The primary goal of the MA World Services\u2019 IP policies is to protect and preserve MA World Services\u2019 legal rights to its trademarks and copyrights on behalf of the fellowship of MA. This maintains MA World Services\u2019 ability to legally enforce its copyright and trademark rights to prevent, or otherwise stop, any unauthorized use (<\/span>primarily by outside entities<\/span><\/i>) of the MA name, logo, and other materials that could be confusing to members, harmful to MA\u2019s reputation, or otherwise interfere with MA\u2019s ability to effectively \u201ccarry the message\u201d of recovery to addicts in need.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n United States Intellectual Property (IP) law allows individuals, businesses, and organizations like MA World Services to protect their creations. For example, it applies to inventions, and literary works or designs such as symbols or logos, as well as associated names and images. Depending on the nature of the creation, either copyright, trademark, or patent law will apply.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n MA\u2019s audiovisual, visual, and written materials are all protected by copyright law. This includes, but is not limited to, the content of the MA\u2019s service materials, including the Service Manual and handbooks, MA Conference-approved pamphlets, as well as the MA World Services website and app. Additionally included is MA\u2019s literature: Life with Hope<\/em>, the Life with Hope 12 Step Workbook, <\/em>MA pamphlets, and the Twelve Questions (\u201cCopyrighted materials\u201d).<\/em> The IP Policy addresses reprinting and screen-sharing MA\u2019s Copyrighted materials by MA meetings, groups, regions, and districts in meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcoholics Anonymous owns the copyrights to the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions,<\/em> and Twelve Concepts for Service.<\/em> MA was granted express permission to use an adapted version of these. Making any additional modifications to these without express permission from A.A. infringes on A.A.\u2019s copyright and risks damaging MA\u2019s relationship with A.A. To make any changes to the Twelve Steps <\/em>and Twelve Traditions, <\/em>the procedure for holding a \u201cfellowship-wide vote\u201d set forth in MA\u2019s Service Manual and Bylaws must be utilized, and then MA World Services must seek additional permission from A.A. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Service Manual (SM) authorizes, without a prior written request to do so, the sharing, or reproducing, of the following: MA\u2019s Service Manual, Conference-approved pamphlets, the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, Twelve Concepts for Service, <\/em>and Twelve Questions<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sharing the entirety of Life with Hope<\/em>, the Life with Hope Workbook, <\/em>or MA\u2019s daily reader Living Every Day with Hope<\/em>, by making more than 25% of these works available for download, publishing these texts on the internet, or printing or reproducing the entire text, is a violation of MA\u2019s copyrights, as well as the publishing agreements that MA has with Hazelden, the printer and distributor of these \u201cworks\u201d (in English). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Prior written permission is not required to share brief quotes or excerpts (up to 25% of \u201cthe work\u201d) from Life with Hope <\/em>and the Life with Hope Twelve Step Workbook. <\/em>The 25% limit does not apply to the MA app which contains the entirety of Life with Hope <\/em>2nd Edition and the Life with Hope Workbook<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of unauthorized alterations that are strictly prohibited would include changing the text of the copyrighted <\/strong>Twelve Steps <\/em><\/strong>and <\/strong>Twelve Traditions<\/em><\/strong>, or changing the wording of any content being shared or read from Life with Hope<\/em>, Conference-approved pamphlets, or any other of MA\u2019s Copyrighted materials<\/p>\n\n\n\n When reprinting, excerpting, or screen-sharing from any of MA\u2019s Copyrighted literature these materials may not be altered in any way <\/strong>(besides excerpting)<\/em>. Additionally, written credit must be included to avoid infringing on MA World Services\u2019 copyrights. After a book or pamphlet quotation, the credit line should read: \u201cReprinted from (<\/strong>name of publication, page number<\/em><\/strong>), with permission of MA World Services.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n Unlike Copyrights, which do not need to be \u201cregistered,\u201d trademarks are registered with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (\u201cU.S. PTO\u201d), and the 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable corporate entity of MA World Services, Inc. owns MA\u2019s trademarks, on behalf of the entire fellowship of MA, as the legal entity responsible for managing the business and financial affairs of MA. (See the Eighth<\/em> Concept for Service<\/em><\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n MA\u2019s Trademarks are defined as the phrase \u201cMarijuana Anonymous\u201d and the \u201cMA logo\u201d consisting of the letters \u201cMA\u201d inside a triangle (shown below), and includes all word, abbreviation, style, and design variations used to date by MA (the \u201cMA Trademarks\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n Anyone who wishes to use the MA name or logo, or its literature in a way other than those uses expressly allowed by the Service Manual, must get explicit written permission from MA World Services in the form of a licensing agreement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These agreements between MA World Services and MA entities will be written as broadly as possible, and will