Hi Everybody..this is my first post and have a question.
I am employed by a very unique company (with 125 - 130 employees) that produces a product that no one else in the world makes. Our product is shipped all over the world and is in very high demand. Our company is new, but is forecasted to be making very significant profits in the years to come. (we are already making a profit after being in production for one year)
My background with this company includes begining employment 1 1/2 years ago as a lower level hourly employee. I am now in a middle management salaried position. I love what I do and the people that I work with. I am very happy with the benefits that they provide, and am very loyal to our company.
About three months ago, the owners put on a contest to let the employees have a shot at coming up with a logo for our product that will be the brand identification for our product. They thought that they would try to get some ideas from us, submit them to a marketing agency, and see what they thought. If none of them worked, the professionals were to try to come up with one that would work for us. The prize was said to be announced by the owners group if any of our ideas were used.
I drew up a piece of art along with a new name for the product.
They have decided to use my product name, (which is VERY exciting to me) but do not know if they will be using my art.
I have yet to sit down with the owners or upper management to find out what my prize is or what they are going to offer me. I have no idea as to what they have in mind.
My question is....
What should I ask for? What do or how do marketing companies get compensated for designing a logo for a company?
I am not greedy, I just want to know what kind of entitlement would be fair?
Are there trademark laws involved here?
Do I just thank God that I have a job in this economy and if they offer me a $100 gift certificate to Sportsmens Warehouse..take it?
I did not sign any trademark or logo legal documents or anything of that nature regarding trademark rights (?) or anything when I turned in my logo.
So after this lengthy post, I guess that my questions are both legal and a what-would-any-of-you-do situation.
Thank you for taking you time to read this.
I am employed by a very unique company (with 125 - 130 employees) that produces a product that no one else in the world makes. Our product is shipped all over the world and is in very high demand. Our company is new, but is forecasted to be making very significant profits in the years to come. (we are already making a profit after being in production for one year)
My background with this company includes begining employment 1 1/2 years ago as a lower level hourly employee. I am now in a middle management salaried position. I love what I do and the people that I work with. I am very happy with the benefits that they provide, and am very loyal to our company.
About three months ago, the owners put on a contest to let the employees have a shot at coming up with a logo for our product that will be the brand identification for our product. They thought that they would try to get some ideas from us, submit them to a marketing agency, and see what they thought. If none of them worked, the professionals were to try to come up with one that would work for us. The prize was said to be announced by the owners group if any of our ideas were used.
I drew up a piece of art along with a new name for the product.
They have decided to use my product name, (which is VERY exciting to me) but do not know if they will be using my art.
I have yet to sit down with the owners or upper management to find out what my prize is or what they are going to offer me. I have no idea as to what they have in mind.
My question is....
What should I ask for? What do or how do marketing companies get compensated for designing a logo for a company?
I am not greedy, I just want to know what kind of entitlement would be fair?
Are there trademark laws involved here?
Do I just thank God that I have a job in this economy and if they offer me a $100 gift certificate to Sportsmens Warehouse..take it?
I did not sign any trademark or logo legal documents or anything of that nature regarding trademark rights (?) or anything when I turned in my logo.
So after this lengthy post, I guess that my questions are both legal and a what-would-any-of-you-do situation.
Thank you for taking you time to read this.