Wikimedia Foundation Trademark Policy
 | This policy is approved by the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees. It may not be circumvented, eroded, or ignored by Wikimedia Foundation officers or staff nor local policies of any Wikimedia project. |
May I use the Wikimedia marks?
- This summary is not a legal document.
YES, please!
You have the right to use marks to:
· Truthfully describe a Wikimedia site;
· Accurately report news;
· Create artistic, literary, and political works; or
· Link to Wikimedia sites.
This policy also allows you to use marks:
2. Outside the Wikimedia sites when you:
· Organize a Wikimedia community-focused event;
· Do outreach and recruit new editors; or
· Place marks on t-shirts, cakes, and other things without selling them.
Please always comply with the Visual Identity Guidelines.
· for events and conferences,
· publications, movies, and TV shows,
· for things that you want to sell, and
· other uses.
YES, but first...
please sign a Quick License
for Wikimedia photo contests, and GLAM.
Sorry, NO.
Not for linking to non-Wikimedia sites, or
creating mimicking websites, or
otherwise misleading others.
Política de marcas rexistradas
As marcas da Wikimedia representan o contido educativo gratuíto desenvolvido a través dun proceso aberto e colaborativo. A protección das Marcas comerciais reforza a conexión entre as marcas da Wikimedia e os proxectos que representan. A protección serve para garantir que as marcas son utilizadas só para actividades que promoven a nosa misión.
Cando os lectores ven a icona do puzzle globo na esquina superior esquerda dunha web que se parece á Wikipedia, deben ter seguro de que eles están mirando o contido de calidade neutro, notable e alta, que é o resultado do proceso na Wikipedia rigorosa e transparente edición. Do mesmo xeito, as persoas deben ser capaces de confiar na súa impresión de implicación á Wikimedia cando ven a marca Wikimedia ou un dos logos de Wikimedia en sitios ou produtos.
O ágio apoiar ás marcas da Wikimedia foi xerado por unha comunidade de voluntarios prolífico e apaixonado. A comunidade Wikimedia desenvolveu a principal fonte en liña de contido educativo gratuíto. Para preservar a boa vontade que eles crearon, nós preparamos esta política de acordo coa dirección da comunidade. A política resultante asegura que tódolos usos das marcas son consistentes coa nosa misión e impulsar o movemento Wikimedia.
Nosa misión de compartir coñecemento depende e incentiva a liberdade de expresión. Para facelo realmente doado de compartir coñecemento, esta política de marcas rexistradas abraza tódalas proteccións á liberdade de expresión construídas no dereito de marcas na medida máis ampla posible. A política de marcas rexistradas tamén busca minimizar as dificultades de licenzas da marca. Estamos particularmente pola aprobación libre de usos pola comunidade Wikimedia que están estreitamente aliñados coa nosa misión.
Para facer aínda máis doado utilizar para os membros da comunidade as marcas, esa política presenta algunhas solucións creativas da marca. Por exemplo, capacita aos membros da comunidade para usar o logo Wikimedia Community como unha marca de adhesión colectiva. Tamén permite que os membros da comunidade poder usar as etiquetas de Wikimedia sen unha licenza de marca para eventos centrados na comunidade e traballo de divulgación. A política presenta aínda unha "Wikilicense" para outros usos comúns que os membros da comunidade poden rapidamente cubrir e enviar por correo-e a nós. Realmente wikiwiki!
Para ler máis sobre o propósito da nosa política de marcas rexistradas aquí.
1 Que política é aplicable?
1.1 As "marcas Wikimedia"
Esta política é aplicable a tódalas marcas rexistradas da Fundación Wikimedia. As marcas comerciais son marcas rexistradas e non rexistradas, incluíndo non-stylized wordmarks e trade dress de cada sitio Wikimedia. Podes ver unha lista non exhaustiva das nosas marcas here. Nesta política, nós nos referimos a elas como as "marcas da Wikimedia" ou só coma "marcas".
1.2 "Uso" das marcas Wikimedia
Esta Política aplícase sempre que quere usar as marcas Wikimedia. Section 2 esta Política é aplicable a tódolos usos de marcas. Outras seccións se aplican só aos usos que do not require separate permission, tales que require a trademark license, ou usos under agreements realizada por capítulos temáticos, organizacións e grupos de usuarios que son recoñecidos pola Fundación Wikimedia. Se algún termo na súa licenza de marca é inconsistente con esta política, ten que seguir os termos da licenza.
1.3 "Nós" ou a "Fundación Wikimedia"
Esta Política regula o uso de marcas retidas pola Fundación Wikimedia. Ás veces, esta política refírese simplemente á Fundación Wikimedia como "nós".
1.4 "Ti"
Esta Política aplícase a "vostede" se quere usar as marcas da Wikimedia e explica como pode usalas. Pode ser un membro da comunidade Wikimedia, capítulo, organización temática, ou grupo de usuarios. Tamén pode ser un individuo ou organización non relacionado.
1.4.1 Membros da comunidade
A comunidade Wikimedia inclúe todos aqueles que contribúen a unha web Wikimedia en prol da nosa misión. Tamén inclúe aos membros e funcionarios dos capítulos temáticos, organizacións, grupos de usuarios e da Fundación Wikimedia.
Os membros da comunidade Wikimedia comparten unha mission común de creación e distribución de contido educativo gratuíto. Son o núcleo do Wikimedia movement. Así, os membros da comunidade poden utilizar o Wikimedia Community logo baixo certas condicións, para mostrar que son un membro do movemento. Son tamén free to use all Wikimedia marks on the Wikimedia sites y para community-focused events, tamén para outreach work sen unha licenza de marca. Os membros da comunidade tamén poden facilmente cubrir unha Wikilicense para outros certos usos comunitarios. E nós xeralmente damos prioridade ás solicitudes da comunidade para usos que require an ordinary trademark license.
1.4.2 Capítulos, grupos de usuarios, e organizacións temáticas
Capítulos, os grupos de usuarios e organizacións temáticas recoñecidos pola Fundación Wikimedia son chamados organizacións do movemento. Son independentes da Fundación Wikimedia e apoian e impulsan os sitios da Wikimedia. Estes grupos celebran acordos coa Fundación Wikimedia, que lles permiten utilizar determinadas marcas Wikimedia. Calquera uso debe ser principalmente mission da Wikimedia. Para utilizar as marcas máis aló do ámbito específico do seu acordo, unha organización pode pedir unha licenza de marca separada ou simplemente cumprir esta política, cando o uso non require unha licenza. Unha organización pode, por suposto, sempre escoller os seus propios nomes, logotipos e nomes de dominio. Non ten que usar as nosas marcas.
1.4.3 Outras organizacións ou individuos
Os sitios da Wikimedia son tan coñecidos que os autores e guionistas miúdo queren retratalos en libros e películas. Do mesmo xeito, outras empresas poden querer reutilizar o contido de sitios web da Wikimedia en web ou aplicacións móbiles. Ao facelo, eses individuos e empresas poden querer amosar as nosas marcas en películas, libros, aplicacións, ou outros medios.
