This question is deliberate due to prospective high significance and
traffic of a website project on the verge of completion:
Is there a way that I can copyright/trademark the "look and feel" of
the website, so that nobody can create a duplicate one without
significant changes?
For example Google has done it I've heard so that nobody can make a
search engine looking like Google. (They have colored letters logo and
stuff..).
Any pointers / suggestions would be great. In fact the plus point of
the project is its "look and feel" upon which would be based its
future popularity. I'm afraid that if I do not take steps to protect
that, any deep pocketed guy might be able to get a duplicate made.
Thank you
Mike
There are legal issues with copying a company name/logo or product name/logo
if it may confuse the public regarding a registered trademark. That is not
limited to website look and feel, it applies to any use of the name/logo or
the name/logo imprinted on the product itself. So in the case of Google, if
someone uses a slightly different (but similar sounding) name as Google, and
the "look and feel" of the logo is similar or identical, the public might be
confused in thinking it is really Google, especially if it involves any
business that Google might reasonably be involved in..
If a website had a completely different name than Google, and that website
did not have a search engine, but the look and feel of their logo was the
same as Google logo, then it would probably be OK, since the public would
probably not be confused.
As was proven in the Apple vs. Microsoft case (which Microsoft won) it is
virtually impossible to copyright a look and feel of a computer interface,
unless the above mentioned confusion might occur regarding registered
trademarks.
As should be obvious by now, these issues have to be decided by courts (if a
lawsuit is filed) on a case by case basis.
