FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs
ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN ONE PLACE
Or skip the reading & book your free consult.
FAQs
Do I own my logo if I paid a designer to make it?
Not automatically. Under U.S. copyright law the person who creates a work owns the copyright by default, even when someone else paid for it. Ownership transfers only through a signed written assignment, an invoice, a friendly email, or a verbal agreement usually isn't enough. Check your designer agreement for the word "assignment." If it isn't there, you may not own what you think you own.
What is the difference between a copyright and a trademark?
Copyright protects what you made, such as photographs, writing, music, course content, artwork, and it exists the moment you create the work. A trademark protects what you're called: your business name, logo, tagline, or the name of a signature offer. Most creative businesses need both, because they solve different problems. One protects the work; the other protects your identity in the market.
Do I need to trademark my business name?
You aren't required to, but registration is what makes your rights enforceable and visible to everyone else considering the same name. U.S. trademark rights lean heavily on who used a name first in commerce, and registration puts your claim on the public record. Waiting doesn't reserve your place, it means someone else may be quietly building a competing claim to a name you've used for years.
Do contract templates work in every state?
Most don't. Contract law is state law, and a clause that's enforceable in one state can be unenforceable in another. Many documents sold online are drafted for a single state, or for no particular state, and rarely tell you which. Before using one, find out what state it was written for. That’s why every InFrame Law Contract and Creator Kit is written with the language designed for each of the 50 states requirements.
Does registering an LLC protect my business name?
No, it doesn’t. And this is one of the most common misunderstandings we see. Registering an LLC gives you the right to operate under that name in one state's business registry. It doesn't stop a company in another state from using the same name, and it doesn't give you trademark rights. Trademark registration is the best way to protect your business name in the marketplace.
Are contract templates legally binding?
Yes, when a document is properly drafted, correctly filled in, and signed by everyone involved. A template isn't a lesser kind of contract, it's a contract somebody drafted before you needed it. What matters is whether the terms fit your situation, whether it accounts for your state's law, and whether it's current. Signed by both parties, it binds exactly as a bespoke contract would. All Inframe Law Contracts are drafted by an attorney, and are updated for free as state law changes happen.
Do I need a lawyer in my own state?
For trademarks and copyrights, no. Those are federal, and registration runs through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Copyright Office identically from any state. For contracts, state law matters a great deal, which is why the document itself needs state-specific language. Inframe Law works with clients throughout the United States.
Can I register a trademark myself?
Yes. The USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office) lets anyone file their own application. The risk isn't the filing, it's the decisions before it. whether the name is genuinely available, the specialized searches on not readily available websites, which class to file in, and how to accurately describe your goods and services. Most refusals, and costly amendments trace back to those choices rather than to paperwork errors.
At Inframe Law we handle the three decisions that actually determine the outcome- the clearance search, the class, and the description of your goods and services, so you're not guessing at choices you only get one shot at. A refused application doesn't refund your filing fee, which is why paying once to get it right usually costs less than paying twice to get it wrong.
What should be in a client contract?
Every client contract should settle six things before the work starts. Vague or missing, any one of them is where disputes begin.
Scope. What you're delivering, in specific terms — and what you're not. Most disagreements trace back to this one line being fuzzy.
Payment. How much, when it's due, what happens when it's late, and whether a deposit is refundable.
Ownership. Who owns the finished work, and when ownership transfers. Tying transfer to final payment is the difference between a contract that protects you and one that just describes the job.
Revisions. How many are included and what counts as one. Without a number, "a few small tweaks" has no ceiling.
Delays. What happens when a client goes quiet mid-project, and when a paused job becomes a cancelled one.
Ending it. How either side can walk away, what's owed if they do, and where a dispute gets resolved.
Inframe
Law
What does InFrame do?
InFrame Law is an intellectual property firm built exclusively for independent artists and creative entrepreneurs. We provide trademark registration, copyright registration, and attorney-drafted legal templates to cover every type of asset in a creator's body of work—no matter how the work is made or where it lives. It’s complete asset protection in one place, through one simple, affordable framework.
Who does InFrame serve?