Mentres que os usuarios non estean confusos sobre a fonte destas obras, este tipo de uso pode promover os sitios da Wikimedia e a súa misión, mellorar o alcance do coñecemento libre e potencialmente a contratación de novos membros da comunidade Wikimedia. Pero é importante que as marcas da Wikimedia non sexan erroneamente utilizados para produtos de outros mercados, porque iso vai confundir aos usuarios da Wikimedia. Por iso, temos que ter coidado ao licenzalos coma marcas para estes fins. Por exemplo, ao licenciar as marcas dunha organización que ten o seu propio logo, necesitamos ter seguro que el non amosa ningunha marca Wikimedia máis destacada do que o seu propio logotipo ou nome. É útil ter sempre unha separación adecuada entre o nome da organización e o logotipo e calquera marca Wikimedia. Os usuarios deben ver claramente que os produtos ou servizos da organización son proporcionados por esta entidade, en vez da Fundación Wikimedia. E tal uso non se admite que sexa unha licenza de marca.
1.5. "Obxectivo"
As marcas Wikimedia só deben ser usadas para actividades que promovan a nosa mission, que é a de "capacitar e involucrar á xente de todo o mundo para recoller e desenvolver contidos educativos baixo unha licenza libre ou no dominio público e difundilos de forma eficaz e global."
2 Como empregar as marcas Wikimedia
Por favor, siga o Visual Identity Guidelines sempre que empregue as marcas with ou without unha licenza de marca. Sempre que usa as marcas da Wikimedia, teña en conta o seguinte:
2.1 Axeitadamente
Podes usar os logos con textos asociados como un nome propio (por exemplo, "a Wikidata é grande") ou como un adxectivo (por exemplo, "os sitios da Wikimedia son impresionantes"). Isto inclúe calquera dos official translations and transliterations das marcas da Wikimedia.
Só se poden usar os logos da Wikimedia con textos asociados, na súa forma completa e adecuadamente capitalizados (por exemplo, "Wikibooks"). Non pode abrevialos ou combinalos con outras palabras (por exemplo, non “Wiki” ou "MyWikibooks"). Pero pode usar as etiquetas de calquera forma nos sitios da Wikimedia.
Ti podes crear remixes dos logos de Wikimedia nos sitios da Wikimedia. Mais outside the Wikimedia sites, os logos non deben ser modificados sen o permiso separado da Fundación Wikimedia. Necesitamos estar seguros de que os logos permanecen sendo distintos doutras marcas.
2.2 Avisos ou símbolos comerciais
Cando sexa razoable, por favor inclúa este aviso cando use unha marca fóra dos sitios da Fundación:
"[Wordmark / name of logo as listed here] é unha marca rexistrada da Wikimedia Foundation e é usada con permiso nos ficheiros multimedia. Non estamos recomendando ou afiliandoa coa Fundación Wikimedia. "
O aviso debe aparecer preto do primeiro uso dunha marca Wikimedia. Un aviso é suficiente, se amosa varias marcas, sempre que o aviso refírase a todos eles. Non necesita mostrar este aviso se está a usar o logotipo comunitario en virtude de Section 3.4.
Se a marca aparecerá sobre todo na pantalla dun teléfono móbil ou outro medio con espazo visual limitado, si pode utilizar un símbolo de marca rexistrada (™) coa marca para amosar que é unha marca rexistrada da Wikimedia. Para o tamaño e localización do símbolo de marca rexistrada, por favor, póñase en contacto co Visual Identity Guidelines. Cando usa un símbolo debido ao espazo limitado e hai páxinas adicionais para o seu material, por favor inclúa o aviso no texto dunha páxina que destaque (por exemplo, a maioría das aplicacións móbiles teñen unha sección "Quen somos" e pode amosar os termos durante a instalación).
Independentemente de se usa un aviso ou un símbolo de marca rexistrada para identificar o uso de marcas de Wikimedia, asegúrese de que o seu uso non suxire endoso ou afiliación coa Fundación Wikimedia.
3 Cando se pode usar as marcas Wikimedia sen pedirnos
3.1 Uso das marcas comerciais nos sitios da Wikimedia
Ti podes usar e remix as marcas da Wikimedia nos sitios da Wikimedia de calquera xeito.
3.2 Eventos centrados na comunidade
Pode usar as marcas rexistradas de eventos que promoven a nosa misión e se destinan a ser predominantemente coa participación de membros da comunidade Wikimedia. Estes son eventos como meetups editor, photographer excursions, e WikiCons.
Por exemplo, pode pór o logotipo do puzzle do Globo da Wikipedia en banners e carteis nun edit-a-thon que organices.
Hackathons, GLAM iniciativas e concursos de fotografía esixen unha Wikilicense dacordo coa Sección 4.1. Esta disposición tampouco permite que use as marcas para a recolleita de fondos.
This provision does not allow you to use the marks for fundraising.
3.3 Difusión e contratación de novos editores
Pode usar as marcas ligadas coa nosa misión de aprender á xente sobre os sitios da Wikimedia e atopar novos editores, sempre que deixe claro que non traballa para a Fundación Wikimedia. Pode crear material didáctico ou banners para decorar un stand de feira pública ou para dar a coñecer un edit-a-thon. Pero, por favor, non venda ningún deles.
Esta disposición non permite que use as marcas para a colleita de fondos.
3.4 Community logo use
The Wikimedia Community logo can be used freely. But you may not file trademark applications incorporating the logo. The Wikimedia community wants to ensure that the logo remains available for all to use.
3.5 Discutindo cousas distintas dos sitios de Wikimedia (uso xusto)
Wordmarks por veces pode ter un significado primario, ademais de representar unha marca (como as palabras "apple" ou "facebook"). As nosos wordmarks non eran palabras reais, foron creadas antes dos nosos proxectos. Pero imos interpretar o uso xusto de forma ampla para incluir o uso dos nosos wordmarks cando realmente quere dicir para falar doutra cousa que non son sitios da Wikimedia.
3.6 Consulte sitios de Wikimedia (uso nominativo)
Pode empregar os wordmarks non estilizados (por exemplo, "Wikipedia") para describir:
- Un sitio Wikimedia ou outro aspecto do movemento Wikimedia nun texto (por exemplo, "Eu adoro ler sobre anacos de carbón na Wikipedia").
- O traballo derivado do contido Wikimedia dunha forma que non é enganosa (por exemplo, "o contido enciclopédico desta web deriva da Wikipedia").
Pode usar as marcas no seu propio sitio web como unha hiperligazón para os sitios da Wikimedia. O uso de logos en hiperlinks debe seguir o Visual Identity Guidelines. Por exemplo, as marcas poden ser redimensionadas, pero non modificados de calquera outra forma.
