CommonAI Trade Mark Usage Policy

Last updated: 19 January 2026

CommonAI Logo

The “CommonAI” trade mark and logo pictured above, including any other marks notified in writing by CommonAI CIC to you from time to time (CommonAI CIC Trade Marks) are licensed separately from any Programme IP and Programme Trade Marks. Programme IP is governed by the IP Licence and Policy in the Member Agreement and each Programme has its own Trade Mark Usage Policy. Except as provided in this policy, you may not use any of the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks.

Any terms which are referred to in this policy but not defined shall have the meaning given to them in the Member Agreement.

Purpose of the Trade Mark Policy

CommonAI CIC recognises that trade marks are a valuable part of its mission to promote the creation and use of open source artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies globally for community benefit, by helping start-up companies and other organisations (such as financial institutions, government agencies, and research institutions such as universities) around the world harness artificial intelligence and machine learning through managed open source development.

The CommonAI CIC Trade Marks distinguish our services from those of any competitors and serve as a badge of their origin. If the Common AI Trade Marks are used improperly or inconsistently, or you allow others to do so, they could be weakened and ultimately lost. This policy permits clear and appropriate use of CommonAI CIC Trade Marks.

Acceptable Use

You may use the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks without prior written permission (subject to other sections) to:

refer to CommonAI CIC itself;
refer to your membership of CommonAI CIC or participation in any CommonAI CIC Programme.

When using a registered CommonAI CIC Trade Mark (e.g. CommonAI or any other registered trade mark as notified to you by CommonAI CIC) in any promotional materials (whether online or printed) you must comply strictly with the directions provided by CommonAI CIC regarding the form and manner of the application of the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks. When using the trade mark “CommonAI”, unless notified in writing from CommonAI CIC, please use the statement below:

“CommonAI” ® is a registered trade mark owned by CommonAI Holdings Ltd and used under licence from CommonAI CIC.

When using an unregistered CommonAI CIC Trade Mark (as notified to you by CommonAI CIC) in any promotional materials (whether online or printed) you must use the statement as notified in writing from CommonAI CIC to you, from time to time.

If requested by CommonAI CIC, you shall promptly send to CommonAI CIC for its prior written approval, the text and layout of all proposed marketing and promotional material which use the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks. If CommonAI CIC disapproves of such material, it shall give written notice of such disapproval to you within 20 days of receipt by CommonAI CIC of the material. In such circumstances, you shall not use any material which use the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks for advertising, marketing or promotion that has not been approved by CommonAI CIC.

Logo Usage Guidelines

We ask that any use of the CommonAI CIC logos be in compliance with the general usage guidelines provided in this policy and any other guidance provided to you by CommonAI CIC, from time to time. For example, if using the logo in the header of this policy, please include the following statement:

The CommonAI logo is a registered trade mark owned by CommonAI Holdings Ltd and used under licence from CommonAI CIC.

Use as a Source Identifier

You may not use the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks or any confusingly similar mark as the name of your product or feature, except to accurately reference implementation or uses of CommonAI CIC Programme assets in a manner that meets any criteria established by the Programme’s Steering Committee and notified to you from time to time.

You may not use the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks in any other manner that might cause confusion as to the source or affiliation of your product, including but not limited to advertising, websites, or social media, or packaging. You shall not use the word “CommonAI”, the CommonAI CIC logos and any portion of the logos in association with any other product, service, or entity other than your collaboration with CommonAI CIC.

We reserve the right to: (a) prohibit the use of the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks in a manner consistent with these guidelines that would weaken or dilute the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks, create confusion, or otherwise infringe upon these trademarks; and (b) at our sole discretion, on written notice to you, remove use of any of the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks.

Contact Us

CommonAI CIC protects the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks on behalf of all of the contributors to any Programme. This policy does not authorise you to act as an agent on behalf of CommonAI CIC. You shall not make any determinations as to whether a given use of the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks is acceptable or unacceptable use; such determinations shall be made solely by CommonAI CIC.

If you see any of the CommonAI CIC Trade Marks being used in a way that could be misleading or infringing, please tell us! Just send an email to legalnotices@commonai.org. We appreciate the help!