Version: 2.0
Date: September 2025
You can find branding guidelines and logo downloads at https://cheri-alliance.org/trademark/
The CHERI Alliance is committed to promoting awareness and understanding of CHERI technology, especially in academic, educational, and informational contexts. This Trademark Policy is designed to ensure that the use of our trademarks is consistent with our mission, protects the integrity of our brand, and ensures that CHERI marks are only associated
with genuine CHERI technology or CHERI Alliance-backed projects. Use of CHERI marks should not imply endorsement, affiliation, or certification unless authorized.
This Trademark Policy applies universally — not only to CHERI Alliance members, but also to non-members, including individuals, academic institutions, open-source projects, commercial entities, and other organizations – for the use of the CHERI name or visual assets.
By adhering to this policy, we aim to foster a community that respects and accurately represents the CHERI brand.
| Mark | Logo example | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| CHERI ® name | [none] | Authorized for "Nominative Fair Use," – meaning use of the trademark solely to truthfully describe or refer to the CHERI technology itself, the CHERI Alliance or its publications or projects, without suggesting any endorsement or affiliation. For uses outside of Nominative Fair Use, a Sublicense or Written Permission from the CHERI Alliance is required. When used in formal documents, the ® or ™ symbol must be included for the first mention, but the symbol is not required in informal communication (e.g. emails, blogs, discussions), or non-commercial academic contexts. |
| CHERI mark |  | Reserved for CHERI Alliance documentation and projects, or CHERI Certified products and services, especially when space constraints prevent the use of the CHERI Certified logo (e.g., on a chip package). |
| CHERI logo | | Permitted for use in CHERI Alliance documentation and projects, or under a Sublicense from the CHERI Alliance. Nominative Fair Use is authorized for discussions about CHERI technology without implying endorsement. |
| CHERI Alliance Member logo |  | Reserved for use in any media by current, active CHERI Alliance members. |
| CHERI Alliance Founder logo |  | Reserved for use in any media by founding members of the CHERI Alliance, that are current, active members. |
| CHERI certification logo |  | Reserved for products and services that incorporate CHERI technology and have successfully obtained written approval from the CHERI Alliance certification program. |
Note: The logos presented in this table are illustrative examples. All official variations, including color schemes, proportions, text variations, and usage guidelines, are detailed in the CHERI Alliance Branding Guidelines. Always refer to the latest version of the Branding Guidelines for accurate and approved logo variations.
The CHERI Alliance recognizes the importance of academic freedom and encourages the use of its trademarks in academic settings, such as in papers, slides, and posters, provided that such use complies with the principles of Nominative Fair Use and includes one of the following attribution notes:
The CHERI Alliance reserves the right to take action in cases of misuse of its trademarks. This may include requiring corrective steps, revoking Sublicenses, or initiating legal action to protect the integrity of the CHERI marks.
For questions about this policy or to request Written Permission or a Sublicense, please
contact the CHERI Alliance Trademark Team via our contact page.
This policy may be updated periodically. We will notify the public of any substantive
changes. Continued use of CHERI marks after updates indicates acceptance of the revised terms. You can find the latest version on cheri-alliance.org/legal-and-policies/trademark/.