InFrame Law exclusively serves independent artists and creative entrepreneurs by providing the essential legal services they need to protect and position their most valuable assets. Our clients include:
OUR WRITERS & STORY-TELLERS — Authors, Journalists, Screenwriters, Essayists, Substackers, Bloggers, Ghostwriters, Copy & Manuscript Editors, Publishers, Speakers, Filmmakers, Photographers, Videographers, Visual Artists, and Illustrators
OUR ONLINE CREATORS & ENTERTAINERS — Content Creators, Influencers, YouTubers, TikTokers, Podcasters, Substackers, Speakers, Creators of Masterminds, Retreats, and Events, Musicians, Songwriters, Actors, Choreographers, Dancers, and Performers
OUR EDUCATORS & SERVICE PROVIDERS — Coaches, Course Creators, Speakers, Yoga & Pilates Instructions, Fitness Instructors & Personal Trainers, Breathwork Facilitators, Photographers, Web & Graphic Designers, Podcast Producers & Editors, Social Media Managers, Virtual Assistants, Videographers, and Marketing & Branding Agents
OUR MAKERS & SELLERS — Visual Artists, Painters, Illustrators, Print & Digital Designers, Mixed-Media Artists, Ceramicists, Textile Designers, Crochet/Knit Creators, Fashion / Clothing Designers, Ceramicists, Candle Makers, and Artisans of Jewelry, Accessories, Beauty Products, Fragrances & Home Goods
How is InFrame different from traditional law firms?
Most IP firms protect businesses. We protect creators.
InFrame Law was founded by an attorney who spent over two decades representing entrepreneurs and built her own creative business inside the same economy her clients are navigating. That combination—legal expertise and lived context—means everything to us because we know exactly why traditional legal services do not serve creators. Most law firms were built around traditional business structures—with disconnected services, compounded hourly fees, and antiquated solutions that do not work for creators.
Everything we do at InFrame is rooted in the day-to-day reality of creators like you. We know what you value, what you need, what you don’t, and how you work. We know what it takes to build a thriving business around a living, breathing body of work. And we know how your work operates in today’s creator economy—with your brand, creative, and content assets in constant motion across platforms, programs, and partnerships.
What legal services do you provide and what creator assets do they protect?
Our framework integrates essential trademark, copyright, and contract protections creators need to protect their work into a single, affordable approach. Here’s how it works.
Our Core Trademark Registration Package protects your brand: your name, logo, slogan, and the names of your signature offers, courses, masterminds, events, retreat, launches, programs, personal brands, and more.
Our Core Copyright Registration Package protects your original creative work: your writing, photography, video, art, music, and choreography.
Our Core Creator Content Protection Kit protects everything else—your proprietary content, methods, website copy, course materials, business relationships, and many other forms of protectable business assets.
Our FullFrame Protection Package protects everything in one integrated framework and one flat fee cost.
How do I know if I need Trademark, Copyright, or Contract Services?
This question goes to the heart of our business design. Not every creative entrepreneur needs the same legal protections. Our four packages cover the full range of asset protections creators need and are designed to work together, as a seamless and integrated whole, no matter where the work lives, travels, or changes. Some of our packages are available for purchase on demand; however, most of what we do starts with a free consultation. We want to make sure that the creators we serve are getting everything they need and nothing they don’t need. We also want to make sure that every creator we work with is fully supported by our legal and creative team. We know the challenges of building business in the creator economy and it’s our mission to support our clients like family.
But there’s another reason this question is so important. Based on our experience inside traditional law firms and serving working creators, what we now know about the independent community of creators is this.
The vast majority of creators are currently receiving inaccurate legal advice and either extremely inadequate or nonexistent legal protections for their work. In addition, with the extraordinary rise in AI training data, the likelihood of your assets (whether brand, creative work, or content) being misused, copied, shared, and repurposed has skyrocketed. And no one—until now—is providing a clear, integrated framework for creators that actually works. Read our report on the state of creator asset protection here.
InFrame Law exists to fill that massive gap in a way that truly serves creators no matter where they are in business. We cover all of your options and questions on our first call and continue to support you at no additional charge as long as you remain a client.
My brand/business is still small. Is it too early to work with InFrame?
Absolutely not. Our clients come to us to help them protect and position their brand, creative work, and content no matter how it’s made, where it lives, and when it was published. Most creators, however, are advised to engage counsel to protect their assets once they’re established. This is extremely bad advice for creators. Here’s why.
Your Most Valuable Asset. Everything creators do revolves around their body of work and everything they hope to achieve—creatively, professionally, and financially—depends on their ability to protect and position their work in the creator economy. Like a tire company’s value is tied to their inventory, the value of creators’ business is tied to their body of work. And that work—whether brand, creative work, or content—is not only their inventory; it’s their business credibility, creative legacy, and personal income.
