Photo courtesy of furiousgeorge81
So iStock are to sell pre-packaged logos. They’re billing it as a “huge opportunity for designers”, and are giving $5 for every design that’s uploaded and approved for sale.
Given iStock’s size in the marketplace, I imagine there’ll be thousands of uploads. Wouldn’t that need a boat-load of copyright policing?
“We are placing the burden of checking for trademark-ability on the client.”
Oh. I see.
That’s a big burden. And whilst many designers won’t perform a trademark search (that’s where trademark lawyers come in) what they will do is conduct weeks, possibly months, of research into the client’s industry, their competitors, their history, their goals etc. So if there’s a decent chance of copyright infringement, it can be picked up early.
I’ve learned a lot during my years as a designer. One of those things is that a logo in isolation is like lipstick on a pig. It needs to be treated as part of an overall brand identity strategy, not picked off a shelf. This is no different from the “make your own logo” websites out there, or the logo contest spec work sites that harbour an equal amount of “design” nastiness.
iStock’s actions shouldn’t make designers worry
Many a professional photographer succeeds despite stock photography, but I am concerned for those small business owners who will undoubtedly find themselves in the middle of a legal battle, and for those professional designers who will undoubtedly find their work copied time and again by hacks looking for a quick five bucks.
Yep, it’s a good time to be a trademark lawyer.
More elsewhere
- AIGA President Debbie Millman, “What iStock is doing to designers is deplorable. Truly heinous.” Via Twitter
- Have we become cheap whores?
- iStockphoto to sell stock logos
- iStockphoto.com Now Selling Stock Logos… Your Thoughts?
- $5 Reward for Stock Logos
- iStockphoto to begin selling stock logos
- Window-shopping: the Future of Design?
- If you find yourself uncontrollably compelled to upload a logo, knock yourself out
