Ballast Fi Trademark Guidelines

Ballast Fi distributed the open source Ballast protocol (versions 1, 2, and 3) and distributes other software. While our code is in part available to download, review, and improve under open-source and source-available software licenses, none of our licenses include a license to use our trademarks. Proper use of our trademarks is essential to inform users whether or not Ballast Fi stands behind a product or service. When using Ballast Fi’ trademarks, you must comply with these Ballast Fi Trademark Guidelines. Just like other projects that develop open source software, we must enforce our trademark rights to protect our users.

The trademarks and service marks: BALLAST®, BLT™, and BALLAST FI™ ('Ballast wordmarks').
Ballast logos.

If you want to report misuse of a Ballasts trademark, please contact us at legal@ballast.fi

Acceptable Uses

You may do the following without receiving specific permission from Ballast Fi:

Use Ballast wordmarks in text to truthfully refer to and/or link to unmodified Ballast smart contracts, protocols, interfaces, programs, products, services and technologies ('Ballast software').

Use the Ballast wordmarks to truthfully describe modified versions of Ballast software that you may create or make available. For example, you may say “This software is derived from Ballast software.” or “This service uses software derived from Ballast software.”

Use the Ballast logos in software or aggregators that integrate with Ballast software to truthfully refer to, and, where possible, link to the applicable Ballast software hosted on the Ethereum blockchain.

Use Ballast wordmarks to clearly signal to users that there is no affiliation with or endorsement by Ballast Fi.

Follow the terms of the open source licenses for Ballast software.

When allowed, how can I use a Ballast Fi trademark?

You must include a trademark attribution notice at the first or most prominent mention of the mark on a webpage, document or documentation, such as: “[Ballast Fi trademark] is a trademark of Ballast Fi.”

You may not change the Ballast logos except to scale them. If you use the Ballast logos, give them adequate spacing from the other elements on the webpage or document to ensure legibility and reduce the likelihood of confusion.

You must always use the wordmarks in their exact form and with the correct spelling, neither abbreviated, hyphenated, nor combined with any other word or words.

You must always use the Ballast wordmarks only as an adjective, never as a noun or verb, or in plural or possessive forms.

Instead, use the generic term for the Ballast product or service following the trademark.

For example: Ballast protocol, Ballast interface.

All other uses of a Ballast Fi trademark require our prior written permission.

Unacceptable Uses

Some specific things you should not do include:

Don’t use our trademarks in anything dishonest or fraudulent.

Our name is not your name. Don’t use Ballast Fi trademarks in the name of your smart contract, interface, business, product, service, app, domain name, publication, or other offering.

Don’t use our name for your products. Don’t apply Ballast Fi trademarks to any product (e.g., a mobile app), unless such use is limited to a truthful and descriptive reference (e.g., “Mobile App for trading on Ballast interface”).

Don’t overemphasize our mark. Don’t display Ballast Fi trademarks more prominently than your product, service, or company name.

Don’t create or use confusingly similar names. Don’t use Ballast Fi trademarks, company names, slogans, domain names, or designs that are confusingly similar to Ballast Fi trademarks, particularly in the name of your smart contract, interface, business, product, service, app, domain name, publication, or other offering.

Don’t imply our sponsorship of your products. Don’t use Ballast Fi trademarks in a way that incorrectly implies affiliation with, sponsorship, endorsement, or approval by Ballast Fi of your products or services..

Don’t imply our sponsorship of your activities. Don’t use Ballast Fi trademarks, or confusingly similar trademarks on social media accounts in a way that might suggest affiliation with Ballast Fi or Ballast software; except if you’ve received prior permission from Ballast Fi. For example, you cannot name your account, page, or community “Ballast Protocol” or “Ballast Team.” However, it would be acceptable to name your account, page, or community “Fans of Ballast” or “Information about Ballast”.

Don’t create swag with our marks. Don’t use Ballast Fi trademarks on merchandise for sale (e.g., selling t-shirts, mugs, etc.) unless you have permission from Ballast Fi.

Don’t change or combine our marks. Don’t modify Ballast Fi trademarks, abbreviate them, or combine them with any other symbols, words, or images, or incorporate them into a tagline or slogan.

Others’ Trademarks

A note on others’ trademarks: Ballast Fi manages one interface (among many) for accessing the Ballast protocol, which it does NOT control. Without the involvement of Ballast Fi, a third-party developer can use the Ethereum protocol to create a token that may implicate others’ trademarks or other rights and add that token to the Ballast protocol. Ballast Fi cannot prevent or block any actions related to the Ballast protocol, however, if Ballast Fi becomes aware of trademark misuse allegations, we will work with trademark owners to review the allegations and may remove content from the Ballast Fi interface.