Estes son algúns casos específicos de uso nominativo:
3.6.1 Reporte de novas
Pode usar as marcas da Wikimedia facendo declaracións verdadeiras sobre os sitios da Wikimedia en xornais e comentarios.
3.6.2 Blogs persoais e medios sociais
Pode usar as marcas da Wikimedia facendo declaracións verdadeiras sobre os sitios da Wikimedia en blogs persoais e medios sociais. Pero por favor, non fagas iso implicando endoso ou filiación coa Fundación Wikimedia. Para evitar confusión, non empregue os logos de Wikimedia en segundo plano, como a súa imaxe de perfil, ou na cabeceira do seu blog, só cando usa o logotipo da Comunidade en virtude de Section 3.4. Tampouco debe usar as marcas en nome do seu blog ou no seu nome de usuario na comunicación social.
3.6.3 Uso artístico, científico, literario, político e outros usos non comerciais
Pode usar as marcas da Wikimedia para discutir nos sitios da Wikimedia no traballo artístico, científico, literario e político.
Pero, por favor, envíanos unha proposta, se quere poñer unha marca Wikimedia na capa do seu libro, amosar unha marca de Wikimedia nunha película, ou organizar un evento ou presentación que podería ser interpretado como ligazón ao proxecto para ser aprobado pola Fundación Wikimedia. Para máis información, consulte a parte desta política en "usos especiais que requiren permiso" (Section 4).
Tamén pode usar as marcas en sátira ou brincadeira. Para evitar confundir aos usuarios de que o seu traballo é afiliado con os sitios da Wikimedia, pode ser útil marcar o seu traballo como "sátira" ou "parodia".
3.7 Faga o seu propio material de marca
Pode crear cousas coas marcas para o seu propio uso. Estas poden ser t-shirts, gorras, fondos de pantalla, colledores, e mesmo cakes! Pero por favor, non os venda, e asegúrese de que o seu proxecto segue a Visual Identity Guidelines. Se quere vender o seu material de marca, pode solicitar unha licenza, baixo a Section 4.6.
4 Usos especiais que requiren autorización
Tódolos usos que non están permitidos baixo Section 3 of this policy requiren unha licenza de marca. Esta sección aborda só os usos máis comúns que esixen unha licenza.
Cando usa as nosas marcas baixo unha licenza de marca, ten que cumprir cos seus termos, así como con esta política de marcas rexistradas. Se algún termo na súa licenza é inconsistente con esta política, ten que seguir os termos da licenza. As organizacións do movemento só van ter unha licenza separada, cando o uso non está autorizado polos seus acordos de organización coa Fundación Wikimedia ou a política.
4.1 Wikilicense para usos especiais da comunidade
A Wikilicense é unha licenza de marca rápida para utilizar pola comunidade, como hackathons, Wiki Loves Monuments, e iniciativas GLAM-Wiki. Está dispoñible en Meta-Wiki. Pode comezar a utilizar as marcas segundo se indica no Wikilicense así que enviando un correo-e está cuberto por Wikilicense trademarks@wikimedia.org. Non hai necesidade de esperar por aprobación calquera.
4.1.2 Foto concursos
Os concursos de fotografía permiten que as persoas envíen fotografías orixinais con licenza libre para Wikimedia Commons para concorrer a unha mellor imaxe. Pode obter unha rápida Wikilicense para folletos, carteis, presentacións de diapositivas, sitios web e medios sociais para unha competición de fotografía. Se vostede é movement organization, xa pode ter un acordo que abrangue concursos de fotografía.
4.1.3 Iniciativas GLAM-Wiki
Pode usar as marcas en colaboración con alguén de fóra do movemento Wikimedia cunha rápida Wikilicense. Esta licenza é aplicable a collaborations with parks, museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions para compartir a súa información co mundo a través dos sitios de Wikimedia. Se vostede é un movement organization, xa pode ter un acordo que abrangue concursos de fotografía.
Algunhas iniciativas inclúen GLAM Wikipedians in Residence, que son os editores da Wikipedia que traballan coa GLAM específica para desenvolver a relación da organización coa Wikipedia. Por favor, use unha Wikilicense rápida, a fin de representárense a si mesmo como un wikipedista Residente en perfís profesionais en liña, no seu blog persoal, e en medios sociais, sempre que o seu traballo sexa consistente coa misión.
4.2 Nomes de dominio
Debe de ter permiso para rexistrar ou usar un nome de dominio que contén unha marca Wikimedia nel. Por favor, non rexistre un dominio que se parece ou soe semellante a unha marca ou Wikimedia inclúa unha marca Wikimedia grafada que pode confundir aos usuarios de Wikimedia.
4.3 Eventos e conferencias
Precisa dunha licenza de marca, se pretende organizar un evento público ou unha conferencia que usa unha marca Wikimedia.
Debe incluír a seguinte información ao solicitar unha licenza para usar as nosas marcas nun evento.
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Cando teña unha licenza de marca, só é aplicable a un evento específico na súa solicitude. Terá que solicitar unha nova licenza se quere aloxar outro evento.
4.4 Publicacións
Precisa dunha licenza de marca, se queres usar unha marca Wikimedia nunha publicación dun xeito que non é fair ou nominative use baixo as leis de marca comercial dos EUA ou aplicable a leis de fóra.
Debe incluír a seguinte información ao solicitar unha licenza para usar as nosas marcas nun evento.
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Cando comeza unha licenza de marca, só se aplicará á publicación específica na súa solicitude. Terá que solicitar unha nova licenza se quere facer outra publicación.
4.5 Películas e series de TV
Precisa dunha licenza de marca, se quere utilizar o logotipo Wikipedia nun filme, programa de TV episodio, ou produción en liña.
Debe incluír a seguinte información ao solicitar unha licenza de uso das nosas marcas nunha película ou serie de TV.
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Cando teña unha licenza de marca, só é aplicable a unha película específica, episodio de serie de TV, ou produción en liña na súa solicitude. Terá que solicitar unha nova licenza se quere volver a amosala noutra película ou episodio de TV.
4.6 Produtos comerciais
Tamén pode facer mercadorías coas marcas da Wikimedia para uso comercial, se:
- Tes unha trademark license da Fundación Wikimedia;
- Vostede segue as nosas Directrices de identidade visual, e
- Vostede sexa sincero ao anunciar aos seus clientes a parte do prezo de venda, se o houbera, será doado para sitios da Wikimedia.
5 Usos prohibidos
5.1. Enganos espello e imitando sitios
Por favor, non cree un sitio web que asemella o "look and feel" dun sitio Wikimedia. Isto é aplicable especialmente para os artigos da Wikipedia imitados. Se tes un bo motivo para crear un sitio web que o asemella, póñase en contacto connosco trademarks@wikimedia.org.