Your Most Vulnerable Asset. Creators who wait until they are "further along" to address their legal foundation are already behind. By the time they feel established, a large volume of their work has been released into the creator economy and fed to AI programs with no legal protection. The time to protect your work is before you hit “publish,” and the longer you wait, the greater you risk.
Your Most Visible Asset. The creators who proactively protect their work and consistently position the value and ownership of their work are the ones that thrive. Ask your If you are building a body of work, entering partnerships, or publishing content online, the assets you are creating right now are worth protecting now. Ask yourself: Would you rather work with someone who visibly protects their work as a high-value asset or with someone who doesn’t consider their work “far enough along” to be worthy of protection? The answer to that question explains why the creators who protect their work in the creator economy are the ones who thrive in the creator economy.
OUR FRAMEWORK IN 4 STEPS
STEP 1: START WITH A FREE CONSULTATION
Your InFrame process starts with a free 30-minute conversation. We discuss your most valuable asset — your body of work — and how it operates in the creative world through your brand identity, original creative work, and proprietary business assets. Our first call allows us to explore that world in greater depth so we have a complete picture of your work — where it lives, how it moves in the market, and where it’s most vulnerable.
But with zero legalese, retainers, or outdated law-firm processes. Just a real conversation between people who understand creative work in the modern creative market.
STEP 2: WE DESIGN YOUR FRAMEWORK & PRESENT YOUR OPTIONS
Based on what we learn about your specific industry and creative practice, we build a custom framework that protects your body of work across all platforms, mediums, and business structures. Our frameworks are specifically designed for independent artists and creative entrepreneurs — such as writers, visual artists, photographers, instructors, and designers — providing exactly what creators need and nothing more.
No framework is the same. Yours is custom-framed for you based on your creative field, budget, and particular needs in one or more of the following:
Trademark Protection for your Brand Assets → to secure ownership and control over your brand, including name, logo, key phrases, and signature offers.
Copyright Protection for your Creative Assets → to secure ownership and control of your original creative work through copyright registration.
Contract & Content Protection for your Business Assets → to secure ownership and control of your proprietary business assets through clear contracts, legal policies, and essential enforcement tools.
STEP 3: YOU SELECT YOUR FRAMEWORK
We finalize and present your custom framework, outlining everything you need to protect your body of work with clear, up-front pricing. No retainers. No hourly fees. No confusing invoices. No billing surprises. No uncertainty in cost.
STEP 4: WE IMPLEMENT YOUR FRAMEWORK
We do the work. We file the registrations, prepare the documents, and assemble all parts of your complete framework in one place — a clean, organized, ready-to-use digital bundle — along with a clear implementation guide so you know exactly what to do with every piece of it.
HOW TO GET A TRADEMARK
Step 1: Deciding on a trademark
It all starts with a conversation. The first step is to fill out our project inquiry form with as much detail as possible. If it feels like a good fit, we will invite you to a complimentary 30-minute consultation call to discuss your vision, goals, and how we can best support you.
Step 2: Connecting with Trademark Lawyer
You’ve been thinking about trademarking your company name, idea, or taglines, but you’re not sure if your branding is trademarkable or if finding out is worth the cost. But what are the risks if you wait or choose not to trademark?
Step 3: The Application
You’ve been thinking about trademarking your company name, idea, or taglines, but you’re not sure if your branding is trademarkable or if finding out is worth the cost. But what are the risks if you wait or choose not to trademark?
Step 4: YOU ARE TRADEMARKED!
You’ve been thinking about trademarking your company name, idea
GETTING STARTED
What is the first step to working together?
It all starts with a conversation. The first step is to fill out our project inquiry form with as much detail as possible. If it feels like a good fit, we will invite you to a complimentary 30-minute consultation call to discuss your vision, goals, and how we can best support you.
What should I have prepared for our consultation call?
The most important thing is to have clarity on your business goals. Come ready to discuss what you hope to achieve with this project—whether it's attracting a higher-end client, increasing online sales, or establishing yourself as a leader in your industry. A clear vision helps us build a powerful strategy.
GET STARTEDReady to Launch Your Legal Protection Plan?
Your First Step Is Free
Sign up for a free 30-minute consultation, and we'll help you understand your risks, your options, and your next steps.
Let's get your work in frame.