Where do I find all info about a logo?

the_matrix

Hi

I have seen a rival company logo that I think is very similar to my copyright company logo. I want to know when the rival company logo was copyrighted.

Free is best, but I don't mind paying a small fee.

Who do I contact? The local library? Special website?

Thanks in advance.

Aquamania

the_matrix wrote: »

Hi

I have seen a rival company logo that I think is very similar to my copyright company logo. I want to know when the rival company logo was copyrighted.

Free is best, but I don't mind paying a small fee.

Who do I contact? The local library? Special website?

Thanks in advance.

I would have thought the owner would be the best place to start

Maybe he'd be interested in your logo too ... especially if it turns out his was first

robrooo

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/tm/t-os/t-find/tmtext.htm

the_matrix

robrooo wrote: »

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/tm/t-os/t-find/tmtext.htm

Thanks. It doesn't come up there. I tried searching for it and it doesn't show.

paddyrg

Copyright or trademark? Only registered trademarks will show on a search, copyright is automatic. It may be for instance that one of you hired a $5 graphic designer from xyz country who did some lazy searching, found this other company and adapted their logo.

If you're confident that it wasn't you copying them (or inadvertantly passing somebody to), then start with a gruff lawyers letter and scare the other guy off - if he thinks he has a case/earlier/earliest use of the logo and that it isn't derivative he may challenge it and then the courts can decide

GolfBravo

Can we see both logos/websites?

Percy1983

I will say the same I can't make a judgement until we know how similar they are.

I know my logo came off the top of my head but I can't be certain somebody else hasn't thought of something similar before or after me.

InsideInsurance

the_matrix wrote: »

Who do I contact? The local library? Special website?

Copyright is automatic and so there is no library or specialist website.

Just because its similar doesnt make it a copyright infringement and lots of other factors come into play if you are wanting to alleged they are passing off.

Ultimately it can come down to simply who can prove they were the first one to start using it and so it is defendant on what evidence each party can gather on their versions.

Are these people real competitors or not? Do you have a bank full of money and nothing else to do with it as IP law is notoriously expensive to enforce? Do they have funds to be able to pay your costs/ damages even if you do win or is stopping them enough even if it costs you £X0,000?

When did you have your version created? Can you substantiate it?

As others have said, seeing the two sites with the logos would be of interest. There are some tools that snapshot websites periodically so you can see how they've changed over time. This potentially could give you a clue as to when they introduced it but if its not a significant website they may not even have one image of it let alone a series

the_matrix

Thanks kind people.

In the interests of money-saving I'll leave it be.