Non precisa poñerse en contacto connosco, se só quere usar o MediaWiki software para crear un wiki ou para crear o seu sitio web claramente coma imitación dun parody.
Se crea un espello, asegúrese de cumprir coas licenzas pertinentes para o contido. Evite copiar ligazós ás políticas da Wikimedia e detalles de contacto. Por favor, non empregue as marcas da Wikimedia nun espello dun sitio Wikimedia.
5.2 Ligazóns a sitios non Wikimedia
Podes empregar marcas Wikimedia e ligalas só a sitios de Wikimedia. Por favor, consulta Links to Wikimedia sites se ti queres ligar a sitios Wikimedia dende a túa páxina web.
5.3 Misrepresentation
Cando usa unha marca Wikimedia, non cree a impresión de que o seu uso está dunha forma aprobado ou patrocinado, ou forma parte da Fundación Wikimedia. Esta sección tamén se aplica cando lle é concedida unha licenza para utilizar unha marca que non permite suxerir tal pertenza.
6 Abuso das marcas comerciais
6.1 Reporte de abuso
Loitar contra o abuso das marcas é moi importante. Poñemos unha lot of effort para ir tras de casos de violación de marca, porque queremos protexer os dereitos de marcas rexistradas valiosas creadas para a comunidade. Se ves unha marca que está a ser utilizada en calquera forma que poida ser violación, por favor avísanos! Só tes que enviar un correo electrónico a legal-tm-vio@wikimedia.org ou informalo here. Nós realmente apreciamos a súa axuda!
6.2 Revogación de permiso por usos abusivos
Podemos retirar o dereito de empregar as marcas Wikimedia baixo esta política en calquera momento, mediante aviso previo de calquera xeito, se determina que un uso da marca rexistrada é inconsistente coa nosa misión ou pode prexudicar a membros da comunidade, organizacións do movemento, ou á Fundación Wikimedia.
7 Revisión e Tradución da política de marcas comerciais
7.1 Esta política de marcas pode ser revisado como segue:
- Nós imos propoñer trocos importantes para a comunidade en tres idiomas seleccionados por nós. Imos dar coñecemento da proposta de revisión nos sitios de Wikimedia e nun correo electrónico a WikimediaAnnounce-L ou unha lista de correo similar. A comunidade pode, a continuación, comentar, ao menos 30 días.
- Para pequenos trocos ou modificacións esixidas pola lei, cando sexa posible, imos proporcionar un aviso de tres días para WikimediaAnnounce-L ou listaxe de correo semellante. Os trocos pequenos inclúen adaptacións da linguaxe, trocos administrativos, ou correccións por declaracións inexactas.
- Esta sección non se aplica ao resumo de fácil utilización, as preguntas máis frecuentes, a declaración de propósito para a política de marca, o formulario de solicitude de marca rexistrada, e o formulario de notificación de violación. Eles non forman parte desta política de marcas rexistradas e poderá ser revisado sen previo aviso.
7.2 Tradución da política de marcas
Se algún termo nunha tradución desta política de marcas rexistradas é inconsistente coa versión orixinal en inglés desta política, ten que seguir a versión orixinal en inglés.
7.3 Preguntas
Por favor, póñase en contacto connosco en trademarks@wikimedia.org se non está seguro de se o seu uso é conforme con esta política ou leis de marcas locais.
The purpose of our trademark policy
This statement is not a part of the trademark policy. It is not even a legal document.
It simply explains the background for our new trademark policy.
The Wikimedia marks represent the goodwill created by the many volunteers that make up the Wikimedia community. That is why internet users can trust that sites bearing Wikimedia marks contain free and neutral educational content developed by committed Wikimedians through good faith collaboration. Ensuring that the Wikimedia marks are only used consistently with our mission helps protect the community's hard work and the reputation of the Wikimedia sites.
1. The trademark policy balances two community interests.
The decentralized nature of the Wikimedia sites allows passionate contributors all over the globe to serve the mission of free knowledge. The first interest is therefore to ensure that contributors can easily use the Wikimedia marks in their work. The second interest is to protect the reputation of the Wikimedia marks. The marks signify educational content generated through an open and collaborative process. The reputation of the marks is particularly important given that the content that they represent is delivered digitally over the internet and could easily be misrepresented to the unwary user.
In order to serve the Wikimedia community interests, we need to apply trademark law creatively. The principles of trademark law were not developed with our unique organizational model in mind. But our goal is to make trademark protection work smoothly for our community. The trademark policy therefore respects the demands of trademark law while facilitating the use of the marks by the Wikimedia community.
2. Why use trademarks?
Trademarks allow a user to trust her or his intuition that a mark she or he recognizes will in fact lead her or him to the work that she or he is seeking. Trademark protection is not an intellectual property right that can be established or sold separately from the work that it represents. It is nowhere near as restrictive as copyright or patent protection. Those doctrines have demanded that we adopt open license approaches—such as Creative Commons and GNU GPL—to make the law better serve our mission. There is no equivalent open trademark license that we can adopt. Yet the unique contours of trademark law allow us to creatively make it work in our favor. It allows liberal re-use of Wikimedia content, while preserving the integrity of the Wikimedia sites. Because of our distinct trademarks, readers will instantly know which educational material has been created in the wiki way by our community.
- 2.1 How trademark rights protect against misuse.
- Trademark rights help safeguard the marks that represent the Wikimedia movement from misuse. People may use the marks misleadingly because of the popularity of the Wikimedia sites. Some try to make their own websites or services more appealing by using our marks. Others misappropriate the marks or the general appearance of the Wikimedia sites to attract attention. But that attention is misguided because the marks are used to pass off work that is not genuine Wikimedia content. If we were to permit this, users may mistakenly believe that this inferior content was produced by the Wikimedia community and their opinion of the Wikimedia sites would dwindle.
- For example, nobody likes to see sham Wikipedia articles created solely to promote companies in a way that is inconsistent with our mission. Similarly, cybersquatters often try to register common misspellings and variations of the Wikimedia marks in domain names. They do so to redirect users looking for the Wikimedia sites to advertising and other unrelated content. They can, for example, lead users to sites designed to spread malware by encouraging them to click on a pop-up ad stating, "Congratulations! You are the millionth visitor!" They can also expose users to phishing scams by asking them to enter their password on a page that looks like a Wikimedia site. These are all examples of misuses that we can fight using trademark rights. We need to retain the right to pursue these kind of misuses to protect the hard work of the Wikimedia community.
- 2.2 The importance of free speech in the trademark doctrine ensures that the Wikimedia trademarks do not interfere with free knowledge.
- Our mission of sharing knowledge relies on and encourages free speech. Trademark protection can exist in this ecosystem, as the doctrine leaves a lot of room for speech-related activities. For instance, the unique fair use doctrine under trademark law allows any use of a wordmark in a non-trademark sense (i.e. when the word could mean something other than the trademark). Trademark law also has a "nominative use" doctrine. This doctrine allows free uses of a mark to refer to the item branded with that name. Finally, trademark law also embraces use of marks in art and political speech. This spectrum of free uses of a trademark distinguishes this body of law from intellectual property rights like copyright and patent.
