How to protect a design on a T-shirt?

What's the best and most economic way to protect a unique design on a T-shirt (Copyright or Trademark)?

Who do I register it with, and will registration protect the intellectual property worldwide?

Until you can get it formally trademarked, I assume that you can use the ghetto method and mail it to yourself and keeping the received envelope sealed. This is a common way to protect intellectual property as it will contain a government stamped date.

Originally Posted by TotallyKiller

Until you can get it formally trademarked, I assume that you can use the ghetto method and mail it to yourself and keeping the received envelope sealed. This is a common way to protect intellectual property as it will contain a government stamped date.

i heard thats not really legally binding tho.

Does it have to be trademarked? What if the design is more graphical than textual, then could it not also be copyrighted?

Originally Posted by UrbanPoet

i heard thats not really legally binding tho.

It's not, however it can then be used as evidence to prove that you are the original creator of it's contents. The stamp will be dated, and if you really were the first one to come up with "I'm with stupid," then nobody will be able to show evidence that they beat you to it.