TRADEMARK POLICY Etsy supports and encourages ideas, services, and tools that use and supplement Etsy’s services. At the same time, we are serious about protecting our reputation, our trademarks and our brand identity. This Trademark Policy explains how to refer to Etsy, our marks or our services. This policy is a part of our Terms of Use. By using any of Etsy’s services, you’re agreeing to this policy and our Terms of Use. This policy only covers the use of Etsy’s intellectual property (for example, the use of the term “Etsy”). For issues regarding any intellectual property that is not exclusively owned by Etsy, please refer to Etsy’s Intellectual Property Policy. TRADEMARK BASICS A trademark is a word, name, symbol or device (or a combination of those items) that identifies the goods or services of a person or company and distinguishes them from the goods and services of others. The word “Etsy” and other Etsy graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and service names (together, the “Etsy Marks”) are registered trademarks, trademarks or trade dress of Etsy, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other countries. Why must Etsy protect the Etsy Marks? Etsy must be able to assure Internet users and others that only the services offered, sponsored, or endorsed by Etsy actually bear the Etsy Marks. Trademark law requires that we not only protect against improper use of the Etsy Marks, but also protect against the use of confusingly similar marks. USING THE ETSY MARKS Here are our rules for using the Etsy Marks: We support and encourage using the Etsy Marks in the following ways: Make fair use of Etsy’s Marks. Etsy supports free speech and you do not need permission to make legitimate commentary about Etsy, the company, or Etsy’s services. For example, if you sell on Etsy, it’s fine to let people know that. Distinguish the Etsy Marks from surrounding text by, for example, capitalising the first letter of the Etsy Marks. Spell the Etsy Marks properly. We do not permit the following uses of the Etsy Marks: Incorporating the Etsy Marks or a confusingly similar mark into, for example, the name of your business, organisation, non-profit organisation, event, or trademark. Removing, altering, distorting or modifying the Etsy Marks, including adding other terms to the Etsy Marks to create new words. Using the Etsy Marks or a confusingly similar mark in a way that falsely implies a relationship or affiliation with, sponsorship, or endorsement by Etsy, Inc. or that can be reasonably interpreted to suggest information comes from, or represents the views or opinions of Etsy, Inc. or an Etsy employee. Using the Etsy Marks in a product unless we’ve given you our permission in writing. Click here for information about applying for a license to use an Etsy Mark in connection with a product. Using any trademarks, service marks, trade dress, designs or logos that are confusingly similar to the Etsy Marks or the look and feel of the Etsy website. Using the Etsy Marks in any way or on any website that contains or promotes adult content, gambling, or otherwise violates applicable law or regulation. Using the Etsy Marks in a manner that is in Etsy’s sole opinion misleading, unfair, defamatory, infringing, libellous, disparaging, tarnishing, obscene or otherwise objectionable to Etsy. Here are some examples to help clarify this policy. Last updated on 29 Jul, 2015
If you'd like to be notified when Etsy.com makes updates to documents like this, choose which ones you'd like to subscribe to today (it's free!).