The short version: you don't apply to copyright a logo. The U.S. Copyright Office says copyright exists from the moment a work is created and may cover logo artwork with enough authorship, while GOV.UK says UK protection is automatic and free. What copyright never covers is the business name or slogan in the logo. For the brand itself, a trademark is usually the better fit.
I've had this question from clients who've just paid a designer and want to lock the logo down before launch. The good news is that part of the work is already done for you. The less good news is that the part you probably care about most isn't covered by copyright at all. This is general information from the official pages, and those pages govern your own case.
What the copyright offices say about logos
The U.S. Copyright Office answers this directly in its FAQ. Copyright doesn't protect names, titles, slogans or short phrases. However, it says protection may be available for logo artwork that contains sufficient authorship, and that in some circumstances an artistic logo may also be protected as a trademark.
So there's no single 'logo copyright'. There's the artwork, which can be a copyright work if it's creative enough, and there's the wording, which isn't. A logo that's just your business name typed in a standard font gives copyright very little to hold on to.
On timing, the Copyright Office says copyright exists from the moment the work is created. GOV.UK says the same for the UK in plainer words: you get protection automatically and don't have to apply or pay a fee.
US and UK rules side by side
| Body | What it says about logos | The detail people miss (as of Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Copyright Office, protection FAQ | Logo artwork may be covered if it has sufficient authorship | Names, titles, slogans and short phrases aren't covered at all |
| U.S. Copyright Office, general FAQ | Copyright exists from the moment of creation | You must register before suing over a US work, and registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney's fees |
| GOV.UK, copyright | Protection is automatic, with no application or fee | There's no register of copyright works in the UK |
| GOV.UK, trade marks | Registration lets you act against anyone using your brand without permission | A registered trade mark lasts 10 years |
| GOV.UK, intellectual property | Self-employed people usually own what they create | That includes commissioned work, unless the contract gives the rights to the client |
The catch: the artwork is copyright, the brand is trademark
This is the split that changes how you protect a logo. Copyright can cover the drawing. It can't cover the name or slogan inside it, and it doesn't stop a competitor using a similar name with different artwork. That's trademark territory.
GOV.UK spells out what registering a trade mark gets you: the right to take legal action against anyone using your brand without permission, including counterfeiters, the right to put the registered symbol next to your brand to warn others off, and the ability to sell and license your brand. None of that comes with automatic copyright.
In the US there's an extra wrinkle. Copyright exists without registration, but the Copyright Office says you'll have to register if you want to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a US work. Registered works may also be eligible for statutory damages and attorney's fees in successful litigation, which is a real reason to register logo artwork you'd defend.
I go through the brand side step by step in my guide on trademarking a business name.
Who owns a logo your freelancer designed?
This is the trap I see most often. GOV.UK says that if you're self-employed, you usually own the intellectual property even when the work was commissioned by someone else, unless your contract gives the client the rights.
Read that from the client's side. If a freelance designer made your logo and your agreement says nothing about rights, the designer may well own the copyright in the artwork you paid for. Fixing that in writing before you build a brand on the design is far easier than fixing it later.
If you're making the logo yourself, the ownership question is simpler. My round-up of the best free logo makers is a good place to start, and there's a separate list of free AI logo tools if you want to test ideas quickly.
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Steps to protect a logo
- Make sure you own it. If a freelancer designed it, get a written agreement that transfers the rights to your business.
- Keep the original files and drafts with their dates. In the UK there's no copyright register, so your records are your evidence.
- Mark the artwork. GOV.UK says you can add the copyright symbol, your name and the year of creation.
- In the US, register the artwork with the Copyright Office if you'd ever want to sue over it.
- Protect the name and slogan separately through a trademark, because copyright won't cover them.
- If you register a trade mark in the UK, diary the renewal: GOV.UK says it lasts 10 years.
Marking your logo the right way
Two symbols get mixed up here. The copyright symbol, with your name and year, is something GOV.UK says you can add to your work. It's a notice, not a registration. The registered symbol is for trade marks, and GOV.UK ties it to registration: once you've registered, you can put it next to your brand.
Using the registered symbol on a logo that isn't registered sends the wrong message, so keep the two straight on your website, packaging and social profiles.
My advice
Don't spend energy trying to 'copyright' your logo. If the artwork is original, copyright is already there. Spend that energy on two things instead: a contract that gives your business ownership of the design, and a trademark for the name and logo you're building the business on.
If you'd like help building the systems behind your brand and marketing so your assets stay organised and owned, that's part of what I do. I run AI training and workshops for teams, and help businesses with AI enablement and workflow automation, so the busywork runs itself and people get time back. Most of that work is with SaaS marketing teams and small businesses. Here's how we can work together.
Frequently asked questions
Can I copyright a logo?
The artwork can be protected by copyright if it has sufficient authorship, according to the U.S. Copyright Office. The name or slogan in it can't be.
Do I need to register a logo to own it?
Not for copyright. Protection exists from creation, and GOV.UK says UK protection is automatic with no fee, although in the US you'll need to register before suing over a US work.
Can I copyright a business name?
No. The U.S. Copyright Office says copyright doesn't protect names, titles, slogans or short phrases.
Is a logo protected by copyright or trademark?
It can be both. The U.S. Copyright Office says logo artwork may get copyright, and in some circumstances an artistic logo may also be protected as a trademark.
Who owns a logo a freelancer designed for me?
GOV.UK says self-employed people usually own the intellectual property in commissioned work unless the contract gives the client the rights, so put ownership in writing.