- By employing trademark protection over the Wikimedia marks, we do not impede these types of uses by anyone. Our liberal approval of trademark requests will further ensure that community members can easily use the Wikimedia marks to promote the mission, even for non-fair use purposes.
3. How we maintain our trademark rights.
To preserve the Wikimedia trademarks for the movement, we need to monitor for misuses and carefully license the marks. Misleading uses can weaken the connection between a mark and the goodwill that it represents, potentially resulting in loss of trademark rights. It could cause us to lose our ability to protect against other misleading or abusive uses. This is why it is important to keep track of the uses of the Wikimedia marks and to take action against misleading uses.
Similarly, trademark law requires trademark holders to monitor the quality of the work that is allowed to carry the trademarks under a license. Failure to control the quality through a license and monitoring can result in "naked licensing," causing a trademark holder to lose its rights. It is therefore important to require a level of quality that reflects a quality of the Wikimedia sites and reputation.
4. Facilitating trademark uses that promote the Wikimedia mission.
While we have certain legal obligations, we do not want trademark requirements to be an obstacle for the work of the Wikimedia community. The trademark policy seeks to facilitate the ease of licensing Wikimedia marks. Many uses are also specifically permitted by the trademark policy and do not require separate permission. Other uses fall under the many fair use categories, which we also outline for users in the policy.
We are also thinking creatively about how we can make it easier for community members to use the marks to further the Wikimedia mission.
To that end, we have introduced a liberal solution in the trademark policy for particular uses of Wikimedia marks called the "Quick License." It is a Quick License because instead of requesting a license and waiting for it to be prepared, community members just need to fill it out and email it to trademarks
wikimedia
org. While the Quick License makes trademark use easier for common community uses, it includes some measures to maintain trademark protection of the Wikimedia marks. The license includes a quality control requirement and a reservation of a right to terminate the license if a mark is used in a way that is inconsistent with the Wikimedia mission.
5. What else is new?
Other than introducing a number of liberal solutions to assist community members in their work, the new trademark policy has very few substantive changes. We have focused on clarifying our trademark policy and practice as much as possible to make the use of the marks easier. Community members provided a lot of comments about trademark provisions that were previously ambiguous. We have worked to clarify those and other provisions in the new trademark policy and FAQs. We want the policy to be easily navigated and understood. We have therefore introduced a user-friendly summary at the beginning of the trademark policy that links to relevant provisions of the policy. We have also significantly expanded the FAQs and interlinked them with relevant provisions in the policy. The language of the policy and the FAQs was further tested under various readability indices to make sure that we wrote them in a straightforward way. Finally, we have introduced forms for requesting trademark licenses and reporting misuses that we hope will make those two processes smoother.
Preguntas máis frecuentes
These FAQs are not part of the trademark policy. They are not even a legal document. But we hope that you find them helpful.:)
0 Trademark policy Introduction
0.1 What is "trademark protection"?
Trademark law protects the association between a mark and the work, such as goods or services, that it represents. It is intended to protect users from confusion as to the source of certain work. Also, users who see a trademark rely on that association and will have expectations about the reputation and level of quality and level of service comparable to what they have come to expect from the other work provided under the marks. Therefore, trademarks are very powerful and valuable tools that embody the Wikimedia Foundation and its community members' reputation and serve as a "shorthand" way for users to recognize a work, product, or service.
0.2 What are the "Wikimedia sites"?
The Wikimedia Foundation runs several free software and free content sites, some of which are listed here: Our projects.
1 What does this policy apply to?
1.1 What is a "wordmark"?
It is a trademark that is a text-only word (like "Wikipedia" or "Wikimedia") that is used in connection with the work that it represents to identify the source. In addition, a wordmark includes all official translated and transliterated marks (e.g. "Vikipedi").
1.2 What is a "non-stylized wordmark"?
Non-stylized wordmarks are simply words like "Wikimedia" and the project names, like "Wikipedia," "Wiktionary," and so on. In comparison, the stylized wordmarks are these names in their special formats, such as with certain fonts. For example, the special format for the "Wikipedia" wordmark looks like this: 
. Both stylized and non-stylized wordmarks are trademarks of the Wikimedia Foundation.
1.3 What is "trade dress"?
For our purposes, trade dress is the design of a website or article that identifies the source of the website or online material. Think of it as the "look and feel" of a site. One example is the specific design and appearance of a Wikipedia article, or the Wikipedia main page. The trade dress of any Wikimedia site is also a trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation. Trademark laws also protect trade dress.
1.4 Who is a "community member"?
Everyone who contributes to a Wikimedia site. It also includes staff and members of chapters, thematic organizations, user groups, and the Wikimedia Foundation.
1.5 Why cannot a movement organization just freely use the trademarks?
As the legal holder of the trademarks, we need to control their use to preserve the trademark protections for the community. You can read more about that here.
1.6 What is the relationship between this trademark policy and a chapter, user group, or thematic organization agreement?
Chapters, user groups, and thematic organizations must comply both with this trademark policy and their respective agreement with the Wikimedia Foundation. If there are inconsistencies between this trademark policy and a chapter, user group, or a thematic organization agreement, the organization should follow their agreement.
2 How to use the Wikimedia marks
2.1 Can my logo, name, or company name be smaller than the Wikimedia mark if it is really obvious that my products and services are not offered by the Wikimedia Foundation?
No. We need to make sure it is extremely clear that the Wikimedia Foundation is not providing your products or services. This is a simple, consistent way of doing that.
2.2 What if I clearly state that the products or services are provided by me?
Sorry, your logo, name, or company name must still be bigger than any Wikimedia marks and reasonably separated from Wikimedia's marks. People do not always read the fine print (shocking, I know!). So, we need to make it as clear as possible that your products or services are not provided by the Wikimedia Foundation.
2.3 What do you mean by "outside the Wikimedia sites"?
Uses of the trademarks that are not on the Wikimedia sites, such as Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Wiktionary, Wikidata, Wikiquote, Wikibooks, Wikisource, Wikispecies, Wikinews, Wikiversity, Wikivoyage, or Wikimedia Meta-Wiki. For the purposes of this trademark policy, the use of trademarks on Wikimedia Cloud VPS will be considered a Wikimedia site. Accordingly, you use the marks outside the sites when you place them on flyers for an edit-a-thon.
2.4 Can I still create terms that combine Wikimedia trademarks with other words like "Wikipedian in Residence"?
Yes. This provision is not meant to stop community members from creatively combining the marks with other words to create new terms for the Wikimedia movement as long as they do it on the Wikimedia sites.
2.5 Can I translate the text in the marks?
You may translate the text in the marks on the Wikimedia sites.
