Trademark Policy

Last updated: November 20, 2024. View change history.

This policy pertains to our trademarks. Specifically, the terms Postgres and PostgreSQL and the Elephant Logo (Slonik) are all registered trademarks of the PostgreSQL Community Association of Canada. If you wish to use these marks, you must comply with this policy.

Why This Matters

We have implemented this Trademark Policy because it is important to the Community that our trademarks are not used in ways that confuse people. For example, we do not want people to use our trademarks:

• with software that is not related to PostgreSQL, does not run on it or work with it,
• to suggest (falsely) that PostgreSQL is not open source software,
• to suggest that they are somehow sponsored by, affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by the PostgreSQL Project when they are not,
• on competitive products (i.e. databases that are not PostgreSQL, or built on or derived from PostgreSQL), or to use them with unrelated goods and services.

If these things happen, over time, our marks will lose their meaning. As the Community grows, the best way to ensure that this does not happen is by setting and enforcing standards for how our marks are used.

Fair Uses That Don’t Require Prior Approval

You may make fair use of Postgres or PostgreSQL to refer to the software in true factual statements. For example:

• If it’s true, you can say in your software or documentation that certain software runs on, with, or is derived from PostgreSQL® software.
• You can use the trademarks to accurately advertise PostgreSQL® software-related content in a public event.
• You can use the names Postgres® or PostgreSQL® in articles and blogs and forums to reference the database system.
• You may use Postgres® or PostgreSQL® in the title of a book about the software.
• You may (if accurate) identify yourself as an individual or corporate contributor to the Postgres® or PostgreSQL® database project.
• You may use Postgres or PostgreSQL on your website as links to our website at: https://www.postgresql.org.

As long as you do not state or imply that that you or your business are affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored or approved by the PostgreSQL Community Association of Canada, PostgreSQL Global Development Group, PostgreSQL Project, PostgreSQL Core Team, or PostgreSQL Community, these kinds of uses of the words Postgres and PostgreSQL are generally fine.

Other Approved Uses

• If your event or conference satisfies the Community Recognition Guidelines, you may use the marks to promote the event, including in the event name.
• Recognized PostgreSQL User Groups may use the marks to promote their events, activities and groups.
• Recognized PostgreSQL nonprofit organizations may use the marks in their materials in support of the project.

How To Use Our Marks

Please adhere to the following guidelines when using the marks as permitted under this Trademark Policy. If you fail to do so, we may revoke your permission to use them.

• The marks should not be modified in any way without prior approval. They should not be presented with other trademarks or logos.

• The Elephant Logo (Slonik) must appear in one of the forms below:

  

• Particularly if these uses are commercial in nature, we encourage you to present the marks with Postgres, PostgreSQL or the Elephant Logo (Slonik) followed by the ® symbol wherever practicable. If you use the outline version of Slonik, this should be followed by the ™ symbol.
• Wherever possible, include the line: Postgres, PostgreSQL and the Slonik Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of the PostgreSQL Community Association of Canada, and used with their permission.
• Do not seek to register any trademark containing one of our marks or a variant thereof.
• Do not use the marks in a business name or trade name.
• Do not use the marks in a way that would disparage the software, the PostgreSQL Community Association of Canada, PostgreSQL Global Development Group, PostgreSQL Project, PostgreSQL Core Team, or PostgreSQL Community.

Uses That Require Approval

For pretty much any use not discussed above, you must contact us for permission before you use our marks. For example, if you want to use our marks (or some variant of them) in your company name, product name or domain name, you must obtain prior approval. We will try to work with you to permit uses that support the PostgreSQL® project and our Community. Please note, however, that we will approve uses in our sole discretion, and that we will not be able to approve uses if we believe that they will cause confusion about your relationship with the PostgreSQL Community Association of Canada, PostgreSQL Global Development Group, PostgreSQL Project, PostgreSQL Core Team, or PostgreSQL Community.

Additional Information

The PostgreSQL Community Association of Canada does NOT make any express or implied warranties, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of any third-party intellectual property rights. We reserve the right to update this Trademark Policy from time to time without notice. Uses that predate this version of the Trademark Policy (i.e. uses prior to December 8, 2020) do not require permission from us so long as the use is consistent with this Policy. However, if you think you may have used the trademarks in the past in ways that would violate this Policy, we suggest seeking permission. Our aim is to work with you to support uses that support the project, however PostgreSQL Community Association of Canada reserves the right to deny trademark use that violates this Policy. Past use in violation of this policy does not confer a right to continue that use.

Please feel free to reach out to us by emailing board@lists.postgres.ca with any questions or requests for approval.