The below guidelines supplement The Linux Foundation Trademark Usage Guidelines, available at www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage.  Together, they govern use of all Hyperledger Foundation trademarks.

Please use the ® symbol with the first mention of Hyperledger® in all materials, and the ™ symbol with the first mention of Hyperledger Foundation™ or any other unregistered Hyperledger Foundation trademarks in all materials.  The Linux Foundation maintains a list of its registered trademarks.

Needed Approvals

  • All press releases that use any Hyperledger Foundation trademark, whether registered or not, are required to be passed by the Hyperledger PR team for approval at pr@hyperledger.org.
  • You may not use our marks in domain names for products or services related to Hyperledger Foundation or technologies without prior approval. Nor can you use Hyperledger on your own web pages in a way that represents a product or service offering, without our prior approval. Obtain approval via trademark@hyperledger.org.
  • We also strongly recommend that if you prepare marketing collateral within which you plan to use the words “Hyperledger” or any of our project brands, submit to trademark@hyperledger.org for discussion and approval.

Rules and Policies Applicable to Hyperledger Marks Owned by The Linux Foundation

In addition to the generally applicable rules discussed in The Linux Foundation Trademark Usage Guidelines, there are a few specific rules that we ask everyone to follow when using trademarks related to one of the Hyperledger projects, special interest groups, or the organization itself.

  • Do mention The Linux Foundation with the first use of Hyperledger Foundation in formal materials (e.g., “Hyperledger Foundation, hosted by The Linux Foundation”) and do use “Hyperledger Foundation” when referring to the organization (e.g., “Acme is a member of Hyperledger Foundation”).
  • Do include a trademark notice with your other similar notices, and include a link to the Hyperledger website, if possible (e.g., “Copyright Acme 2021. All rights reserved.  Hyperledger Foundation is a trademark of The Linux Foundation.  See hyperledger.org.”).
  • When referring to a specific Hyperledger software project, do use the full project name (e.g., “Acme uses Hyperledger Iroha”) and do refer to it as a “framework” or a “tool,” as appropriate (e.g., “the Hyperledger Iroha framework”, “the Hyperledger Explorer tool”).
  • Similarly, when referring to a specific Hyperledger technical working group or special interest group, do use the full group name (e.g., “Acme participates in the Hyperledger® Social Impact Special Interest Group”).
  • Do let Hyperledger Foundation staff know if you plan an event or are putting out a press release centered around or mentioning Hyperledger Foundation or technologies and contact us if you have any questions about proper trademark use. Do introduce a meetup or event with the short Hyperledger Foundation official introductory presentation, available under the presentations section of the resource center here: https://www.hyperledger.org/resources/publications.
  • Don’t use “Hyperledger Project” to refer to the organization–use Hyperledger Foundation™.  Similarly, don’t use “Hyperledger Project” when you are referring to a specific project hosted by Hyperledger (e.g., “Acme did a proof of concept on Hyperledger” should be “Acme did a proof of concept on the Hyperledger Iroha framework”). As noted above, Hyperledger Foundation hosts many software projects.
  • Don’t modify any Hyperledger Foundation trademarks or logos (e.g., do not abbreviate them, add hyphens or other characters, or change the colors, orientation or any other visual aspect of any logos).
  • Don’t use any Hyperledger Foundation trademark in a misleading way, which includes the following:
    • Don’t use Hyperledger Foundation trademarks in connection with any products or services that are not related to, built for or associated with the software projects hosted by the Hyperledger Foundation.
    • Don’t use your company name possessively with anyHyperledger Foundation trademark  (e.g., “Acme’s Hyperledger,” “Acme’s Fabric,” “Iroha by Acme,” “Acme’s Hyperledger Project,” “Acme’s Hyperledger Sawtooth”).
    • Don’t add your company logo(s) on Hyperledger Foundation marketing materials, such as official presentations, unless expressly permitted to do so by Hyperledger Foundation staff. Don’t create marketing materials that look like they are coming from Hyperledger Foundation rather than your company.
    • Don’t use any Hyperledger Foundation or Hyperledger project logo larger than your own company’s logo(s).
    • Don’t use the Hyperledger Foundation trademarks in a way that creates a sense of endorsement, sponsorship, or false association with Hyperledger Foundation (e.g., “Hyperledger approved,” “Hyperledger certified,” “a product by a Hyperledger Foundation member”) or in connection with a project that has not been accepted into the Hyperledger Foundation organization.
    • Don’t use a Hyperledger Foundation trademark in connection with a Meetup with 3 or more speakers from the same company; use the company’s trademarks.
    • Don’t deliberately give the impression that a company is the “main” company behind Hyperledger Foundation or any of its projects, or is otherwise harmful to the organization, its members or other projects.

The Hyperledger Foundation trademarks have been created and their use is expressly permitted for a specific purpose.  Do not use any Hyperledger Foundation trademarks in any commercial or marketing context other than as expressly permitted in this policy or The Linux Foundation Trademark Usage Guidelines unless you have obtained explicit written permission from the Hyperledger Foundation to do so.

Guidelines for Products/Services Built with Hyperledger Technologies

  • Do use the following format and wording to describe how Hyperledger projects support a product or service offering:
    • [Vendor name] [Product name] [Product version]* for -OR- based on -OR- powered by Hyperledger [Project] [Project version]*
    • *Product Version and Project Version are optional for marketing materials, but must be included in tech specs
    • E.g. Acme Blockchain Services (v1.4) powered by Hyperledger Fabric (v2.0)

Questions, Comments, Concerns

We look to our community to help us retain the value of the Hyperledger Foundation trademarks.  If you have questions with respect to these guidelines or to report concerns regarding the use or misuse of a Hyperledger Foundation trademark, or to obtain written permission for a proposed use of Hyperledger Foundation trademarks, contact: trademark@linuxfoundation.org.

Updates

The Linux Foundation may release new versions of these Hyperledger trademark guidelines or The Linux Foundation Trademark Usage Guidelines from time to time without notice.

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