Trademark & Brand Use
The Trademark Policy allows accurate reference to CHERI while protecting logos, product names, membership marks, and certification claims from misleading use.
Published policy: Version 2.0, dated September 2025. The Trademark Policy on cheri-alliance.org and the current branding guidance and assets take precedence if this page differs.
The policy applies to members and non-members, including individuals, universities, open-source projects, companies, and other organisations using the CHERI name or visual material. Use must represent CHERI accurately and must not suggest endorsement, affiliation, or certification without authorisation.
Key terms
- Nominative Fair Use means using a mark to identify the actual technology or organisation in an accurate, non-misleading way.
- A Sublicense is written permission for brand use beyond nominative reference, often for a product or integration.
- Written Permission is explicit approval from an authorised Alliance representative defining the approved scope, period, and conditions.
How the marks may be used
- CHERI name: accurate nominative reference is permitted. Other uses require permission or a sublicense. Formal documents should show the registered or trademark symbol on first mention, subject to the policy’s exceptions.
- CHERI symbol or logo: reserved for Alliance work, approved certified uses, or use under the appropriate permission. It may be used nominatively in discussion without implying endorsement.
- CHERI Alliance Member logo: for current, active Alliance members.
- CHERI Alliance Founder logo: for founding organisations that remain active members.
- CHERI certification logo: only for products or services approved through the certification programme.
Always use the current official artwork, colours, proportions, wording, and variations from the branding guidelines.
Academic use
The Alliance encourages accurate academic reference in papers, posters, and presentations under nominative fair use. The published policy provides approved attribution forms. Academic use must not imply that the Alliance endorses the work unless that endorsement has been expressly given.
Additional requirements
The policy requires a sublicense to use CHERI within a product name. Written permission is required to include CHERI in the name of an open-source project. Logos must not be modified, distorted, or combined with other marks.
Marks must not be used misleadingly, falsely, or in a defamatory or derogatory context. Terms that imply certification or approval are prohibited unless the named product or service has received the required written approval. Only the terminology and logo defined by the certification programme may represent an official certification.
The use of a CHERI mark must reflect genuine involvement of CHERI technology in the product or project.
Permission and enforcement
The Alliance may require correction, revoke a sublicense, or take legal action when a mark is misused. Use the Alliance contact page to ask a policy question or request written permission or a sublicense.
The policy may be revised. Continued use after an update is governed by the current published terms, so check the source before releasing new material.