Difference between revisions of "Moderator Manual:Mod trademark"

Revision as of 10:08, 17 April 2009

Copyright and Trademark Policy

[Updated on 27 Nov 2008]

For Immediate Help: Please contact trademark@freecycle.org

How to Use the Freecycle Trademark

The following guidelines are for areas outside the European community, Australia and Canada. If you reside in the European Union, Australia or Canada, the proper logo information can be found [/faq/manual/eu_trademark here].

For trademark guidelines regarding the printing of promotional material please review the guidelines and professionally designed [/faq/manual/mod_tradepromotion brochures]. We are doing a really good thing here. And, we are also learning as we go, which means there will always be evolution and change.

Because the Freecycle concept is unique and amazingly successful, there are many who have and who would try to use it for personal gain and profit. For that reason, The Freecycle Network is incorporated as a nonprofit organization, and the Freecycle name and logo are both trademark protected.

We need to do our best to properly use the Freecycle trademark so that we don't lose the right to it. In legalese, the use of the term "Freecycle" denotes a gifting service which is officially approved by the nonprofit organization "The Freecycle Network," and one that the public can expect to adhere to certain standards.

The Freecycle Network must approve any email list or web site that uses the term "Freecycle" in its name and provides any sort of exchange service. (A relevant point for us to note internally is that we have to demonstrate a "concerted" effort.)

When using the term "Freecycle" please do the following:

1. While "The Freecycle Network" is a trade name, it also functions as a service mark -- i.e., a source indicator -- so it is okay to use a TM with it. For example: The Freecycle Network(TM) When used as a trade name (think proper name), the term "Freecycle" may be used in place of "The Freecycle Network" to allow sentences to be more concise. For example: While The Freecycle Network has been growing by leaps and bounds, Freecycle also remains true to its core mission.
2. In all other cases, the term "Freecycle" must be used as an adjective, never as a noun or verb. For example:

1. Attribution Statement. (This is fancy-speak for a statement attributing ownership of a trademark to someone at the bottom of emails, etc.) At the bottom or within the body of all official Freecycle web sites, articles, press releases, automatic notices, and group home pages the following trademark attribution should appear (the horizontal lines are nice because they separate it from your content but they're not necessary):

##COPY1##

1. 1. Log into the Yahoo and go to the group page
   2. Click on Management on the left
   3. Click on Messages on the right
   4. Next to Subject Tag and Footer, click Edit
   5. Enter the text above in the Footer box (you can create the lines by using a series of dashes (-) or underscores (_) but don't let them extend too far or they'll wrap to the next line in some email programs
   6. Click the Save Changes button For those with more advanced computer skills here's a couple fancy alternatives to the above method:
   7. You can use this image instead of the Freecycle logo on your group page. It still contains the logo but it also includes the statement above: To use this image, enter its address into the image field in your group description.
      Its address is: http://www.freecycle.org/images/freecycle-tm.jpg. The logo without the attribution text can be found at http://freecycle.org/images/logo.jpg.
   8. You can use the following HTML code in your group's description to create the attribution statement exactly as above: {| border="1"

|}

1. The term "Freecycle" in text must always be capitalized to set it off from the surrounding text. Example: Freecycle groups are great!
2. Local groups need to use the official Freecycle logo. It must include a TM symbol and appear exactly as it does on http://www.freecycle.org. It is okay to put adornments around it and behind it. Never put anything over any portion of the logo or otherwise obscure the basic form of the logo or the TM symbol.
3. E-mail addresses with the word "Freecycle" in them. One should consider using something explanatory in addition to the word "Freecycle" in their e-mail address or ID for clarity's sake. Example: FreecycleSpringfield@hotmail.com.
4. On your local Yahoo group sites, articles, press releases & automatic notices: The first "prominent display" or introduction of the mark (i.e., the first time you use the term Freecycle in a document) needs to be distinguished from other text with a TM (to be replaced with an (R) eventually, once the trademark is registered). This is in addition to the above attribution statement (the footer-note statement in point 3). So, a Freecycle group site should have a TM by the logo at the top and a TM by the first use of The Freecycle Network (or of the word Freecycle, whichever comes first. The other instances of Freecycle can be without a TM marking, though it is still important to capitalize or color them to show they are not just common words. A Sample Freecycle Group has been created to demonstrate how a group should look once it's set up properly. Please feel free to join and check out the group description and files. It's not a live group.
   1. A. In HTML, use this HTML code: "Freecycle™" (without the quotes) to create this: Freecycle™
   2. For plain ASCII text documents, in email, and in files in a Yahoo group, use "Freecycle(TM)" (without the quotes).
   3. For other documents, use any method available to create the TM superscript.
   4. There's no need to use the TM mark more than once per document.
   5. Do not use the TM mark in email addresses, email subject tag lines (such as [freecyclemytown]), group names, or URLs.
   6. Do be sure to include the footer in item 3 above, whenever possible. TIP: If you are sending an email and wish to add the TM, it makes sense to use the (TM) version rather than the superscript TM symbol (even if you know how to generate the ASCII version) because many email programs will not display it right to the recipient.
5. OPTIONAL: For further information about trademarks and how to use them properly, see: http://www.inta.org/info/faqs.html
   http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm

Questions and Answers: What happened to the Freecycle Service Mark (SM)?
Freecycle formerly used the SM (Service Mark) designation, but for better worldwide uniformity and recognition, we are now using TM instead of SM. Is it okay for individual email addresses or URLs to include the term "Freecycle"?
Yes, but please make sure the word is accompanied by something explanatory, like FreecycleMytownMod. Do personal emails about Freecycle need to use the TM mark or trademark attribution?
No. Having the trademark attribution in email list footers is enough. Where are the most common places that "Freecycle" use should be checked?

• Group description/home page (Management / Description and Appearance / Description - Edit)
  Group email footer text (Management / Messages / Subject Tag and Footer - Edit)
  Group welcome message (Management / Membership / Welcome Message - Edit)
  All automatically sent notices -- especially the Freecycle Etiquette document Press releases or other stand-alone documents
• Flyers

What changes should I make to my group's Freecycle Etiquette document?
Make sure all instances of Freecycle are used as an adjective or trade name. Look at the main [/faq/manual/man_guidelines Freecycle Etiquette] link for good examples. Are modified local logo graphics with our TM still okay?
Adding graphics around the mark is fine and fun. We do need to leave the mark itself unaltered (so you're OK as long as the logo and TM are not covered or obscured in any way). What happens when the Freecycle mark becomes registered?
When this happens, all occurrences of Freecycle(TM) must change to Freecycle(R), and HTML code "Freecycle™" to "Freecycle®". What about our cafe sites? Do they have to be TM compliant as well?
Yes. Proper trademark usage is something everybody needs to observe, whether in a cafe group or in groups not even associated with Freecycle™. Follow the same guidelines as above. I want to have someone look at my site, and tell me what I have to do.
OR
I want someone to come in and fix anything that needs to be fixed.
Send an email to and specify which option you are interested in. (have a look or come in) Where can I find the official logo that is required for my site?
http://freecycle.org/images/logo.jpg OR (with attribution statement) http://www.freecycle.org/images/freecycle-tm.jpg. Additional images can be found at Photobucket. How do I go about getting a special logo made for my site?
Glad you asked! [/manual/man_logo Click here] for instructions on this!

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