Copyright Committee Update: INTA Adds 11 New Countries to Report on Copyright Protections for Logos

INTA’s Copyright Committee, Logos Subcommittee, published an update in November 2019, to “Copyright Protection for Logos: An International Chart,” a survey of jurisdictions that protect copyrights in logos, adding the following jurisdictions:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Egypt
• Ireland
• Israel
• Morocco
• Portugal
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Tunisia
• Turkey

This survey is part of the Committee’s ongoing efforts to gather information and document how various jurisdictions protect copyrights in logos.

As with the initial survey, the Logos Subcommittee worked with in-country associates to develop a chart that compiles information helpful to those evaluating all means of protecting and enforcing rights for logos. Specifically, the chart covers how copyright protection is achieved in each country, the scope of such protection, whether law exists applying copyright protection to logos, how ownership is determined, whether registration is possible, and what the advantages and disadvantages are of using copyright law to protect and enforce rights in logos as compared with trademark law.

The initial survey was conducted during the 2016‒2017 Committee Term in conjunction with other committee work related to the intersection of copyrights and trademarks. This included INTA’s Board Resolution passed by the Board of Directors on September 12, 2017, which was sponsored by the Logos Subcommittee. Titled “Copyright Protection for Trademarked Material,” the resolution favors the position that copyrights and trademarks are separate disciplines, such that protection of a creative work of art, such as a logo, under one discipline should not hinder the ability of the artwork to receive protection under the other discipline. Indeed, a brand owner may not have to rely solely on trademark rights when its logo may also qualify as an original work of art deserving of copyright protection.

The updated information will be helpful to those trying to protect and enforce intellectual property rights in their logos internationally. The survey can be accessed here.

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of items in the INTA Bulletin, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.

© 2020 International Trademark Association