Illustrations: visual storytelling
is the art of telling a story through images. It often accompanies a text in books, magazines, comics, or advertisements, adding emotion, atmosphere, or clarity. Illustrators use drawing, painting, collage, or mixed media to express a concept or evoke a feeling.
Graphic works: visual communication
—for example, posters, logos, or editorial designs—are about designing a message. They combine images, typography, and layout to communicate ideas clearly and effectively. The creative arrangement of forms, color, and repetition and visual flow can transform a simple message into a memorable image.
Expression, not function
Copyright protects the artistic and expressive elements of illustrations and graphic works—the visual decisions that reflect the author’s personality. It does not protect functional or purely informational parts, such as data, measurements, or technical instructions.
A technical or architectural drawing may be protected for its artistic expression, but not for the practical object it represents.
Rights and use
Because illustrations and graphic works are frequently used in publishing, advertising, and media, their commercial use is often governed by contracts, for example, licensing or commissioning agreements. These define who owns the rights, how the works may be reused or adapted, and how the artist is credited.
In addition, or may play an important role in managing secondary uses of these works, such as reproduction in educational materials, digital databases, or press clippings. CMOs and RROs can help ensure that artists receive fair remuneration when their works are used beyond the original commission.
Visit our pages on Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) and Collective Management in Visual Arts.
Logos as graphic works
A logo is a type of graphic work. It is a visual symbol designed to represent a company, organization, or personal brand. Like a poster, a book cover, or a piece of packaging art, it combines creativity with the aim of helping people instantly recognize something or someone.
Think of the WWF panda, the Starbucks mermaid, or the Lacoste crocodile. Each has a clear artistic element, a hand-drawn image, a distinctive line, or a creative use of color and shape. These are not just business signs; they are original designs, and that is what gives them copyright protection.
When a logo is protected
A logo can be protected by copyright when it shows a personal creative touch, for example:
a unique drawing or illustration (like the Twitter bird or WWF panda);
a distinctive typographic style (like the flowing Coca-Cola lettering);
a creative composition of colors and shapes (like Google’s multicolored letters).
Copyright and trademark - two sides of protection
There are two main ways a logo can be protected:
Copyright protects the creative design – the visual expression itself, the way it looks. This protection starts automatically when the work is created.
Trademark protects how the logo is used in business as a sign that identifies goods or services. Trademarks usually require registration and renewal.
While copyright protects the creative expression of the logo, trademark law protects its commercial identity. Many creators and companies use both forms of protection, registering the logo as a trademark while also relying on copyright to ensure that it remains secure.
Whether the work is an illustration, a graphic design, or a logo, what ultimately protects it is the same: a genuine, identifiable creative choice by its author, evidenced through clear documentation and, where relevant, well-drafted contracts.
Credit image: ma_rish