2.6 Can I add graphic elements to, for example, celebrate a special event?
You can create remixes for special on-site purposes, but please do not change the logos outside our sites. These and many, many other questions are answered in the Visual Identity Guidelines.
2.7 What types of remixes of Wikimedia logos may be used outside of Wikimedia sites?
Certain remixes of Wikimedia logos may be used outside of Wikimedia sites as long as the remix does not look too similar to any of the Wikimedia marks. Please make sure that the remix will not be confused with the original Wikimedia logo.
2.8 May I use high-resolution versions of the logos?
Yes! Here you go.
2.9 Where do I place a trademark notice?
Just treat the notice as a footnote. A person reading your document, looking at your website, or watching your film should be able to easily find the notice. Good examples are: at the end of the (same) page of a document, in the imprint of a book, at the bottom of a webpage, and in the credits of a video.
2.10 What if I do not have enough space to include a notice?
Do not worry! If the mark is going to be seen on a mobile or other medium with little space, you can simply use the trademark symbol (™) for any Wikimedia trademark you use.
2.11 How should I refer to the trademark in the notice?
Wordmarks can be referenced verbatim (i.e. "Wikimedia Commons"). Logos should be described according to the Visual Identity Guidelines. Examples include the "Wikipedia Puzzle Globe" and the "'W' icon."
2.12 What if I use more than one trademark?
Make sure to describe all the trademarks in the notice, like this:
"The Wikidata wordmark and logo are the trademarks of the Wikimedia Foundation."
2.13 When do I have to use the trademark symbol?
You only need to use the trademark symbol when you do not have enough space to write the entire notice, like when you are using a trademark on a mobile screen.
2.14 Can you give some examples of how to use the trademark symbol?
Here is an example:
"Wikimedia Commons™ is one of the wonderful Wikimedia projects our community has developed to make media files, such as images, sounds, and video clips, publicly available to everyone!"
2.15 What size does the symbol have to be?
When you use a wordmark (like "Wikipedia"), you should use the same font size for the trademark symbol as the wordmark itself. In this context, superscript formatting is encouraged for the symbol. When the mark is an image (like the puzzle globe), you should select a font size for the symbol that matches the size of the image and place the symbol so that it is clearly visible and close enough to the upper right corner of the image without touching it.
2.16 But I want my website to look really pretty! Can I make the symbol smaller or put it somewhere else?
Unfortunately, no. Remember, you only need to put the symbol next to the first or most prominent use of the mark.
2.17 What does "no endorsement by or affiliation with the Wikimedia Foundation" mean?
You need to make sure that people do not mistakenly think that you may speak on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation or one of its sites. For instance, you need to make sure that no one thinks you work for the Wikimedia Foundation.
3 Using the Wikimedia Marks without asking permission
3.1 Can you give me some examples of when I can use the marks on the Wikimedia sites?
You may use the marks on user pages, help pages, and pages about Wikimedia or the Wikimedia projects. You can also use the marks in a mailing list, on IRC, or to name a tool on the Wikimedia sites. The sky is the limit, as long as the use is related to a site, promotes the mission, and complies with the Terms of Use.
3.2 What events are not "community-focused"?
An event that includes mostly people who are not community members is not a community-focused event. (Please see the FAQ on events in general.) This does not mean that you cannot have guests at your meetup!
3.3 Can you give me some examples of community-focused events?
Community-focused events are those events that are primarily open to community members and promote the mission. They tend to be related to improving the overall quality of the Wikimedia sites. Examples include conferences and monthly meetups hosted by community members, as well as other specific events like the "London Wikipedians regular's table," Wiki-Conference in Russia, and Wikipedia Workshop Köln (DE).
3.4 If my event is community-focused, which marks can I use?
First, all Wikimedia community-focused events can bear a trademarked name. You may also use the Wikimedia logos to decorate your venue, but only to the extent they are relevant. For example, you cannot use the Wikisource logo for a Wikimedia Commons-only event. However, keep in mind that the 'Wikimania' name and logo are reserved for the yearly Wikimania conference.
3.5 Can you give me some examples of outreach work?
You can put up a stand at a street fair. Here are some examples of that. You may want to present the Wikimedia sites in your club or reach out to seniors. You can also give a talk in a school or create a university course.
3.6 What are educational materials?
Educational materials help people to understand the Wikimedia sites. They can be leaflets, videos, cheat sheets, and other guides.
3.7 What about representing the community in an institution?
You need to sign and email us a Quick License if your institution wants to call you "Wikipedian in Residence" as part of a GLAM project, or something similar.
3.8 There is a Wikimedia Community logo?
Yes! It was officially adopted as the logo for Meta-Wiki in 2008.
3.9 What does fair use mean?
In U.S. trademark law, the concept of fair use allows you to use any trademark as long as your usage fulfills certain conditions. This policy cannot restrict your fair use rights. We added Sections 3.5 and 3.6 to make your rights easier to understand.
For jurisdictions that do not recognize fair and nominative use as set out under U.S. law, these sections provide permission to do this.
3.10 Can you give me more examples of fair use?
This category of fair use is tricky in our case because our wordmarks were not real words before our projects were created, unlike "apple" or "facebook." But we would consider it fair use if you were to write a book in the Wiki software and refer to it as a "wiki book," even though Wikibooks is a distinctive trademark. If you are using the wordmarks to describe our projects, that is also a type of fair use (nominative use). You can read more about nominative use here.
3.11 Can you give me some examples of uses that are not fair use?
- Using a Wikimedia mark to advertise your book.
- Selling t-shirts with the Wikimedia Foundation logo.
- Creating your own encyclopedia and labeling it with a Wikipedia Puzzle Globe.
- Using the Wikimedia Foundation logo to fundraise for unrelated projects.
- Claiming that content is "derived from Wikipedia" when in fact it is not.
Back to Discussing something other then Wikimedia sites (fair use).
3.12 Can you give me examples of nominative use?
Here are some examples:
- Describing a Wikimedia site:
- In a presentation that describes how Wikipedia works, using the wordmarks in slides in your bullet points would be a nominative use. The same also applies for a blog post that describes Wikidata. If you want to "illustrate" your slides or your blog post with any of the image marks, please refer to artistic, literary, and other non-commercial uses.
- However, you cannot use a trademark as a generic term. For example, you cannot set up a wiki on motorcycles and refer to it as "a wikipedia for motorcycles."
- Making true factual statements:
- "Wikipedia is the world's largest online encyclopedia. But Wikipedia is only one of the many sites created by the thousands of volunteers that make up the Wikimedia movement."
- "I have been a Wikipedia editor since 2009" (on your personal website).
- Describing derivative work:
- "Source: Wikipedia"
- "This artwork was created using images from Wikimedia Commons."
- "The encyclopedic content on this site is derived from Wikipedia."
