March 11, 2025 Copyright ©️ 2025 by goldkeen International Patent & Trademark Joint Office
7 Intellectual Property Q&As for freelancers and creators.
Missing just one word in a contract could mean signing away all your rights—
this guide is made for busy designers who need a quick overview:
① Contract
A verbal agreement is still a contract, but it's hard to prove in court.
Returning a signed quotation sheet acts as a safer, mutually recognized form of agreement.
② Exclusive vs. Non-Exclusive Licensing
Exclusive licensing means even the original creator can't use it, and can’t license it to anyone else.
The “exclusive license” you often hear about in projects is usually non-exclusive in legal terms.
③ Trademarks – Name Check First!
Before you propose a brand name to a client, have a trademark firm run a check.
You don’t want to finish a design only to have it rejected by the client’s trademark attorney 😂.
④ Trademarks – Who Pays Matters
If the client didn’t pay for the trademark design, and you apply for it yourself, it may still be challenged.
That’s a civil issue, not a trademark law violation. You can file for a payment order if necessary.
⑤ Copyright – Automatically Yours
You own the copyright the moment the work is created.
Registration is optional and helps with future legal proof.
A simple method: send a registered letter to yourself as evidence.
⑥ Copyright – Without a Contract, Rights Stay With the Designer
If a client outsources to a designer but doesn’t sign a contract, under copyright law, the designer retains the copyright.
This is why assigning copyright ownership in writing is so important.
⑦ Portrait Rights – Always Get Consent
Whether it’s a client or employee, get their written image release.
That way, if they stop working with you or leave the company, you still have the legal right to use video clips and materials.
The law protects those who understand it.
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