GNOME Foundation’s Trademark Usage Guidelines for Third Parties

GNOME Foundation (“GNOME”) brands, trademarks, styles, logos and slogans (together, “GNOME Trademarks”) are among GNOME‘s most valuable assets. Proper use of GNOME trademarks by following these trademark usage guidelines protects the value of GNOME Trademarks. Following are the guidelines for the proper use of GNOME Trademarks by publishers and other third parties. Any use of or reference to GNOME Trademarks that is inconsistent with these guidelines, or other unauthorized use of or reference to GNOME Trademarks or marks that are confusingly similar to GNOME trademarks, is prohibited and may violate GNOME‘s trademark rights.

Any questions with respect to these guidelines should be referred to the GNOME Foundation at licensing@gnome.org.

1. Fair Use of GNOME Trademarks

You may make fair use of GNOME word marks to make true factual statements about GNOME, or to truthfully communicate that your product or service is compatible with, designed for use with, or was designed using, GNOME. Assertions of compatibility or design must, of course, be accurate.

You cannot use GNOME logos or stylizations of GNOME word marks or other GNOME Trademarks unless you have explicit written permission to do so. You should not in any way state or imply that GNOME produces, endorses, or supports your company, products, or services unless you have explicit written permission to do so.

When making fair use of a GNOME Trademark, you should acknowledge that the GNOME Foundation owns the trademark. The following language is appropriate:

The GNOME logo and GNOME name are registered trademarks or trademarks of GNOME Foundation in the United States or other countries.

2. Proper Use of GNOME Trademarks, Generally

Use a GNOME Trademark as an Adjective Followed by the Generic Name/Noun

A trademark is neither a noun nor a verb.

• Correct: GNOME development tools help …
• Incorrect: GNOME your product …

Do Not Use a GNOME Trademark in the Plural or Possessive Form, and Never Hyphenate or Abbreviate

An exception is when GNOME is used to refer to the Foundation‘s name.

• Correct: Unique capability of the GNOME™ development tools …
• Incorrect: GNOME‘s unique properties …
• Correct: GNOME‘s technical conferences are held …

Do Not Use Trademarks That Do Not Appear on the List of GNOME Trademarks

Check the list of GNOME Trademarks at www.gnome.org to verify exactly how the marks should appear.

Do not shorten, abbreviate, or create acronyms out of GNOME Trademarks. A trademark that is depicted as two or more words should never be compressed into one word, and vice versa.

Use Proper Notice of Trademark

Identify GNOME Trademarks appropriately as:

• Registered trademark: ®
• Unregistered trademark: ™
• Unregistered service mark: ℠

Distinguish GNOME Trademarks From Surrounding Words

Capitalize the first letter or capitalize the entire trademark, underline, italicize, place the mark in quotes, or use a different font for the mark. The word GNOME should always be written in all caps.

Use of Trademarks in Titles

You may reference GNOME on the cover and title of a publication provided you comply with these guidelines and the following:

• Your name and/or logo should appear more prominently than the GNOME mark on all printed materials related to the publication.
• You should include a disclaimer of sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement by GNOME:

  (Title) is an independent (publication) and is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or otherwise approved by GNOME Foundation.

• You may use a GNOME Trademark as the leading word in the title of a single book only with written permission from GNOME.
• You may not use a GNOME Trademark or any other words or logo(s) in a manner that suggests GNOME affiliation, sponsorship, or certification.

Use of Trademarks in Domain Names

Use of GNOME Trademarks as domain names is generally prohibited.

GNOME user groups may seek explicit permission from the GNOME Foundation to register a domain name containing a GNOME Trademark. See the License Agreement for GNOME user groups.

3. Prohibited Use

• Do not make reference to GNOME or GNOME Trademarks in a manner that is false or misleading.
• Do not combine or use a GNOME Trademark with your company’s product or service name or any other term without written permission.
• Do not use GNOME logos without explicit written permission.
• Do not incorporate a GNOME Trademark into your company’s logos or designs.
• Do not use GNOME Trademarks as your domain names or as parts of your domain names.
• Do not use GNOME Trademarks as meta tags for your web pages.
• Do not use GNOME Trademarks in a manner that would disparage GNOME, its subsidiaries, its products, or services.
• Do not use GNOME Trademarks more prominently than your company, product, or service name.
• Do not create your own logos to represent GNOME products or services.
• Do not use a GNOME logo on the cover of a book or magazine without a license.
• Do not use a GNOME logo on posters, brochures, signs, websites, or other materials to promote a book about GNOME software, products, or services.
• Do not alter a GNOME word mark or logo in any way.

4. Revision of Guidelines

When these trademark guidelines are revised, the updated version will be posted at gnome.org/foundation/legal-and-trademarks.

5. Permission

To obtain permission for proposed use of the GNOME trademarks, contact:
licensing@gnome.org