Fake logos that parody big brands can draw someone’s eye right away. But you’ll have to be careful when adding them to your team’s designs. Fair use laws will only help your firm if you follow their rules to the letter.
In this guide, the Page Flows team will teach you about parody logos and how to make them.
What Are Parody Logos?
A parody logo is a design that looks like another firm’s style on purpose. The goal here is often for people to see the link right away. Comedy is a big reason for these designs, though there are other reasons people might use them. They may parody an oil firm’s logo as a serious point, for example.
While some brands do copy others to get their buyers, this won’t be a parody. It only fits the bill if there’s a message, be it fun or serious.
But the designer still has to change the logo in a big way. This includes changing the text into something else. Perhaps a pun that fits the parody’s main point.
Are Parody Logos Legal?
In US law, the First Amendment protects parody. This means, for the most part, you can make a fake logo that looks like a big brand’s. But this isn’t always the case. You might be in trouble if a judge thinks people could mistake your art for the real deal.
If your logo is for a serious point or joke of some kind, you’ll likely be okay. Courts look more favorably on designs that aren’t up for sale. This won’t stop you from selling the design. But it means you’ll have to make your point as clear as you can.
Beyond the constitution, fair use laws control how the courts see copyright. Sticking close to the official rules will help you avoid legal problems. On this note, here are the four main factors that affect fair use laws:
- Purpose: Works that change the source somehow are more likely to hold up in court.
- Nature: If your parody relies on someone else’s creativity, this might work against you.
- Amount: You should only use enough of the source as you need to make your point.
- Effect: Your logo shouldn’t harm the market or trick buyers into choosing your brand.
Can I Parody a Logo?
So long as you stick close to the fair use rules above, you can still parody a logo. The laws that exist are quite flexible. They respect the artist’s right to mock other brands. However, this can become much more complex if you go on to sell the art.
Even if people don’t think your logo is the original, the brand might still object. For example, they may say the design relies too much on the hard work of their art team. Once more, a parody logo can’t use more of the source work than it needs to.
You will need to make the logo’s status as a parody clear from the start. There can’t be any room for confusion. The Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. case lets even for-sale parodies count as fair use. But this alone won’t stop a brand if they think your logo is theft.
How To Make a Parody Logo
Making a logo that mocks another firm takes careful planning. You’ll also need to keep an eye on fair use laws at all times. Otherwise, you may break their trademark. Here’s a guide to making a funny logo parody.
1. Find an Idea
Like any logo-making plan, the first step is to think of ideas. This can take more time than all the other steps combined. Find a message you want to send if you are doing brand research. Then, look for a brand that would serve as a good “target” for your point.
2. Draft the Logo
Once you have a vague idea of what you’re looking for, do a first draft. This can be quite a basic mockup that gets your point across. If you have the money, make a focus group to get their thoughts on the many options.
3. Ask a Lawyer
“Are parody logos legal?” is not a question with a clear answer. Sometimes, you can only get peace of mind in your idea if you ask a lawyer yourself. Find one that works with fair use law. It also helps if they have experience with parody cases.
4. Make the Design
If you have a legally-sound and strong design idea, you can start making it. If you don’t have an artist on your team, you can hire a parody logo maker. Look for one who gives multiple revisions to make sure you get a great result.
Why Do People Parody Popular Logos?
Parodies are all about sending a message in a familiar way. While these can be funny, many big examples are a lot more serious. Here are the five main reasons people might make a logo parody:
- Social commentary: A logo can act as a stand-in for a company. The parody may even be about that brand’s practices. For example, fake logos might attack the firm by pointing out if they underpay staff.
- Art: All parody logos count as art — but some are a real way to show the artist’s creative side. They might want to use a familiar color scheme as a springboard for new ideas that suit their style.
- Humor: Sometimes, there’s no “point” in a parody. The clash of a real logo and a fun message could be why it exists. The joke may be that the firm’s name is easy to turn into a silly pun.
- Marketing: Many firms learn how to make a parody logo to help their campaigns. They might use designs like this in the hope of going viral. However, “target” brands may think this takes advantage of their work.
- Political statements: Good parody logos are recognizable right away. Activists can use them to make it more likely that people see their points. Once they catch someone’s eye with a design (emotional designs can help with that), they can then start informing them.
What Is a Parody Logo Maker?
There are no online tools that can reliably make a parody business logo. A good prompt might get you results from an AI image creator. But they still struggle with adding text to an image. This could soon change as the tools keep on growing.
Consider hiring a freelance artist online to act as your creative partner. They can give their own feedback on the design and help you bring it all to life. There are plenty of cheap logo artists on Fiverr or Upwork for you to choose from.
However, depending on your situation, you might not have the budget to hire an artist. It may be worth asking, “Can I parody a logo myself?” The source logo is already a great starting point. Try making a parody with a simple design tool such as Canva.
Parody Logos: A New Twist on Old Designs
Parody logos are a chance for your firm to make a big point or just joke around. If you need even more design help, take a close look at popular app UIs.
Page Flows has a bunch of UX examples that show all kinds of apps in action. Check out our full library, and you’ll soon learn which design trends will make a mark.
