It surprises a lot of people, but in the UAE, as in most countries, the person who designs something owns the copyright in it unless a contract says otherwise. That includes your logo. So it’s worth knowing what your studio’s contract says before you start.
What you own with us
When the final invoice is paid, we assign you the copyright in the final approved work: the logo, the packaging, the campaign designs, the guidelines. It’s in writing, in the project agreement, and you never need to ask our permission to use it.
What you don’t own
- Typefaces. Fonts are licensed, not sold. We buy the licences in your name and list them in the handover.
- Stock photos and music. Also licensed, with terms that depend on where you use them.
- The routes you didn’t choose. Unused ideas stay with us, and we never sell them to a competitor of yours.
If a studio won’t tell you in writing who owns the work, ask why.
Trademarks are a separate thing
Copyright protects the design. A trademark protects the name and logo as a sign of your business, and you register it yourself with the UAE Ministry of Economy, usually through a lawyer. We check names before you fall in love with one, but we’re not lawyers, and we’ll tell you when you need one.
Showing your work
We like to show our work, but only after it’s launched and only with your agreement. If you need us to keep a project quiet, we’ll sign an NDA, and it stays off our website for as long as you need.
Questions about a contract? Email me at hello@loudhours.ae. I’d much rather answer them before you sign.
