Would You Buy a Stock Logo?

Tweet

A big player in the stock photography industry, iStockphoto, recently announced it will be getting into the stock logo business in a few months. Using the service, clients will be able to browse a collection of logos submitted by designers and download one for between 100 and 750 iStock credits, the equivalent of roughly $140 to $750 based on the company's credit system. Designers, who can submit newly designed logos or work that had been rejected by past clients, will receive a 50 percent royalty fee. Those who create one of the first 10,000 approved logos will receive $5 each, if iStockphoto receives 10,000 submissions by a specific date.

Stock logos aren't a new concept. Plenty of sites, including Brandstack and Logopond, offer similar services. The new QuickBooks 2010 software, which I wrote about yesterday, even has a logo marketplace. Still, the announcement by iStockphoto, which is owned by Getty Images, has caused a stir among graphic designers, as evidenced by the response to the TechCrunch article on the new service. many of whom argue that designing a logo that effectively communicates a company's identity takes a good deal of research, design, and revision. Stock logos, many argue, are essentially icons with a company's name attached to them. Though iStockphoto plans to take any given logo off the market once it is downloaded, there is a possibility that designers could sell similar logos to other stock sites, rendering your company's identity less than unique.

What do you think? Is it worth spending a couple thousand dollars to work with a designer who will presumably create a logo more tailored to your company's image and message? Or is a stock logo good enough for your business? Let us know.

Plus: Read more about the stock logo debate in Ask Inc.

The Goods is focused exclusively on products and services for business owners. We won't ignore the latest netbook or the hottest smartphone, but we'll also examine the services, software, and Web-based tools that can help make your business succeed. Nadine Heintz, a senior editor at Inc., edits The Goods, as well as Quick Hits. Send suggestions, comments, and deals to nheintz@inc.com.