- "From Wikipedia" or "to the Wikipedia article" (as used by a QR code project)
- More specific examples:
- Refer to the sections on news reporting; personal blogs and social media; artistic, literary, and other non-commercial uses; and links to Wikimedia sites.
3.13 Can I use a logo or a screenshot in my news or magazine article or news on TV?
Yes, as long as the image illustrates the discussion in the article. Do not use our trademark just to attract attention to your work. That will confuse your readers or viewers, and ours!
3.14 Can I include a logo or a screenshot in a blog post or a status update?
Yes, as long as the image illustrates the discussion in your post. Do not use trademarked images just to attract attention to your page. Viewers of your blog or your user page should not be confused and think that your page is endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation or any of its sites.
3.15 Can I use a trademark in my username, avatar, or icon?
Unfortunately, no. We appreciate that you feel a connection to the Wikimedia sites. The Wikimedia community is very welcoming! However, we do not want people to think you can speak on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation. You can still use the Community logo in your username, avatar, or icon.
3.16 Can you give me some examples of artistic, literary, and other non-commercial uses?
- Using the trademarks to discuss a scientific thesis in an academic paper.
- Illustrating a point in the slides for an educational presentation with a screenshot of a Wikimedia site.
- Using the marks in an art project.
- Creating a parody for the purposes of conveying a political message.
- Writing a book in which a character reads a Wikipedia article.
3.17 Can you give me examples of linking to Wikimedia sites?
Yes, you can find sample link templates here.
3.18 Can I use the marks to link to Wikimedia sites using QR codes?
No. This permission to use the logos to link without a license applies to online links. To use QR codes you need to use the non-stylized Wikipedia wordmark. You can read more about that in the FAQs for nominative use.
3.19 What kind of stuff can I make?
You can make shirts, hats, bags, mugs, pins, pens, stickers, posters, desktop wallpapers, and even cakes. Pretty much anything as long as you do not sell it.
3.20 Can I sell merchandise as long as I do not make any profit?
No, you cannot sell merchandise without a license. For more information on this see the section on commercial merchandise.
3.21 Can I make stuff for others?
Yes, as long as you give it away for free.
3.22 What about commercial merchandise?
First, you can buy merchandise from the Wikimedia shop. Proceeds from this merchandise are used towards the Wikimedia sites. If you want permission to sell your own merchandise, see the section on commercial merchandise.
3.23 Can I ask commercial vendors to create custom items for me that use Wikimedia marks?
Of course! You may ask vendors like bakers and t-shirt sellers to create items with Wikimedia marks especially for you or your friends. This is okay because it is for your own personal use and no one is creating a business surrounding the sale of items with Wikimedia trademarks. And do not worry, vendors will not be required to strictly follow the Visual Identity Guidelines when it is not possible on items like cakes. For example, all these cakes are fine.
3.24 Is it okay to commission someone else to create lots of items with the Wikimedia marks for meet-ups and similar events?
Yes! As long as the items are not sold to participants, it is okay to ask a vendor to create multiple items with the Wikimedia marks for community-focused parties and gatherings like edit-a-thons under Section 3.2 of the policy.
3.25 Can I use high-resolution logos on commercial merchandise?
Yes! While our previous trademark policy did not permit the use of high-resolution logos, we have removed that restriction from the new policy.
4 Special uses that require permission
4.1 If I need permission, will I have to pay for a license?
Usually, there is no license fee. However, we want to keep track of how our trademarks are used. Also, we want to make sure every use complies with our mission and standards. This is why we require a formal license in certain cases.
4.2 Do I need permission for every photo contest?
You only need to get a license if you advertise the photo contest outside a Wikimedia site. This includes posters, social media, and blogs. You can freely use the marks for community-focused events. Community-focused events are those that are intended to be predominantly attended by Wikimedia community members. They do not include events open to the general public.
4.3 Can I print out t-shirts with the Wikimedia logo to give out as prizes for the photo contest?
Yes. You can always make t-shirts with the Wikimedia logos and give them away as long as you are not selling them.
4.4 How can I use the marks as a Wikipedian in Residence?
The marks may be used in any way that identifies you as a Wikipedian in Residence. Please avoid confusion about official endorsement. You should clarify that you are not a representative of the Wikimedia Foundation.
4.5 Can you give an example of cybersquatting?
In the past, someone registered the domain wikkipedia.org to attract traffic to their own site. This is called cybersquatting or typosquatting that infringes our trademark. We strictly enforce our policy against confusing domain names. Please tell us if you see an infringing domain name.
4.6 Can I use a Wikimedia mark as part of my domain?
Unfortunately, no. If you do, there is a risk that you will confuse readers that are looking for Wikimedia content or other material related to Wikimedia. Movement organizations may be permitted to use the Wikimedia mark as part of their domain, but only after receiving special permission.
4.7 Can I use a Wikimedia mark if I use a different top-level domain?
You cannot register a Wikimedia mark as a domain, no matter the top-level domain, including country code top-level domains. For example, you may not register "wikipedia.jobs" even though it uses ".jobs", a different top-level domain, because "wikipedia" is a Wikimedia mark.
4.8 But I want to set up a special domain myself!
If you have a legitimate reason to set up a domain, please email trademarks@wikimedia.org.
4.9 What does "public event" mean?
A public event is an event that is not predominantly attended by community members. An event is also public when it is announced to the public with signs or advertisements or in an event schedule. Hence, this rule does not apply to community-focused meetups and conferences.
4.10 What event uses require permission?
Using a trademark for an event includes naming the event or using a Wikimedia logo on advertisements, leaflets, signage or a website.
4.11 Are there any exceptions to when events require permission?
If the name of the event uses a mark just to describe its content, that might fall under nominative use. An example for this would be announcing a course called 'Editing Wikipedia for Beginners' or 'Using Wikimedia Commons as an Amateur Photographer'. However, always include a notice that explains that your use is with permission from the Wikimedia Foundation and that you are not affiliated with the Foundation. Also, events hosted by a local Wikimedia chapter, thematic organization, or user group can use the marks subject to their respective agreement with the Wikimedia Foundation.
4.12 What is a "publication"?
Publications include books, other print media, and web pages. They also mean audiovisual media like music, and other recordings, film and online video. See Outreach and recruiting new editors for materials that provide education about a Wikimedia site. See Section 4.5 for trademark uses in films.
4.13 Can I write a book about Wikipedia?
Of course you can, and we would be happy to hear about it! But you should not display the Wikimedia Marks on the cover of your book or on your product packaging without asking for permission. This is because it could look like endorsement from Wikimedia Foundation and mislead users. You are of course free to use the non-stylized Wikimedia wordmarks in a book title but remember to ask for permission.
4.14 Does this also apply to handbooks, like "A beginner's guide to Wikipedia", aimed at community members?
Yes. But, please send us a request and we will give prompt permission when appropriate. We love Wikipedia guides!
4.15 Does it make a difference if the book is being published by an educational publisher?
No, you will need permission as well, because even educational publishers are commercial entities.
