In aus.electronics harry said:
The logos may be trademarked or not but the document is still copyrighted to
the polytech or the issuing qualifications authority.
Publishing the certificate in a book would be a breach of copyright unless
permission was given.
Interesting borderline case here, I've seem martial arts certificates that
include complex calligraphy and decorative designs and would comfortably
pass as artistic works. However, looking at the certificate I got for completing
a Bachelor's degree, it contains a few sentences in fairly plain font,
some signatures, a logo and a university seal. It couldn't get through the
door as a literary work under any stretch of the imagination and unless
restraint and austerity are considered artforms in themselves it could
hardly be a work of art (and if minimalism is a legitimate artform then
a blank sheet of paper might be deserving of protection, or better than that,
no paper at all -- there is the ultimate statement indeed, claiming copyright
protection for the simplicity and purity of an artwork containing nothing at
all, then charging with infringement all the other artists who produce nothing).
Note that straightforward forms do NOT get awarded copyright protection
(and there are precedents for this) some additional creative input must be
demonstrated over and above a simple form.
I can't think of any other category of work that might apply here.
You couldn't even regard the certificate as a factual compilation because it
is only presenting one simple fact.
My guess is that unless we are talking about certificates that are considerably
better decorated than the average, copyright protection is going to be weak
at best, and probably not apply at all. Trademark protection would be far
stronger in most cases, forging the university seal would also be a workable
accusation if someone was producing identical certificates.
As for publishing your own certificate in a book (presumably a biographical
work), I think it would probably be legal from a copyright standpoint (this
is not legal advice) but you would have to be careful not to use the logo
as a promotional device for your book because of trademark issues (e.g. a
complete study guide with ready-to-go diploma from a recognised university
would obviously be a trademark violation).
I'm wondering if anyone can find a case where anyone has been accused of
copyright infringement for publishing or selling copies of their own diploma?
- Tel
