Can you get sued for a logo?
Asked by: Miss Alysa Hessel | Last update: October 12, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (29 votes)
When you use someone's mark without their permission in a way that infringes on or dilutes their mark, then your use is usually unlawful. The trademark owner can normally sue you to stop you from using their mark, and they can collect money damages.
How to legally protect a logo?
You will need to register it as a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The name that you select for your company must be distinctive to receive trademark protection. Common words or phrases that are not inherently distinctive are not offered trademark protection.
Is it illegal to use a logo for personal use?
For you to use a logo, even for personal use, be mindful that copyright infringement could occur if you reproduce a copyrighted logo without permission. However, certain limitations such as fair use might apply in specific scenarios, such as for education or parody.
What are the rules for using logos?
If you want to use another company's logo on your website, you should assume that the logo is protected intellectual property. Copyright, trade mark and consumer laws will protect most logos. Hence, you should seek permission to use the logo from the copyright or trade mark owner.
What is the fair use law for logos?
“Fair use” is a term in trademark law that means using a mark in such a way that it will not infringe upon the owner's rights. A common defense in trademark infringement litigation, fair use provides that a party may use a protected mark not as an actual trademark, but rather, for its descriptive meaning.
Getting Sued For Trademarks
Can you sue someone for using your logo?
United States law allows the holders of federally registered trademarks to sue others who use those marks without permission, when the use in question causes a “likelihood of confusion” to actual or potential customers.
What is the golden rule for logos?
The fact is, a good logo should be three things: Appropriate – logos should be appropriate in it's feeling. It doesn't need to say a whole lot. Distinctive & Memorable – It has to be unusual enough to persist in our mind.
Are logos copyright free?
Copyright or trademark? Is a logo subject to copyright? Yes. A logo that includes artistic or design elements, (i.e. not just the name on its own), is legally regarded as being a work of artistic creation and therefore will be protected under copyright law.
What qualifies as logos?
Logos, or the appeal to logic, means to appeal to the audiences' sense of reason or logic. To use logos, the author makes clear, logical connections between ideas, and includes the use of facts and statistics.
What not to use in a logo?
Do not use unofficial colors. Do not sqeeze or stretch the logo. Always scale it propotionally. Do not use the shield or wordmark alone.
What is considered logo infringement?
Trademark infringement is the unauthorized use of a trademark or service mark on or in connection with goods and/or services in a manner that is likely to cause confusion, deception, or mistake about the source of the goods and/or services.
Is it illegal to put a logo on a shirt?
A: Technically, using a trademarked logo on a shirt for personal use may be considered a trademark infringement, even if you do not intend to sell or profit from the shirt.
Do you need a license to use a logo?
When you use someone's mark without their permission in a way that infringes on or dilutes their mark, then your use is usually unlawful. The trademark owner can normally sue you to stop you from using their mark, and they can collect money damages.
Who owns the rights to a logo?
Copyright law provides that the designer of the logo is the first owner, unless it's made by an employee in the course of their employment, in which case the copyright will be owned by the employer. If you employ a designer who creates your new logo, you will own the copyright in it.
How do I avoid copyright on my logo?
So, create a unique logo design that is based on your brand message. Make sure that your logo has the use of only specific colors, typeface, symbols etc elements. Avoid using stock images and stock symbols in your logo.
Do you need to register a logo?
How you choose to protect your trademark is up to you. You are not required to register your trademark, but where or whether you decide to register your trademark can determine the scope of your rights. Specifically, you can rely on common law rights or file for state, federal, or international trademark registration.
What logos can you use without permission?
Informational or descriptive fair use
You can use someone else's trademark without permission if you are using it for informational purposes. This exception applies to situations where you are: Expressing an opinion. Leaving a review.
What is the rule of logos?
Ideally, a logo will present a brand to an audience while also differentiating it from the competition. It will be packed with meaning(opens in a new tab or window) and perfectly communicate the industry, services, demographic and values of a company so that consumers can speedily decide if it's for them.
Does logos need evidence?
Logos is a persuasive device that's used in writing and public speaking. It employs facts, figures, data, and other credible evidence to support an opinion, argument, or conclusion. These facts appeal to the audience's sense of reason and reinforce the writer's claims.
Is copying a logo illegal?
Copyright protects creative works, including your logo, from unauthorized copying. On the other hand, trademark protects logos, names, phrases, or symbols that distinguish your brand from others in the marketplace.
Can I sell a shirt with a college logo on it?
Often, colleges and universities are willing to sell licenses to businesses and individuals wanting to sell things containing the school's logo, slogan, or mascot. You should contact the university's licensing department to discuss a licensing agreement.
Are Canva logos copyright free?
Canva's logo templates are customizable and can be used by anyone. This means that your rights to the logo are non-exclusive and you can't register it as a trademark.
What are logos protected by?
U.S. trademark law enables you to protect a logo design, word mark or any other brand identifier from being used by another third party in connection with a similar product or service to yours.
What is logo rule of three?
The rule of thirds is a simple guideline that UX designers and other creatives use to align images, text, and components of an image or webpage, in a way that creates balance and is in line with how the viewer's eye naturally scans the field.
What makes a logo appropriate?
The first quality great logos share is that they're relevant to the markets their companies target. More importantly, they clearly communicate a brand's personality and identity. A primary component is the use of colors in your logo, which can trigger different emotions and show your brand's personality to consumers.