From 277295525f0ca67824c34c60af79c08b4c107676 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Tony Germano <39179051+tonygermano@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2025 03:30:37 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 1/2] Add trademark usage guidelines document

Signed-off-by: Tony Germano <39179051+tonygermano@users.noreply.github.com>
---
 trademark_guidelines.md | 55 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 55 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 trademark_guidelines.md

diff --git a/trademark_guidelines.md b/trademark_guidelines.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e55cf7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/trademark_guidelines.md
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# Trademark Usage Guidelines
+
+### 1. Our Trademarks
+
+The **Open Integration Engine project** (the "Project") claims common law trademark rights in the following "Marks":
+
+* **Open Integration Engine™** (the full name)
+
+* **OIE™** (the acronym)
+
+* **The OIE Logo** (the visual mark)
+
+### 2. Why We Have These Guidelines
+
+While our software is released under an open-source license, that license applies to **copyrighted code**, not to the **trademarks**. We maintain these marks to:
+
+* Ensure the community knows which software is "official."
+
+* Prevent confusion between the Project and third-party commercial services.
+
+* Protect the reputation of our contributors and founders.
+
+### 3. Permitted Uses (No Permission Required)
+
+You may use the Word Marks (**Open Integration Engine** or **OIE**) without prior written consent in the following cases:
+
+* **Identification:** To truthfully state that your software is compatible with, integrates with, or is a fork of the Project (e.g., *"MyPlugin for OIE"* or *"Compatible with Open Integration Engine"*).
+
+* **Community:** In blog posts, social media, or educational tutorials discussing the engine.
+
+* **Prominence:** Your own branding must be more prominent than the Project’s Marks.
+
+### 4. Uses Requiring Permission
+
+You **must** contact the Project Committee before:
+
+* Using the Marks as the primary name of a commercial product or service.
+
+* Registering a domain name that includes "OIE" or "OpenIntegrationEngine."
+
+* Using the Logo on physical merchandise (T-shirts, stickers) for sale.
+
+### 5. Prohibited Uses
+
+* **Confusion:** You may not use the Marks in a way that suggests the Project endorses, sponsors, or is legally affiliated with your company.
+
+* **False Claims:** You may not use the Marks to describe a product that does not actually contain OIE code or integration.
+
+* **Alteration:** You may not stretch, recolor, or modify the OIE logo.
+
+### 6. Trademark Attribution
+
+Whenever you use the Marks, please include the following attribution in your footer or legal section:
+
+> *Open Integration Engine™, OIE™, and the OIE logo are trademarks of the Open Integration Engine project.*

From 493ec6214f5fb294f9746e60544eb06b160aa5d3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Tony Germano <39179051+tonygermano@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2025 12:35:18 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 2/2] Apply suggestions from code review

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Signed-off-by: Tony Germano <39179051+tonygermano@users.noreply.github.com>
---
 trademark_guidelines.md | 6 +++---
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/trademark_guidelines.md b/trademark_guidelines.md
index e55cf7e..6e506d4 100644
--- a/trademark_guidelines.md
+++ b/trademark_guidelines.md
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ You may use the Word Marks (**Open Integration Engine** or **OIE**) without prio
 
 ### 4. Uses Requiring Permission
 
-You **must** contact the Project Committee before:
+You **must** contact the Steering Committee before:
 
 * Using the Marks as the primary name of a commercial product or service.
 
@@ -46,10 +46,10 @@ You **must** contact the Project Committee before:
 
 * **False Claims:** You may not use the Marks to describe a product that does not actually contain OIE code or integration.
 
-* **Alteration:** You may not stretch, recolor, or modify the OIE logo.
+* **Alteration:** You may not stretch, recolor, or modify the OIE Logo.
 
 ### 6. Trademark Attribution
 
 Whenever you use the Marks, please include the following attribution in your footer or legal section:
 
-> *Open Integration Engine™, OIE™, and the OIE logo are trademarks of the Open Integration Engine project.*
+> *Open Integration Engine™, OIE™, and the OIE Logo are trademarks of the Open Integration Engine project.*