A logo design is a very personal element for a company and every brand wants it to be completely customized and made just for their brand. Companies want unique designs, something that nobody has seen before and it should be able to grab people’s attention just as they take a look at it.
But creating new designs from scratch seems like a lot of work to some designers or they just fail to think of something creative each time they get a logo design job. This is where logo design copyright infringement comes in.
Designers, especially those who are not so professional or are fairly new, tend to take a lot of inspiration from other designs (which is fine if it is limited to inspirations) and this can lead to knowingly or unknowingly copying a design someone else put their heart and soul into.
Copyright infringements can be troublesome even if they are not done intentionally. A copyright strike can cost a fortune which is not the ideal scenario for any business especially a new one.
So, if you have a new business and you want to design a logo for your brand but don’t want to get into any of the hassles of copyright then don’t worry, we have gathered 7 ways that will help you avoid any of the copyright infringement issues.
1. Research
Researching is good because then you can avoid using other people’s work. Sometimes two people can end up imagining fairly similar things and this could happen to anyone. It’s good to look for designs in order to see if some of them resemble yours. Or you can research even before starting your design, this would give you a heads up to what other people are doing for their logos and you can completely change your approach to make it unique.
2. Start From Scratch
Skip taking inspirations and looking at other people’s work. Understand the company, you’re making the logo for and try to learn what they stand for, what are their values, what product or services are they offering. Once you get answers to all your questions, communicate with the owners and ask them if they have any ideas you should know about. After completing your research on the company, you can start your design and allow your creative juices to flow onto the logo designing software.
3. Hire a Logo Design Company
There are plenty of trusted and best logo design services in Pakistan that can help you create a completely unique logo design so you are left without any worries of copyright infringements. Hiring a professional company gives you peace of mind and you can absolutely relax regarding your logo design. These companies are trustworthy and your satisfaction is their priority. Just be careful to choose the right one and focus on the reviews people left for the company you are about to hire.
4. Create New Images or Designs
Some logo designers tend to reuse their work. The work is fairly theirs but it rightfully belongs to the company they made it for and when they reuse those images or designs for your logo, this can get you in trouble, To avoid this situation, everyone should specifically ask the designers to not use the work he/she made for them, for anyone else and it’s better to sign a contract with the designer. You should ask the designer to make new designs and images for your logo and not use these for more logos.
5. Get Licenses from Copyright Holders
If there is a scenario where you have to use someone else’s work you should use it legally. Try to obtain the appropriate license from the copyright holder you are planning to use the work of. It’s better to use someone’s hard work after getting their permission and you should also get a written and signed consent from the original owner of the work.
6. Use Royalty-Free Images or Designs
If you want to use images or take inspiration from, you should use royalty-free images. These images have a unique license which you can get once and use repeatedly without actually having to renew the license again. You can then use royalty-free media fairly and this is one of the best ways to credit an artist or a designer for their work. By using these images you are clearing your stance that you have an appropriate license and that the creator of this image is the said person.
7. Be Unique
You have to understand that uniqueness is better and you should try to keep your designs different from others to avoid issues altogether. Uniqueness will not only allow you to stand out but will also keep you away from the issues of copyright. Be true to yourself and your company, spend a good amount of time designing and choosing a logo, and don’t rush to anything. A unique logo will become your identity and similar logos will get lost in the crowd.
