Comments on: No Big Deal if Your Logo is Similar to Another?

By: Pradeep Ray

Pradeep Ray — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:38:06 +0000

Thanks for such a great article! I was in quest of such an informatove article. Presently I am working on similar subject since I have found some ‘copycat’ tendendencies in my own country
that is really going against the interest of my organization (my employer-the largest life insurance company of India http://www.licindia.in). The most interesting thing I found is that a Sanlam-a leading life insurance company of South Africa ( http://www.sanlam.co.za) is in my list too. Their logo is identically similar to ours. I did not find even a single logo that looks so similar earlier in this arena.
I wrote to them a few days ago pasking the chemistry of this and
I have been ansewerd -

”
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: “Erna Wetzel”
Date: Nov 15, 2011 4:05 PM
Subject: Logo used by Sunlam
To: “Kelly Paulse” , “Nandi Scorer” , “pradeep.ray.here@gmail.com”
Cc: “Johan Bester”

Good day – your e-mail to the arbitrator’s office of Sanlam Life Insurance Limited in South Africa refers .

1. I presume you are referring to the similarities between the two companies’ logo’s? ( LIC attached). I can assure you that it is purely co-incidental, and there is no intention of piracy.

2. Sanlam is a well-established company who started out as early as 1918 in South Africa.

3. Our current logo was designed in 1973, and has been in use since then

4. This logo has been registered as a Trade Mark in South Africa in 1973 and also elsewhere in the world, where we do business.

5. When registering Trademarks , IP - searches are not necessarily done, nor registered world-wide, and since LIC does not do business in SA, and until recently Sanlam has not done business in India, it was not a concern. Both companies’ logos have been registered in their respective countries of origin – which is the most important. One cannot really object to another party using a similar logo in a country where you do not do business, or have not registered such logo as a Trade Mark
For your information though, Sanlam is currently branching out to India, and have applied to have our logo registered there. However, we have already been informed by your India Registrar of IP that our logo will not be able to proceed to registration due to LIC’s long standing rights.

Is there anything else I can help you with to set your mind at ease that we are very proud of our long standing Sanlam trademark, and we will definitely not intentionally “ steal” someone else’s concept?

Please contact me directly at above e-mail address should you want to discuss this further.

Kind regards and good luck with your research.

ERNA WETZEL
BRAND MANAGER
Sanlam: Business & Professional Markets

2 Strand Road, Bellville 7530, South Africa
PO Box 1, Sanlamhof 7532, South Africa
Tel +27 21 947 4506
Fax +27 21 947 6078
Mobile +27 82 854 3177
Web http://www.sanlam.co.za
e-mail erna.wetzel@sanlam.co.za

pradeep ray

11/11/2011 22:17

arbitrator@sanlam.co.za

Subject

Logo used by Sunlam

Dear sir,

I am presently preparing a research article on “Logos of life insurance companies. I have searched internet a lot and found some unpleasant items . These are ,unfortunately the cases of stealing intellectual properties .

Many of the companies have simply stolen the uunique logo used by the “life insurance insurance corporation of India “-the largest life insurance company of India (established by the government of india india in the year 1956 under life insurance corporation act./www.licindia.in).

The speciality of Sunlam life is their copycacat ability. This is nothing but a case of piracy.

This may kindly be looked into for further action .

With regards

Pradeep Ray
India

Please click on the following link for terms of use of this communication: http://www.sanlam.co.za/email-terms-of-use

Please click on the following link for terms of use of this communication: http://www.sanlam.co.za/email-terms-of-use ”
It should be noted that my company (Life Insurance Corporatoion of India, popularly known as LIC) created the logo in the year 1956 whereas Sanlam
designed the same in 1973. This is not their first ever design. This the most probably the 8th avatar of their logo that is completely different from their earlier versions!
And if they are correct in terms of copyright & ip act as per their explanation given in their email, then is it possible to rename xyz cola as ‘Coke’ or ‘Pepsi’ where these giants is inoperative?

What would you say?

Please tell me something new.

Pradeep Ray,
Calcutta, India

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:26:25 +0000

The Australia Network has a similar logo to Quark and the Scottish Arts council as well.

By: Vivienne Quek

Vivienne Quek — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:37:45 +0000

Hi Andrew
I agreed with you on that. :)

By: Andrew Keir

Andrew Keir — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:20:51 +0000

Even with a tonne of research you can check against every logo in existence. The most important thing is that the logo works best for you.

By: Perfume Lover

Perfume Lover — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:59:42 +0000

thnx for the the great info :)

By: Vivienne Quek

Vivienne Quek — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:16:56 +0000

Hi Stephanie

Thank you for your kind words. When we started Versa, I wanted an unique, one-of-the-kind logo yet timeless and classy. That will avoid the issues I listed in the above post. I was very happy when our design director conceptualized a mirror-image logo. No matter which side you see from, the image remains the same. It was useful even as an ice-breaker when we hand out our business clients to prospective client.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:23:42 +0000

Also, so far I have not created a logo that is similar enough to another company’s logo to cause problems but I have heard a lot of other people getting into quite a bit of trouble because they lacked on researching the topic thoroughly. I plan to let a few of them know about this article so that they may see the importance of researching before creation.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:20:55 +0000

Oh yes I completely agree with you. I create logos for a living and it is just so hard to make sure and not create a logo that is the same as another logo. I have to do so much research before I can even begin creating a new logo for a contracted company and the act of researching has done me well. Nice post!

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:53:10 +0000

Thks. Good Info.

By: Vivienne Quek

Vivienne Quek — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 07:07:02 +0000

Erwin: Having your own identity is certainly better than merely modelling after another.

Laura: I’m sure commercial copywriting pose similar challenge too. I was at a seminar recently and even the facilitator said copy “modelling” is one quick way to success.

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 14:35:55 +0000

Wow! I can see that this could be a huge problem. Thanks for this insightful article.

I only designed a logo once, back when I was employed in a corporation. It was for a product and not a company. It was mostly the initials of the product in a particular font and color.

Thanks again!

By: Erwin

Erwin — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:38:36 +0000

Hey Vivienne,

I don’t want a lawsuit to fight against.. That will really take up most of my capital and my precious time wasted which I could use it to earn money.

But it’s really a good idea to copy certain nice designs but please don’t over-do it.

I will still go all out for my own unique design though as I’m a rather graphic person.

Nice article!

Success,
Erwin