4.16 Do I need permission to show the Wikipedia marks in a film I am making for my school project?
If you are showing your film to the public, or at your school or workplace, you need permission. But we will make sure to make the permission process as easy and fast as possible.
4.17 Will I have to donate a portion of the retail price for commercial merchandise?
No. But you will have to tell your customers if you do not donate your profits.
4.18 What do I have to say if I am donating a portion of my proceeds to the Wikimedia Foundation?
Just clearly state what portion of your proceeds will be given to the Wikimedia Foundation. You can, for example, say: "X% of your purchase will be donated to the Wikimedia Foundation."
4.19 Where should I state how much of my proceeds will be donated?
We recommend placing the notice right next to the purchase price, where it will be clearly visible to all buyers.
4.20 Do I need to mention donations to the Wikimedia Foundation if I do not donate anything at all?
Yes. You should state that 0% of your profits will go to the Wikimedia Foundation. Otherwise, users may mistakenly believe that you are doing fundraising for the Foundation.
5 Prohibited uses
5.1 Can I make a fake Wikipedia article if it is intended as a joke?
There are exceptions where this is permissible, but they are very limited. You will likely not fall under such an exception if your mimicking site has any commercial background. Please refer to the section on Parodies. Most importantly, you must make sure that no one (really no one!) could confuse your site with any part of a Wikimedia site.
5.2 How do I distinguish between a prohibited mimicking site and a parody site?
Here is an example of a mimicking site: Contrary to the Wikipedia guidelines, you create an article on Wikipedia about yourself or your organization. For unknown reasons, "your" article is deleted. This makes you mad. You register the domain "businesspedia.org" and design a website that looks just like the Wikipedia article that just got deleted, including a link to your own website. You are happy to attract more traffic to it by confusing internet users. Booo!
An example of parody site: Imagine you have a great friend called Rory and his birthday is coming up. You register the domain "rorypedia.org" and design a website that looks just like a humorous Wikipedia biography on your friend Rory. Since you do not want anyone to confuse "Rorypedia" and Wikipedia, you put a bright colored bar on the top of your site saying, "This page is a present for Rory from his awesome friends and not affiliated with Wikipedia. Happy birthday, Rory!" And you take down the site once the birthday party is over. Yaaay!
5.3 How do I avoid mimicking Wikimedia sites when I use the MediaWiki software?
All wikis using MediaWiki do in fact share certain graphic elements under the default theme, but the Wikimedia sites have certain visual features that distinguish them. Do not imitate these distinguishing features. For example, you should not use logos that are confusingly similar to the Wikimedia marks or name your site something that sounds like a Wikimedia site. But you can use the "Powered by MediaWiki" button as that button simply describes that the wiki is powered by MediaWiki.
Be sure to directly download the MediaWiki software if you want to use it. Please do not try to blindly copy the HTML code of a Wikimedia site! If you do, you will accidentally import features from our sites, like our Terms of Use or our "contact us" details. Being contacted about problems on your unrelated website understandably makes our wonderful email response team volunteers very unhappy.
5.4 Can I use the marks to link to a mirror of a Wikimedia site?
No. The Wikimedia marks can only be used for linking to a real Wikimedia site. By that, we mean those sites that are run by the Wikimedia community.
Also, if you want to set up a mirror of a Wikimedia site, please refer to the section on mirrors.
5.5 Can you give me some examples of misrepresentation with respect to the marks?
A misrepresentative use can be something that represents yourself. That includes using a Wikimedia logo in your logo, letterhead, or the name of your organization. Online examples are your social media avatar, favicon, and website domain.
6 Reporting Trademark Misuse
6.1 How do you fight trademark infringement?
Each year, we receive over 100 reports of trademark violations from community members. We also employ outside contractors and legal counsel to help protect our trademark portfolio globally. Within our resource constraints, our legal team pursues misuses of our marks to ensure that the Wikimedia logos remain distinctively associated with the Wikimedia community. After careful and sensitive evaluation, we send out cease-and-desist letters, which are usually effective. In the few instances that cannot be resolved by other means, we consider litigation to protect the marks.
6.2 Who is responsible for enforcing Wikimedia's trademarks?
Trademark enforcement is currently handled by the Wikimedia Foundation legal team to ensure consistency and compliance with trademark law. But we rely on the Wikimedia community to help us identify potential trademark infringements.
6.3 What happens when you receive a report of a potential trademark infringement?
When we receive a complaint that our trademarks are being misused, we first send a confirmation to the person submitting the complaint. Potential infringements are then logged into our system. The legal team then combs through each of those complaints to investigate the alleged infringement. We visit the site personally to make sure the complaint has merit. Then we apply US trademark law in assessing whether there is actual "misuse" and it is a valid infringement of the trademark. In general, the standard of "misuse" in US law is whether the use of the trademark is "confusingly similar" to the Wikimedia Foundation's use of the trademark. In other words, will the potential infringers use of the trademark confuse users into thinking their site is sponsored by or hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation? We always contact the potential infringer first to see if they will voluntarily stop using our marks or work with us to make their use less confusing. If we are unable to work things out informally, and they refuse to comply with a cease and desist letter, we decide whether to move forward with litigation to stop the infringement.
6.4 Can I send a cease and desist letter on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation when I find misuse?
Please do not. We really appreciate your help with trademark enforcement, but please report any misuses to us so that we can determine what action is appropriate.
7 Revision of the trademark policy
7.1 Why can you just change the FAQ section?
The FAQs are not part of the trademark policy. We created them to help you understand the policy. We want to add new questions from the community in the future and to clarify any answers users may find confusing. That is why we want to be able to update the FAQs easily.
7.2 What if I do not agree with the changes to the policy?
We encourage you to share your comments and concerns with us during the community feedback period following any announced changes. We will take all comments under careful advisement and ensure that any changes to our policy are consistent with our mission.
8 Other questions
8.1 What is "naked licensing"?
Failure to exercise quality control in trademark licensing is referred to as "naked licensing," and can sometimes result in loss of trademark rights.
8.2 What are the Visual Identity Guidelines?
They are a set of guidelines you should follow when using any of the Wikimedia marks. These guidelines ensure that the marks always look their best and are not distorted in any way.
8.3 How do the Visual Identity Guidelines relate to the trademark policy?
The Visual Identity Guidelines are a separate document from the trademark policy and can be revised without notice. These guidelines help to make sure the Wikimedia marks are always used consistently with the same level of quality. Consistent use is important in order for us to maintain protection over the Wikimedia marks. It helps avoid confusion among users that may view marks similar to the Wikimedia marks. If Wikimedia marks are displayed consistently, users can be sure when they are viewing actual Wikimedia content instead of an imposter site.
8.4 What if I have more questions?
If you have any other questions that are not addressed here, please post them on the discussion page. We will try to expand and improve our FAQs over time.