Global IP Sound Trademark Basics

You are encouraged to use and refer to Global IP Sound trademarks appropriately, in accordance with these Guidelines, particularly if you are a consumer of our products or services. These Trademark And Logo Usage Guidelines govern all use of trademarks of Global IP Sound Inc. and Global IP Sound AB (collectively, “GIPS”). “GIPS Marks” means all company names, division names, trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, product names, brands, taglines, slogans, domain names, or any terms used to identify GIPS or GIPS’s products, services, or technology, and any confusingly similar names, whether registered or not.

Permission

GIPS Marks may be used only if:

• A Global IP Sound Standard Trademark License  or other written license has been completed; or
• The use is "Fair Use" under applicable trademark law; or
• The use is otherwise approved in writing by Global IP Sound Inc., in which case the terms and conditions of the Global IP Sound Standard Trademark License govern such use.

General Rules for Using GIPS Marks

• Trademarks are used as adjectives. They should be used in combination with generic nouns rather than standing alone.
  • Example: GIPS EnhancedSM service.
  • Example: GIPS NetEQ‚ software.
  • Example: GIPS SoundWare™ products.
• Trademarks should not be used as verbs, in the plural, or in the possessive.
• GIPS Marks must be identified with a ™, SM, or “ symbol (except when “Global IP Sound” is used as the company name).
• GIPS Marks and logos may not be altered in any way.
• GIPS Marks, logos and trade dress must never be used, at all, in any of the following ways:
  • As part of someone else's mark;
  • To identify products or services not belonging to GIPS;
  • As part of a company, product, or service name that doesn't belong to GIPS;
  • In a manner likely to cause confusion;
  • In a way that disparages GIPS;
  • As a pun;
  • In a way that implies - inaccurately - that a relationship exists between the user and GIPS, or suggests that GIPS sponsors, endorses, or is in any way connected with third parties' activities, products, or services.
  • As a possessive, plural, verb, or any way other than as an adjective followed by a generic noun.
• GIPS Marks should only be used in reference to Global IP Sound’s products or services. Third parties may not use or attempt to register any GIPS Mark as a trademark, service mark, trade name, or dba.
• The appropriate Trademark Attribution, in the form below, must be included in all legal notices and on all materials that reference the GIPS Marks.

GIPS Marks

Some of the principal GIPS Marks are:

• Global IP Sound
• the GIPS “G/ear” Logo
• the lowercase “gips” logotype
• SoundWare
• NetEQ
• NetEQ-wb
• GIPS Enhanced G.711
• iPCM
• iPCM-wb
• iLBC

The Global IP Sound trademark and logo consists of four individual marks:

• The words “Global IP Sound”
• The name “GIPS”
•  The “GIPS” logo and design, including the G/ear design without “GIPS”
•  The “gips” lower-case stylized type.

Trademark Attributions

The following legend must be included in all materials that reference any GIPS Mark, even if the use is an unlicensed “Fair Use”:

"Global IP Sound, GIPS, [insert all other GIPS Marks referred to or displayed in the document], and associated design marks and logos are trademarks of Global IP Sound AB, and may be registered in the United States and other countries."

Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQ”)

Following are answers to some Frequently Asked Questions. If you have further questions, please contact the Global IP Sound Legal Department.

