DeviceChain Trademark Policy

July 1, 2026 · View on GitHub

DeviceChain™ and the DeviceChain logo are trademarks of IoT Innovations, LLC (the "Marks"). U.S. trademark application pending (USPTO Serial No. 99910096).

This policy explains how the Marks may be used. It is intentionally short and follows the spirit of established open-source trademark policies (e.g. those of the CNCF and the Linux Foundation).

Code license vs. trademark

The Apache License 2.0 governs your rights to use, modify, and redistribute the DeviceChain source code. It does not grant any right to use the DeviceChain name, logo, or other Marks, except as needed for the reasonable and customary description of where the code came from. Trademark rights are separate from, and not licensed by, the copyright license.

Uses that are always fine (no permission needed)

  • Nominative / referential use — truthfully stating that your product, article, or service uses, integrates with, is built on, or is compatible with DeviceChain (e.g. "powered by DeviceChain", "a DeviceChain plugin").
  • Unmodified redistribution — distributing official, unmodified DeviceChain releases under their original name.
  • Community discussion — using the name in talks, blog posts, tutorials, and documentation that refer to the project.

When you use the Marks this way, please:

  1. Use "DeviceChain" as an adjective, not a noun or verb, on first prominent use (e.g. "the DeviceChain platform", not "a DeviceChain").
  2. Not alter, abbreviate, or combine the Marks with your own marks.
  3. Not imply sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation by IoT Innovations, LLC that does not exist.

Uses that need written permission

  • Using the Marks (or confusingly similar names/logos) in the name of your own product, service, company, domain, or app.
  • Distributing a modified version of DeviceChain under the DeviceChain name. Modified builds must be renamed so users are not confused about the source.
  • Using the logo in a way that suggests an official or endorsed distribution.
  • Selling merchandise bearing the Marks.

Requesting permission or reporting misuse

Email admin@devicechain.io. We aim to support the community's legitimate use of the Marks while preventing confusion about the source and quality of DeviceChain software.

This policy may evolve. It is not legal advice and does not expand or restrict rights granted under the Apache License 2.0.