& also how do I copyright something?

[Katymac]

Is it official or do I just put the copyright thingie next to it

& what about my logos? do they need to be copyrighted??

To copyright something you need to apply to the Patent Office.

Patent Office

Bummer - so I can't just protect my name & logo - somehow??

Preferably easily

If you have written something then you have copyright in it without further ado - it is explained on that website to which trillium linked.

I am not sure however whether the same applies to logos or whether they have to be trademarked in order to be fully protected (can you tell this isn't my area of law at all?).

Not sure but I think you used to just send your idea to yourself by special delivery and keep it sealed? I think that is still the case.

I am not an expert, but in general:

Copyright gives the creators of certain kinds of material rights to control ways their material can be used. These rights start as soon as the material is recorded in writing or in any other way. There is no official registration system. It protects original works, published editions of works, sound recordings, films (including videograms) and broadcasts. There is no copyright in a name, title, slogan or phrase, but these may be eligible for registration as a trade mark.

When people ask about protecting names, they are typically referring to a trading name or the name of a product, and the primary focus is on preventing a competitor using the name. ?Passing off? is a term used when a company or individual represents themselves in a way that may mislead potential customers into believing that they are dealing with an different, more established company. If a competing company sets up with a similar or identical name to an establish company, or portrays themselves in a way that implies that they are associated with the established company, they may be guilty of passing off. The original company can take action to defend their identity. Passing off is not always as simple as determining who was using the name first, and public perception of who the name is associated with should also be taken consideration.

Trade marks get complicated -- this is a good starting point.

Sorry, I'm here under false pretenses and don't really know anything about it .

It's just that dh applied for a copyright and the form happened to be on the desk in front of me, so I did a link to the address on the form.

It says "It costs £200 to apply to register a trade mark in one class of goods or services,and £50 for each extra class."

Hope that someone with more knowledge comes along to help .

if you do what adad says you need to get Post Office to franke it over the seal so that you can prove it has not been tampered with

the only reason to do this is so that you have a dated proof of the earliest date you started to use such brand logo / have such information in case it is needed for any legal case

oh and a brand logo is not copyrightable I don't think .. it is a trademark

Oh Hell - I haven't got time

I will just send it in and put a note that the information is "Commercial in COnfidence"

Will that help?

It's for an award & the judges will get loads of my info & I wanted to protect it a bit iyswim

Gah, it took so long to post that, that lots of people with more knowledge than me had already come along

Thanks everyone - I appreciate the help (even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear)

The post office option is pretty easy though isn't it?

And could be used as legal proof if anyone did try to pass it off as their own in the future.

I know Adad - but I have moved on from stressing about this - to stressing about something else

I think I'm panicing

ahhh

good luck!

If you are still intending to use the logo I did for you and you need anything from me to prove ownership (a letter or a reciept or whatever) then let me know.

Thanks SG - I think I'll be OK

It's for childminding not the nursery (which hasn't got that far yet)