I recently outsourced a logo design from Elance and I am getting the Logo Tomorrow, Its a custom logo with a 3 word catchphrase, I plan on using it on the Facebook fan page, Twitter page, the website and eventually branch into branded merchandise. What kind of protection can I get ? what do large companies like Nike do where all the money is in the brand ? Im not based in the US but my domain name is registered there, if that helps.
register your logo with the US trademark office and EU office... or wherever ur operations will be. The cost will be greater but don't make the same mistake Apple did with "iPad" in China.