Contriboss (COSS) Trademark Policy

Effective Date: [Date - To Be Filled Upon Formalization]

1. Introduction

This Trademark Policy (“Policy”) outlines the rules for using the Contriboss (COSS) trademarks, including the “COSS” name, associated logos, and any other word marks or visual identifiers owned and stewarded by The COSS Stewardship Body (hereinafter “the Stewardship Body”). Our trademarks are important assets that represent the quality, principles, and goodwill of the COSS initiative.

Protecting the COSS trademarks is essential to ensure that when the community sees the COSS Mark, they can be confident that it signifies adherence to the official COSS Brand Usage Guidelines and the principles of neutrality, interoperability, and open standards that COSS stands for.

This Policy applies to all uses of the COSS trademarks by any third party, including project maintainers, community members, partners, and the general public.

2. The COSS Trademarks

The COSS trademarks (collectively, “COSS Marks”) include, but are not limited to:

• The word mark “COSS”
• The full name “Contriboss”
• The official COSS logos (to be provided and detailed in a Brand Assets guide)
• Any future trademarks adopted by The COSS Stewardship Body for the COSS initiative.

3. Permitted Uses of COSS Trademarks

The COSS Stewardship Body grants permission to use the COSS Marks under the following conditions, provided such use is in accordance with this Policy and the “COSS Brand Usage Guidelines”:

• To Refer to the COSS Initiative or Standard: You may use the COSS word marks in text to accurately refer to or describe the COSS initiative, the COSS Standard, or the COSS Brand Principles.
• For COSS-Branded Projects: Projects that have formally affirmed their commitment to the COSS Brand Principles and (ideally) received verification from The COSS Stewardship Body may use the designated COSS Marks (including logos) to indicate their COSS-branded status, as detailed in the “COSS Brand Usage Guidelines” and any specific Brand Asset usage rules.
• Community Advocacy and Discussion: You may use the COSS word marks to discuss, promote, or advocate for the COSS initiative and its principles in community forums, articles, presentations, or other non-commercial, informational contexts, provided the use does not imply official endorsement by or affiliation with The COSS Stewardship Body where none exists.

4. Prohibited Uses of COSS Trademarks

The following uses of the COSS Marks are strictly prohibited unless explicitly authorized in writing by The COSS Stewardship Body:

• Misleading Affiliation or Endorsement: Do not use the COSS Marks in any way that suggests an official affiliation, partnership, sponsorship, or endorsement by The COSS Stewardship Body or the COSS initiative if one does not exist.
• Company or Product Names: Do not use the COSS Marks, or any confusingly similar marks, as part of your own company name, product name, service name, domain name, or social media handle.
• Altering the Marks: Do not modify, distort, reconfigure, or change the appearance of the official COSS logos or word marks. Use them as provided in the official Brand Assets guide.
• Merchandise: Do not use the COSS Marks on any merchandise for sale (e.g., t-shirts, mugs) without express written permission.
• Derogatory Use: Do not use the COSS Marks in a way that is disparaging, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable to The COSS Stewardship Body or harmful to the reputation and goodwill of the COSS initiative.
• Indicating Non-Compliance: Do not use the COSS Marks in connection with any project, product, or service that does not fully adhere to the “COSS Brand Usage Guidelines” and the COSS Principles.
• Confusingly Similar Marks: Do not use any trademarks, names, logos, or domain names that are confusingly similar to the COSS Marks.

5. Trademark Attribution

When using the COSS logos, an appropriate trademark symbol (e.g., ™ or ® once registered) should be used as specified in the Brand Assets guide. For word marks used in text, a general attribution statement like the following is appreciated, particularly in publications or more formal documents:

“Contriboss, COSS, and the COSS logos are trademarks of The COSS Stewardship Body.”

6. Reporting Misuse

If you become aware of any unauthorized or confusing use of the COSS Marks, please report it to The COSS Stewardship Body via the contact information provided on our website (/legal/contact). Your assistance in protecting the integrity of the COSS brand is greatly appreciated.

7. Rights Reserved

The COSS Stewardship Body reserves all rights to the COSS Marks. This Policy may be updated from time to time, and continued use of the COSS Marks constitutes acceptance of such updates. The Stewardship Body reserves the right to revoke permission to use the COSS Marks at its discretion, particularly in cases of non-compliance with this Policy or the “COSS Brand Usage Guidelines.”

8. No Legal Advice

This Trademark Policy is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For questions regarding trademark law, please consult with a qualified legal professional.

Note: This is a foundational draft. It will require review by legal counsel specializing in trademark law once The COSS Stewardship Body is formally established and the Marks are further developed and potentially registered.