Copyrighting charity name and logo

DemiDee

I wonder if anyone here would know whether it is wise, feasible or indeed effective to copyright a charity's name and/or logo? I would hate to think that someone would come along after we have set up and take the name/logo to use for themselves, but I imagine that we could not stop them from doing so if we had not taken out some kind of copyright. Am I correct?

DemiDee

As a side issue, I'm also wondering if it is possible to copyright a name, especially that of a public figure. I only ask because there have been cases in the past whereby the estate of a deceased celebrity has exerted ultimate control over the person's name, and prevented others from using even a name in the title of their organisation or charity.

paddyrg

Copyright is automatic, it happens the moment you create the logo without you having to do anything. It can be beneficial however for you to make sure you have a dated copy of it somewhere, to be able to demonstrate that you have been using it since <x date>, which is before anyone copying it would.

DemiDee

Thank you, Paddy! I worry too much, methinks. Now I can relax a little. Much gratitude to you.

Savvy_Sue

You can't copyright the name of a public figure, AFAIK.

And it's more usual to use trade mark law for a logo, I believe.

However, you'll discover more than you ever thought there was to know from the website of the IPO.

FWIW I work for a small charity and we haven't got any extra protection on our logo. Part of our work also has a name which is the 'main' name for another charity. I don't know if they're aware of our existence: we've had one donation which we realised wasn't for us so we sent it back. Our work is quite different to theirs.