One question I have always had a lot of clients ask me about is Copyright, whether you should register your work or not and basically where you stand and what your rights to the artwork, writing, creation or photos etc.

As recently as last week I had a client come to me with Logo samples, they had paid to be done through a website you go on and choose a ‘designer’/persons profile to create you a logo for you at a negotiated price. These websites make it look like you are going to get a quality logo for a cheap price, and almost sound too good to be true.

Which in this case this is exactly what happened. They proceeded to get the logo done up and paid around the same price I charge for a logo design but without the personal approach of knowing where your logo is coming from. They got the logo seemingly pretty happy with it until they saw the exact same image and exact same font on another logo very similar to their company. Very unhappy they were lucky enough to get their money back after complaining. They then came to my business asking for help to now re-design a new logo completely different to the first one.

I am more than happy to help and glad they have come to a real business like mine! Somewhere they know who is working on their logo and know they’ll end up getting a unique logo and brand that no-one else has and they can proudly promote as their own.

First impressions are essential for the success of any business and it’s definitely an investment worth making. And an investment worth researching who your going to get to design or develop your brand. It’s very important to maintain a professional image through consistent easy to recognise branding. Emepic takes the hassle out of design by providing a complete graphic design service with a professional, unique and friendly approach.

Emepic Graphic Design and Photography is based in Brisbane and services as wide as Central Queensland right down to Melbourne and Bendigo in Victoria. Most design work can be done over phone, skype and emails making the process smooth and hassle free.

Copyright and Logos

Below are some tips for Copyrights and Trade marks >>

I found some really helpful information about this on a blog please check the full article out here –  http://blog.kunvay.com/5-important-facts-you-need-to-know-about-graphic-design-copyright-and-intellectual-property-that-design-school-didnt-teach-you/

Below are a few main points I grabbed from the blog article above;

The Difference Between a Copyright and a Trademark is Use

Several types of intellectual property rule the graphics design world. There are differences here that are essential to know for interactions with clients as well as for protecting your ideas and creative work. The two most important IP rights for graphics designers are copyrights and trademarks.

Copyright. A copyright protects any completed graphic element whether registered or not. Even though you have the option to register, it’s always a good idea to, at least, keep detailed records of the work you’ve created. This way there is evidence that you are the original author and that can form a solid legal defense should you need it.

Copyright gives the original creator certain very valuable exclusive rights such as the right to reproduce the work, publish the work, make adaptations and communicate the work to the public. Legal protection of a copyrighted works lasts for the life of the creator, plus 70 years.

Trademarks. Trademarks cover a broad range of design elements, including logos and product shape and design, and even sounds. These are brand marks that give a particular product or service a distinct identity or help consumers distinguish between various products or services. Where copyright ownership arises from authorship or original creation, trademark ownership arises from use in the marketplace. With trademarks, it’s not the so much originality that’s protected, it’s the distinct identity of the brand.

As with copyrights, it’s not required to register a trademark, but registration does grant the best and most complete protection. Registration, however does require a trademarks clearance search to ensure that you are not attempting to register a mark that is already in use or that would likely confuse consumers due to it’s similarity to another company’s mark. Again, the protection here stems from how the mark operates as an identifier of goods or services, so the likelihood of consumer confusion, or lack thereof, is extremely important.

To provide notice about the legal standing of a mark, registered marks use the circle R symbol, ®, and unregistered marks use the ™ symbol.

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Also below are two Australian links one is IP Australia a government website and the Australian Copyright Council

http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/get-the-right-ip/copyright/

http://www.copyright.org.au/acc_prod/ACC/Home/ACC/Home.aspx?hkey=24823bbe-5416-41b0-b9b1-0f5f6672fc31