Thanks for responding with such good questions and comments. I was afraid I was asking for too much.
Unfortunately, this slogan/logo is, indeed, trademarked - by a realtor in Oregon.
You can check it out at
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield...ate=u8l07p.4.2
FYI, I used ‘mouse house’ as my search term at the USPTO <
http://www.uspto.gov/ > and got the following variations:
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield...h=Submit+Query
As to the logo...
Here’s what I like:
1) I like the cleanliness of the design. I am not a ‘busy logo’ person, so don’t like things like
http://sellmyownrealestate.com. I also find that I like non-3-dimensional logos.
2) If I modified the logo, I would *like* it to be to one of the following:
”Click a mouse...sell your house”
”Click a mouse...list your house”
”Click your mouse...list your house”
All are in keeping with my services. I also think they are catchy, to the point, in keeping with expected FSBO internet services in general, and not only say what clients would get but is a call to action.
But I would be willing to consider variations on that theme. Unfortunately I find it hard to get this one out of my mind (and have for quite a while) so have no imagination left :-(
3) I like the way the URL is incorporated totally into the design since my URLs are my business names. (By the way, I think the heaviness of the roof in the original is meant to balance the heaviness of BEND at the other end, but could be wrong.)
4) I also like the way that this could be both a web and business card design, as well as fit nicely into an email signature
I, too, would be interested in people’s thoughts about what is a rip-off and what is a legitimate use of ideas and elements of ideas from other sources. Since this particular logo/slogan is trademarked, it certainly reduces my options somewhat.
Now knowing that the logo/slogan is trademarked, what are your thoughts on using these elements to create a nice logo?
Thanks,
Kendall