Legal info only, not legal advice. I’m a Business Law undergrad graduating Apr 2027, sharing what I’m learning as a creator.

I found this Ronin design online. No artist name. Just saved it to my phone. Took it to Jaipur, got it inked on my forearm.

Then I started my blog about ADHD coaching + Reiki and thought: Can I use my own tattoo as my logo?

Turns out, the answer is complicated.

Photo 1: My 浪人 tattoo

What is 浪人?

It means Ronin — masterless samurai.

The word itself is public domain. It’s 2000 years old. No one owns

Japanese kanji.

That’s the good news.

Do I own the brush design?

The bad news: If I found this brush-splash style online, someone drew that style. Technically they own copyright to that specific brush art.

But in Singapore, simple kanji + generic splash is considered low originality. It’s hard to claim strong copyright on it. It’s not like the Phoenix piece.

Risk level: LOW for personal use, MEDIUM if I use it as a business logo without redrawing.

What I’m doing: I’m getting this same 浪人 redrawn by a designer with a contract that says full commercial rights transferred to me. Cost $30 on Fiverr. Then it’s 100 percent mine. Then I can trademark it for my coaching.

Photo 2: My Phoenix + Katanas

This one is different. Look at it — geometric phoenix, double triangle, dotwork, crossed katanas with flame.

This is highly original art. Someone spent hours on this. This IS copyrighted.

I can post a photo of it on MY arm — I own the photo. I cannot take this exact phoenix and print it on shirts or make it my Reiki logo. If I do, original artist can file DMCA.

I’m keeping this one personal. Not commercial.

3 Lessons for SG Creators Who Have Tattoos:

• 1. Word vs Art: You can’t own a word (Ronin), but you can own a specific drawing of it.
• 2. Who brought the design matters: If you brought it from Pinterest, you don’t own it. If you paid an artist to draw custom with IP transfer, you do.
• 3. Skin vs Brand: You always own the photo of your tattoo on your skin. You don’t automatically own the right to use that art as a business logo.

My Checklist Before Using My Tattoo as My Logo:-

Reverse image search on Google Images — find original source?

• If orphan work (no source)

— redraw it with your twist

• Get written contract: Artist transfers full IP, commercial use allowed

• Save receipt + file- Then use it

I’m doing step 2 this week for the 浪人 mark.

Want my template? I made a 1-page Tattoo IP Transfer Contract for SG Creators — one paragraph you can send to any tattoo designer to make the art legally yours.

I got a 浪人 Ronin Tattoo From a Random Pic — Do I Own It? A Business Law Student’s BreakdownLegal info only, not legal advice. I’m a Busin

Download Checklist + Contract Template – $19