! Knife fight...

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Well, the protection's not the same, but you can copyright the artwork. As of ten years ago, it cost something like $10 to register a copyright.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

That's not a bad idea.
Thanks! I'll look into it.

[katharinakatt.livejournal.com]

I checked the same thing out recently for my RPS site. Found out it costs $750+ to trademark something.

However you can always add the (tm) on it anyway, as most people won't check it, just assume you've covered your ass and spent the dough.

You can also make a note where you use it that all logos and such are property of you. etc etc etc. That way if someone steals it, they can't say they didn't know you had ownership of it.

[katharinakatt.livejournal.com]

I'd like to know where this source is from?

How do we copyright artwork for $10?

Links Please?

[wednes.livejournal.com]

True, true.

I'm going to have to research it some more, I think.

[madush69.livejournal.com]

Send yourself a certified letter including the logo inside a sealed envelope. Send another to the library of congress or something. I forget how the second half goes, but I know certified letters are involved.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[kissdbyagnome.livejournal.com]

Hey let me know what you find out. I've been searching the same thing for HH and ParaWomen. All i've come up with is the outlandish $$$ to do so.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Will do.

[maxverbosity.livejournal.com]

Usually, the psychology of placing "TM" or "R" somewhere in the logo will ward most people off stealing.....even in articles, I've just typed "copyright..." then a year and my dummy production firm, and that seems to prevent things from happening without actually spending the money.

[brettsyboy.livejournal.com]

very awesome logo!

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Sweet. That really works?

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Thank You!!

[maxverbosity.livejournal.com]

So far, so good for me.

BTW, I saw that the post said "Music" The Smiths", so when I first read it, I had to start listening to just that group....

Here I am, wandering around the house...

"Panic on the streets of London
Panic on the streets of Birmingham
I wonder to myself
Could life ever be sane again?"

[wednes.livejournal.com]

LOL

That sounds funny.