When you buy a logo from a designer or agency, you probably assume it’s fully yours — but that’s only half the truth.
A beautiful design doesn’t mean you legally own the exclusive rights to use it everywhere. That’s where trademarks come in — and it’s a step many business owners don’t realize they need until it’s too late.
Why Most Agencies Don’t Talk About Trademarks
The truth is, a lot of design studios or freelance designers deliver your logo files, wish you luck, and move on.
Some don’t offer trademark help at all — and many never explain how protecting your logo works in the real world.
Here’s How the Trademark Process Actually Works
You’ll need a trademark lawyer.
Getting a logo trademarked isn’t a quick online form — you should use an attorney who specializes in trademark law.
You’ll pay a filing fee — and it can get kicked back.
The filing fee for a single class usually starts around $250–$350, but many filings get rejected on the first try. You may need to pay to refile.
Even the pros can’t guarantee 100% success.
Good firms run clearance searches, but those tools can miss older businesses that aren’t in big databases — like a mom-and-pop shop that’s used a similar name for 30 years. If they pop up and challenge you, you might lose.
Each use case is an additional cost.
You pay per class — so if you want to protect your name for clothing and marketing services, that’s two filings.
So, Do You Really Own It?
You own your logo files — but you don’t have exclusive, enforceable rights until you register the mark.
Without that, someone could use a similar name or look, and you’d have little recourse.
What You Can Do Next
At Demur Design, I always make sure my clients understand what they’re actually buying — and what extra steps they need to really protect their brand.
We offer trademark service as an add on service for our logo designs and branding services. Have questions? reach out to us at [email protected].
Demur Design is a creative studio specializing in branding, web design, and digital marketing
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