Couchbase Trademark Policy

The trademark Couchbase signals quality, dependability, and robustness in the world of data management. Couchbase, Inc. (“Couchbase”) is proud of its reputation for excellent software products, and wishes to maintain that reputation for the benefit of Couchbase and its open source community. This trademark policy (the “Trademark Policy”) describes the ways in which all of the trademarks, service marks, and logos of Couchbase relating to the Couchbase Server products (“Trademark(s)”) may or may not be used. The Trademarks can be found at www.couchbase.com/legal. If you use any of the Trademarks, you must abide by this Trademark Policy. We encourage communication to prevent misunderstandings. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us as described at the end of the Trademark Policy.

Couchbase’s Trademark Policy attempts to balance two competing interests: Couchbase’s need to ensure that its Trademarks remain reliable indicators of quality, and Couchbase’s desire to permit community members to contribute to the development and success of the Couchbase software. Striking a proper balance can be difficult, and we hope this Trademark Policy will help us to do that.

Underlying Couchbase’s Trademark Policy is the general law of trademarks. Trademarks exist to help consumers identify the source or origin of products. When a company makes a good product or a bad one, consumers begin to associate those qualities with the name and trademarks of that company. The reputation of a company can be a key factor in a user deciding to use one product or another. Allowing others to place a company’s trademarks on other people’s products can affect this reputation. Trademark law exists, at least in part, to help users avoid being confused about the source and quality of the goods they are using.

Modified Software and Unmodified Software

Genuine Couchbase software, which is created and/or distributed by Couchbase and thus properly bears the Trademarks, is the software in the exact binary form that it is distributed by Couchbase, without modification of any kind. To the extent any authorized modifications are made to the software, such modified software should no longer bear the Trademarks. The public has a right to know when it is receiving a genuine Couchbase product that is quality assured by Couchbase.

1. Uses that Are Not Approved by This Trademark Policy

The following uses are not allowed. If you feel you need to use the Trademarks as described below, and have a legitimate reason to do so, please contact us. Some such uses may be acceptable under a separate written license agreement between you and Couchbase. However, Couchbase will decide this at its discretion on a case-by-case basis.

• Certain web uses. You must not use any Trademark in a web page title, titletag, metatag, or other manner with the intent or the likely effect of influencing search engine rankings or results listings.
• Combination marks. You must not use any Trademark in a manner that creates a “combined mark,” or use that integrates other wording with the Trademark in a way that the public may think of the use as a new mark (e.g., Super Couchbase, or Couchbase Lite by Goober)
• Company names. You must not use any Trademarks as part of your company name, trademark, or logo.
• Domain names. If you want to include all or part of a Couchbase Trademark in a domain name, you must first receive written permission from Couchbase. This includes uses for user groups, developer groups, or international groups. We approve many such uses, but we need to do this on a case-by-case basis.
• Misuse. You must not use the Trademarks in a manor that is unethical, offensive, disparaging, illegal, or in bad taste.

2. Uses Permitted Under This Trademark Policy

The following uses of the Trademarks are permitted, but in all cases you must use the Trademark only as otherwise required by this Trademark Policy and only as authorized in, and subject to, a separate written license agreement between you and Couchbase. Also, if you use the Trademarks in violation of this Trademark Policy in any way, Couchbase may revoke your right to use the Trademarks.

• Developers and Affiliates. Couchbase has created special logos for use by its business affiliates, such as developers or value-added resellers. For more information on our affiliate programs please see www.couchbase.com/company/partners. These logos may be used only by parties who have entered into our affiliate program agreement and only as authorized in, and subject to, a separate written license agreement between you and Couchbase.
• Extensions and Plug-ins. If you want to distribute extensions or plug-ins, you may not use the Trademarks to refer either to the extensions or plug-ins, or to a product that consists of unmodified Couchbase software built or installed together with your extension or plug-ins. You should use the Trademarks only to refer to unmodified versions of the Couchbase software alone. If you are in doubt about how to do this, you should consider contacting us and joining our developer program.
• Linking. Couchbase invites you to link to Couchbase’s web site, for the purpose of allowing your visitors to download the Couchbase software by using this hyperlink: https://www.couchbase.com/developers/. Couchbase grants to you a non-exclusive, limited right and license to use and display the “Get Couchbase ” Trademark as a button, only in connection with the establishment of the hypertext link. Any such use shall be in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Trademark Policy. Couchbase shall own any goodwill arising out of the use of such Trademark.
• Services Related to Couchbase Software. If you offer services related to Couchbase software, unless you have entered into a separate written license agreement between you and Couchbase, you may only use Couchbase’s Trademarks in word form to describe and advertise your services, so long as you do not suggest that you are the origin of the Couchbase software or have otherwise been authorized by Couchbase to provide services related to the Couchbase software. For example, your web site might say “Customization services for the Couchbase software available here.” It must not say “Couchbase services sold here,” or “custom Couchbase software available here.”

3. Proper Trademark Use

If you use the Trademarks as described in this Trademark Policy, here is how they should be used.

• Proper form. Couchbase’s Trademarks should be used in their exact form, neither abbreviated nor combined with any other word or words. Do not vary the spelling, add hyphens, make one word into two, or use possessive or plural forms of the Trademarks. Do not abbreviate a trademark to create an acronym. When using a logo, you must never modify the design, add or delete any words, or change any colors or proportions. The logo may be scaled proportionally. The logo may in it’s entirely be displayed in black on white background or using the exact colors used by Couchbase.
• Use of word mark. We encourage you to use the word form of the Trademark (as opposed to the logo), because using the word form is easier to do without violating this policy. You may use the word form of the Trademarks either in all capitals COUCHBASE or by capitalizing only the C. No other capitalization should be used. Use of the word form of the trademark should be in the same font and style as the surrounding text.
• Trademarks are adjectives. Always use the Trademarks as adjectives, and not as a verb or noun or in the possessive or plural forms. Examples of proper use: Couchbase Software, Couchbase Software application. Examples of improper use: Custom Couchbase or I Couchbase -ed my system.
• Accompanying symbol. The first or most prominent mention of a Couchbase Trademark should be accompanied by a symbol indicating whether the mark is a registered trademark (“R”) or an unregistered trademark (“tm”). Please see our Trademarks at www.couchbase.com/legal for the correct symbol to use.
• Attribution. The fact that the Trademarks are owned by Couchbase should be stated (e.g., “[Couchbase] is a trademark of Couchbase, Inc.”) in a footnote or similar place, in reasonably legible position and size.
• Separation. The Couchbase logos must be used as standalone icons, without any other third-party logos and/or trademarks combined or associated with them. A margin of at least the width of the blue graphic preceding the text on the logo should be left empty around the logo in the background color of the displayed logo.

4. Possible Infringements

Please help us by reporting any possible infringement of any Trademark by contacting us at the e-mail address below.

info@couchbase.com

Policy Updates

Couchbase reserves the right to modify this Trademark Policy at any time. You should review this Trademark Policy from time to time so that you will be aware of any updates. Any updates will apply as soon as they are posted on this page.

Questions

Couchbase has tried to make this Trademark Policy as comprehensive and understandable as possible. If you are considering a use of a Trademark that is not covered by the policy, and you are unsure whether that use would run afoul of this Trademark Policy, please feel free to contact us. Also, we welcome your suggestions as to how to make this Trademark Policy better and more workable for our community. We like hearing from you!