be freely granted for any proposed uses of the MA Trademarks that aid in \u201ccarrying the message\u201d of recovery consistent with MA\u2019s \u201cprimary purpose,\u201d such as on their websites, some flyers, or on chips ordered by the group or district. (Tradition Five)<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although within MA, we consider MA members, meetings, groups, regions and districts (\u201cMA entities\u201d) to be a part of MA World Services, under the law they are separate from the legal corporate entity of MA World Services. Accordingly, those MA entities need express written permission from World Services to use MA\u2019s Trademarks as the implicit permission that has existed in the past is legally insufficient. We expect that it will only be necessary to sign such agreements once, unless there is a significant change in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Licensing agreements can also be entered into with outside third-parties. For example, a licensing agreement could allow a publishing company to publish and distribute MA World Services\u2019 copyrighted literature, or allow a chip manufacturer to make products, such as recovery-based chips, with MA\u2019s Trademarks of the logo and\/or name. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n MA World Services has a duty to guard the interests of the fellowship now and in the future. If World Services did not enforce our trademarks and copyrights within the organization, an outside entity could argue in court that we don\u2019t care who uses them or how, therefore any outside entity should be allowed to use them however they like too. In a lot of ways, they would be correct. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We could then lose control of our trademarks that represent the identity of the MA program. Outside entities could then freely misuse MA\u2019s name and logo to confuse members, trivialize the MA program, harm MA\u2019s reputation, or imply an endorsement by MA of an outside enterprise, in violation of the Sixth Tradition. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n By taking active steps to protect MA\u2019s intellectual property and enforce MA\u2019s trademarks, MA World Services ensures any use of the MA name and logo, which have come to represent the MA program, does not interfere with MA\u2019s ability to fulfill its primary purpose, and \u201ccarry the message\u201d of recovery. Tradition Five. <\/em>The loss of its copyright and trademark rights, and the misuse of the MA name, logo, and literature that could then follow, would greatly affect MA as a whole.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n The nonprofit corporation of MA World Services exists to manage the business and financial affairs of MA on behalf of the society of the MA fellowship. (See<\/em>\u00a0MA\u2019s Bylaws and other Foundation Documents available in\u00a0Service Manual Ver. 8.0, Appendix I: Foundation Documents<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>Under the\u00a012 Concepts for Service<\/em><\/a>, MA\u2019s Board of Trustees are \u201centrusted with the responsibility of making final decisions regarding general World Service business and finances.\u201d (Concept Eight<\/em>).)\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although MA groups, meetings, regions and districts (\u201cMA entities\u201d) are generally autonomous under the Twelve Traditions<\/em><\/a>, that autonomy is limited in matters that \u201caffect MA as a whole.\u201d (Tradition Four<\/em>). MA World Services\u2019 failure to take the necessary steps as instructed by legal counsel to ensure it retains all legal rights to the MA name and logo could lead to MA losing the right to enforce its trademark against potentially harmful uses that might confuse or harm MA members, trivialize the MA program, or harm MA\u2019s reputation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because these are issues that greatly \u201caffect MA as a whole,\u201d and interfere with its primary purpose of carrying the message of recovery to marijuana addicts, they are an exception to the generally broad autonomy granted by the Twelve Traditions. MA World Services is therefore acting consistently with MA\u2019s Twelve Traditions, Twelve Concepts for Service<\/em>, and other policies and procedures and foundation documents by taking the legal advice of its hired legal counsel, and entering into licensing agreements granting MA entities express permission to use the MA Trademarks in writing. (Traditions Four & Five<\/em>) (Concepts for Service Eight<\/em>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, despite its responsibility to protect the MA Trademarks on behalf of the fellowship of MA, MA World Services is mindful of MA\u2019s \u201cinverted pyramid\u201d structure, the lack of any hierarchy in MA, and MA\u2019s Twelve Traditions<\/em>, including the broad grant of autonomy to MA entities. Therefore, MA World Services will freely and broadly license the use of the MA name and logo to MA entities on, or in connection with, uses that aid in carrying the message of recovery (Tradition Five<\/em>) and will only deny uses that trivialize the MA program, confuse or harm MA members, harm MA\u2019s reputation, or otherwise interfere with \u201ccarrying the message\u201d of recovery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of the types of use of the MA Trademarks which might not be permitted <\/em><\/strong>would include, use of the MA name or logo on, or in connection with: (1) images or products that are very poor in quality; (2) social events that lack any recovery-based component; (3) uses that include profanity or other inappropriate messages; or (4) uses in conjunction with other trademarks or logos in a manner that may suggest endorsement or connection with an outside enterprise by MA, in violation of Tradition