Can You Put a Logo on a Headstone?

Families often want to honour a person's favourite team, their employer, their union or their club. Logos, though, are usually trademarks. Here's how to approach it.

The trademark question

Logos belong to their owners. Monument companies are often cautious about reproducing them without permission, and some cemeteries won't approve them. Private, non-commercial memorial use is a grey area, so the simplest approach is to ask or use an alternative.

Types of logos

• Sports teams — many families want their team's crest.
• Companies and brands — a car maker, a tractor brand, an airline.
• Unions and associations — often happy to grant permission to members' families.
• Clubs and fraternal orders — see Masonic emblems and Odd Fellows symbols.
• Military insignia — see military symbols; rules vary by service and country.

Getting permission

Write to the organisation, explain the memorial use and ask for written permission and approved artwork. Unions, clubs and regiments often say yes; large brands vary. Keep the permission with your order.

Generic alternatives

• A hockey stick and puck instead of a team crest — see ideas for a hockey fan.
• The car itself instead of the badge — see ideas for a car enthusiast.
• Team colours in paint.
• Generic wings instead of an airline logo.

A practical tip

Ask the monument company whether they've used the emblem before. Many keep approved union and regimental artwork on file, which saves time and ensures accuracy.

Key Takeaways

• Most logos are trademarks.
• Unions, clubs and regiments often grant permission.
• Keep written permission with your order.
• Generic symbols and colours are an easy alternative.

Next Step

See what you can't write on a headstone.