Copyright · 4 min read
Copyright vs Trademark for Your Logo - Do You Need Both?
Copyright and trademark protect different things. Most serious Nigerian brands eventually file both. Here's why.
Copyright protects the artwork as a creative work. Trademark protects the mark as a commercial identifier in the classes you sell in. They stack, they don't replace each other.
Copyright (NCC)
- Automatic on creation, but registration is your proof of ownership
- Protects the exact artwork, packaging, code or content
- Cheaper and faster than trademark
- Lasts your lifetime + 70 years
Trademark (IPO)
- Requires filing per class of goods/services
- Blocks competitors from using confusingly similar marks in your class
- Required for Amazon Brand Registry, Jumia Brand Store, franchising
- Renewable 7 years then every 14 years
AMG rule of thumb
Register copyright on the artwork on day one. Trademark the mark when you know the classes you'll trade in. Both, filed correctly, are a real moat.
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