Moderator Manual:Mod trademark

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Copyright and Trademark Policy for the United States

For Immediate Help:

Please contact trademark@freecycle.org

[Updated on 24 Oct 2012]

Trademark Status in the United States

We have a registered trademark on our "Freecycle.org" graphic logo noted below. We do not currently have trademark rights to "FREECYCLE", "THE FREECYCLE NETWORK" and the former Freecycle logo which lacked the ".org" portion within the United States. We ask that all continue to use our "Freecycle" name as per the guidelines below so that we don't weaken our new mark which stands solely for our nonprofit mission and volunteer goodwill. Local groups within the United States should only have references to our having a registered trademark in the United States for "Freecycle.org", not for "Freecycle", "The Freecycle Network" and/or the former "Freecycle" logo lacking the ".org". We do have a registered mark in Canada, the EU, Australia and New Zealand as well as a common law mark in various other countries for one or more of these marks.

For trademark guidelines regarding the printing of promotional material please review the guidelines and professionally designed brochures. Permission for printing and use of our mark may be requested by writing trademark@freecycle.org.

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, Freecycle.org® is incorporated as a nonprofit organization, and the Freecycle.org® logo is a registered trademark of The Freecycle Network. We need to do our best to properly use the Freecycle.org® trademark so that we don't lose the right to it.

In legalese, the use of the term "Freecycle.org" 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.org®" 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.org" 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 ® with it.

   For example: The Freecycle Network®

   When used as a trade name (think proper name), the term "Freecycle.org®" 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.org® 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:
   
   

Do not say "I'm a freecycler."	Do say "I'm a Freecycle member."
Do not say "Keep on freecyclin!"	Do say "Keep on recyclin', my Freecycle friends!"
Do not say "Freecycling group."	Do say "Freecycle group"
Do not say "Please Freecycle."	Do say "Please join a Freecycle group."
Do not say "There are 10 freecycles in this state."	Do say "There are 10 Freecycle groups in this state."
Do not say "freecycle's membership."	Do say "The Freecycle Network's membership."
(Note: new groups may use the word Freecycle in their group name/title, but should not be approved with any variations of the word Freecycle in their name, title or description, like freecycler, freecycling, freecycles.)