• Where do I get the GIPS logo?
  GIPS logos must be obtained directly from a GIPS representative in camera-ready or electronic form.
• How do I get a license?
  The Global IP Sound Standard Trademark License governs all use of GIPS Marks - for example, on web pages and in advertising relating to your use of Global IP Sound products or services. Online usage of a GIPS Mark must be a hotlink to a designated Global IP Sound web page under the license. See the license at http://www.globalipsound.com/trademarks_license.php for details.
  For any other form of license, please contact the Global IP Sound Legal Department.
• What about domain names and web sites?
  GIPS Marks, or confusingly similar marks, may not be registered or used by third parties as the first or second level of a domain name. Use of GIPS Marks as meta-tags is restricted.
  A web site may not use any GIPS Mark:
  • In connection with another company's products, services, or company name.
  • In a manner that would cause confusion as to whether or not the site is sponsored by or affiliated with GIPS, or that suggests the site is the source of GIPS products or services.
    The site must display or link to the trademark attribution legend above, and state that “[Insert web site or domain name] is not affiliated with Global IP Sound."
• Why is it so important to attribute the marks with the symbols?
  The symbols serve to identify a company's products or services, as well as to serve notice to third parties of the source of the products or services.
• What is the difference between a trademark and a service mark?
  The term "trademark" is used for tangible products that are sold. The term "service mark" is used in connection with the provision of a service.
• How are the TM, SM, and “ symbols used?
  The TM, SM, or “ symbol is placed immediately after the mark, usually in superscript. TM is used to identify a trademark. SM is used to identify a service mark. “ is used only where the trademark or service mark is registered.
  The TM, SM, or “ symbol must be used in the most prominent use of the mark and the first use of the mark in any body copy text associated with promotional and advertising materials, press releases, packaging, bindings, and so forth. Ordinarily, the symbol does not need to be repeated after that. No symbol is used where the word is not used as a trademark - as when it is simply the company name. For example: “The technician from Xerox Corporation performed XeroxSM service on my Xerox™ copier.”
• Does a symbol have to be used with logos as well?
  Yes, all logos should be marked with the proper TM, SM, or “ symbol when first used in headlines and text.
• How can we tell which marks should be used with the “ symbol?
  While many of our marks are registered, GIPS does not ordinarily use the “ symbol. This is to avoid confusion in those instances where a mark may be used worldwide but has not been registered in all countries where it is used. We may occasionally request specifically that the ‚ symbol be used.
• Where does the trademark attribution language go?
  The trademark attribution language - “[The marks used] are trademarks of Global IP Sound (etc.)” - usually appears on the inside front cover or at the end of a document, and must be large enough to be legible.
• What exactly do you mean by “trademarks are adjectives”?
  Any product or service can be identified by a generic term, such as “software,” “gasoline,” “computer,” and so on. A company develops certain rights in its particular version of that product or service by giving it a trademark identifier; this tells the customer generally where the item came from, and helps the customer identify the product or service qualities the customer wants. Hence, for example:
  • GIPS SoundWare ServicesSM support services.
  • GIPS SoundWareTM suite of software.
  • GIPS NetEQ-wbTM software.
  Each trademark is the special name for a certain product or service; the trademark identifies the origin (and associated quality or goodwill) of that item. GIPS Marks therefore serve as adjectives modifying the generic nouns they are associated with.
• Is it okay for people outside of Global IP Sound to use GIPS Marks as long as they use the appropriate legend?
  If the use is consistent with the rules of Fair Use, the user should still attribute the GIPS Marks to Global IP Sound as noted above. All uses other than Fair Use require a license.
• What are the logo usage requirements?
  • Minimum Size. The GIPS logo must appear no less than 1-1/16” wide, with the G/ear (logo) portion of the logo measuring 11/32” x 11/32”, whether in print or when viewed with browser in full-screen mode on a standard size computer screen (10 inches or more diagonal measure).
  • Background Colors. The GIPS logo must be placed on a white background.
  • Background Space. When using the GIPS corporate logo, a minimum clear space of _” must be maintained around the logo. When using the GIPS (ear) logo alone, a minimum clear space of 3/8” must be maintained around the logo. Patterned backgrounds or graphics may not enter the area around the logo. The space around the GIPS logo is an integral part of the design, and must be kept clean and uncluttered.
  • Re-logoing/Co-logoing. Re-logoing, co-logoing, alteration, or modification of GIPS logos is prohibited unless a specific agreement or license is obtained. Any inquiries as to the availability of such an agreement or license should be directed to the Global IP Sound Legal Department.
• What is “Fair Use”?
  You generally have a right to use GIPS Mark to describe or refer to our products or services, so long as you attribute the mark properly and use the appropriate symbols, if you could not truthfully describe something without using the GIPS Mark. For example: “XYZ company plans to license GIPS’s NetEQ‚ software.”
  The usage and attribution must not be misleading or likely to cause confusion, and must clearly indicate that the mark is a GIPS Mark and is not property of XYZ. For example: “Global IP Sound, GIPS, SoundWare, and associated design marks and logos are trademarks of Global IP Sound Inc., and may be registered in the United States and other countries. XYZ is not affiliated with Global IP Sound.”
  Use of any GIPS logo requires a written license. For example, a mention of “GIPS” in text might be Fair Use, but use of “” is always under the terms of the Global IP Sound Standard Trademark License.
• What is infringement?
  An act of infringement would be based upon the laws governing Fair Use, the guidelines set forth above, and applicable trademark law. Any infringement of any GIPS Mark, including marks that appear to be confusingly similar to any GIPS Mark, should be reported immediately to the Global IP Sound Legal Department.
  GIPS enforces its trademark rights and will deal with infringement claims accordingly.
• How do I get in touch with the Global IP Sound Legal Department?
  Questions should be directed to:
  Legal Department
  Global IP Sound Inc.
  900 Kearny Street, Fifth Floor
  San Francisco, CA 94133-5124
  Fax: 415.397.2577
  Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  

 GIPS Manual (pdf)