You only fully own your logo if the designer transfers copyright to you in writing and hands over the source files. In the US, the person who creates a design owns the copyright by default, even if you paid for it, unless there's a written assignment. Copyright protects the artwork; a trademark protects your exclusive right to use it in your market. Here's what that means in practice.
Copyright vs trademark: the difference
- Copyright protects the logo artwork itself as a creative work. It exists the moment the design is created.
- Trademark protects the logo as a brand identifier in your industry, stopping competitors from using something confusingly similar.
- You can own the copyright and still not have a trademark — and vice versa. Most brands want both.
Who owns a logo by default?
This surprises most business owners: under US copyright law, the creator owns the work by default. Paying a freelancer or agency does not automatically transfer copyright to you. Ownership passes only through a written assignment (or a qualifying work-for-hire agreement). Without it, you may only hold a license to use the mark.
Get ownership in writing before you pay the final invoice. A one-line copyright assignment in your contract or invoice is usually enough — but it must exist.
What full ownership should include
- 1A written transfer of copyright to your business
- 2The editable vector source files (AI/EPS), not just PNGs
- 3Unlimited usage rights — print, digital, merchandise, resale
- 4No ongoing licensing fees or usage restrictions
Should you trademark your logo?
If you're building a brand you intend to grow, a trademark is worth it. It gives you exclusive rights in your class of goods or services and real recourse if someone copies you. You can use a logo without registering it, but registration is what makes it defensible. Search existing marks first so you're not building on something already taken.
Bottom line
Owning your logo means having the copyright assigned to you in writing, holding the vector source files, and having unrestricted usage rights. Every Logo Design Partner project transfers full ownership with the complete file set — no strings. Start a project and the mark is genuinely yours.
Frequently asked questions
Not automatically. In the US the designer owns the copyright by default, even if you paid. Ownership transfers only through a written copyright assignment. Always confirm the transfer in writing and get the vector source files.
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