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Residents tell Belmar council they hold trademarked borough logo and seek protection from unauthorized use
Summary
A resident who said she designed and trademarked Belmar's logo urged the council to enforce usage guidelines after the emblem appeared on a marina sign and third-party pages; officials said they will consult the borough attorney and discuss a formal policy with the logo creator.
Belmar — At the July 14 public session, residents raised concerns that Belmar’s municipal logo has been used on third-party signs and social media pages without the designer’s permission.
Linda Sharges flagged a recent Facebook example and asked that the borough respect the logo’s integrity. A resident who identified herself as the logo’s creator said she copyrighted the design and later trademarked it, volunteered the work to the borough and established visual-use guidelines in 2012 and 2017. She said a 2022 partnership with a vendor allowed town use but that outside parties have used the logo on items and online pages that are not official borough content.
Mayor Donovan and council members said they were willing to meet with the speaker and the borough attorney to clarify permitted uses and potential enforcement steps. The borough also acknowledged a prior partnership with a vendor and said it will discuss next steps with counsel.
Why it matters: Municipal branding can affect tourism, fundraising and legal exposure. Residents who create and donate logos may expect the borough to honor agreed usage terms and to address unauthorized commercial use.
What comes next: The mayor asked the logo creator to share documentation; staff and the borough attorney will review trademark and partnership arrangements and may recommend a formal logo-use policy or an enforcement plan.
