Logo and trademark policy
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This page is outdated, but if it were updated, it may still be useful. Please help by correcting, augmenting and revising the text into an up-to-date form. |
- See this page for the up to date policy.
- This policy should not be seen as an official policy of the Wikimedia Foundation until it is moved to the Foundation wiki
Contents |
Purpose of this policy [edit]
This policy affects all trademarks of the Wikimedia Foundation, including the names and logos used for its various projects, i.e. Wikipedia, Wikinews, Wiktionary, Wikibooks, Wikispecies, Wikiversity. Some of these trademarks have already been registered, but please note that a registration is not necessary to own a trademark.
The goal of this policy is to ensure that the names and logos are used in a way coherent to the goals of the Wikimedia Foundation. It needs to be impossible, for example, for someone to release a product called 'Wikipedia' that consists of non-free content. On the other hand we have to ensure that community members or partners don't get into legal problems when using the trademarks in our sense.
Any rights granted in this policy fall under an over-arching requirement that the use of the trademarks has to be
- non-confusing - people should always know who they are dealing with. Websites and products which are not published by the Wikimedia Foundation shouldn't imply, either directly or by omission, that they are - and
- non-disparaging - you can't use our trademarks to be rude about us (outside the bounds of fair use).
Usage [edit]
You may use the names and logos of Wikimedia projects to refer to us, link to us, credit us, encourage donations, talk about us, label news stories about us and so on. We have particular banners for some of these purposes. You can use those or design your own. All logo uses must conform to the Wikimedia visual identity guidelines.
Check under which license such works can be published.
Domain names [edit]
You are not allowed to use the name of Wikimedia projects in domain names without permission of the Wikimedia Foundation.
Merchandise [edit]
You can make t-shirts or other stuff with the Wikimedia logos and names for your own use or for your friends, as long as there is no commercial purpose. If you want to use the names and logos on products you sell, you need permission of the Wikimedia Foundation or its authorized local agent. "Authorized local agent" means through a chapter or other entity who has entered into a formal trademark licensing agreement with WMF.
On all merchandise products sold with Wikimedia logos and names it should be made clear in any advertisment and/or invoice how much of the earnings go to Wikimedia.
Related Software [edit]
If you want to use the trademarked names of Wikimedia projects in the name of a related software project you need permission of the Wikimedia Foundation. In the case of MediaWiki, please contact the MediaWiki development team and ask them.
Using Wikimedia content [edit]
The content of most Wikimedia projects is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License, or under similar licenses. It means you can use the content as long as you stay within the conditions of the relevant license. Please check the particular licence applying to the content you wish to reuse. (see ... for more information).
Getting a Trademark License to use Wikimedia content [edit]
A License example can be viewed here : License example
Another example of what can be done is here : [1]
It could be used as a departure base but it would be important to more clearly detail its nature (a Trademark License agreement) and its content (Content material available under the GFDL and other licences or copyright exceptions).
Use of logo derivatives [edit]
Uses of logo derivatives in progress