Six<\/em>. This list is not exhaustive, and a license to use the MA name or logo in a particular way may be denied for other reasons not specified here, but MA World Services is committed to granting broad licenses to entities within our fellowship, as is consistent with the principles of the inverted pyramid and the broad principle of autonomy. Each use will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n The\u00a0Intellectual Property Policy<\/a>\u00a0applies to anyone who wants to use MA\u2019s Intellectual Property in any way. This includes individual MA members, groups, meetings, regions, and districts (including Convention hosts<\/em>) as well as, outside third-parties including vendors\u00a0(such as chip manufacturers<\/em>), and others who may wish to use MA\u2019s Works, such as education, addiction, and rehabilitation professionals. The USPTO does not consider MA individual MA members, groups, meetings, regions, and districts to be legally within the corporate entity of MA World Services even though within MA we consider these MA entities to be equally \u201ca part of\u201d MA.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n This applies to\u00a0any<\/em>\u00a0use of MA\u2019s Trademarks (of the MA name and logo), including, but not limited to, its use on:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n MA\u2019s IP Policies and Procedures<\/a>, and the Service Manual,<\/a> state, in part: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cany member, group\/meeting, or district\/region that seeks to use MA\u2019s Trademarks\u2026 must obtain the express permission from MA World Services\u00a0for the uses listed below<\/strong>\u00a0by contacting\u00a0Legal@MA12.org<\/a>\u00a0and signing a basic written licensing agreement granting specific permission\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMA World Services\u2019\u2026policy is to allow members, groups, meetings, districts, and regions to use the MA name and logo freely, provided it is being used properly in support of MA\u2019s primary purpose of helping the marijuana addict who still suffers, and in ways that will not harm MA\u2019s reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is legally necessary for MA World Services to obtain signed written agreements from anyone currently using the MA name or logo, or anyone who intends to do so in the future for any purpose, including but not limited to, the following uses on: websites; flyers or other promotional materials for fellowship activities, including Conventions, Soberthons, Mini-Conventions, workshops, or any other non-World Services gatherings or events; \u201ct-shirts, other clothing, mugs or any other similar merchandise (including those items produced for MA Conventions); or on milestone recovery-based chips, coins, medallions or any other similar products.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n a. MA World Services is Entrusted by MA\u2019s Foundation Documents with the Responsibility Making Final Decisions Regarding World Services\u2019 Business and Finances, Including Following the Advice of its Lawyers<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n MA World Services is the nonprofit corporate entity that MA\u2019s Bylaws, Conference Charter, and Articles of Incorporation (See\u00a0<\/em>Service Manual, Version 8.0<\/a>,\u00a0Appendix I: Founding Documents<\/em>) has vested with\u00a0 responsibility over the legal aspects of operating MA. It owns Marijauana Anonymous\u2019 Intellectual Property (consisting of copyrights to MA literature, and trademarks, including the MA name and logo<\/em>) on behalf of the entire society of MA. The\u00a0Concepts for Service<\/a>\u00a0states that the Board of Trustees is\u00a0\u201centrusted with the responsibility of making final decisions regarding general World Service business and finances.<\/em>\u201d (Eighth Concept for Service<\/em><\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Board of Trustees hired an intellectual property attorney to assist with re-filing its trademarks and provide legal advice. The lawyer advised that to protect its intellectual property, MA World Services should implement these policies and procedures. Under the Concepts for Service,<\/em> the Board is duty-bound to follow the advice of its lawyer on how to best manage its intellectual property rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The attorney advised that MA World Services enter into written agreements granting express permission to anyone using the MA Trademark of the MA name or logo, including<\/em> MA members and entities, such as meetings, groups, regions and districts that use the logo on their websites, flyers advertising recovery-based events, on recovery-based chips, on merchandise for the annual Convention, or other uses that are in furtherance of MA\u2019s primary purpose of \u201ccarrying the message.\u201d (Tradition Five<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n b. Legally, MA Entities are Distinct and Separate from the Corporate Entity of MA World Services, and so, Licensing Agreements are Required for MA Entities to Use the MA Name and Logo<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the eyes of the law,<\/em> MA members, groups, meetings and districts (\u201cMA entities\u201d) are legally separate from the nonprofit charitable corporation of MA World Services, Inc. that was formed to manage the business and financial affairs for the society of MA. Therefore, those MA entities are not considered owners of MA\u2019s Trademarks. In order for World Services to maintain its trademarks rights and the right to enforce them against outside third-parties who might use them in confusing, detrimental, or harmful ways, MA World Services must take active steps to protect MA\u2019s Trademarks, including by entering into licensing agreements with MA entities who wish to use MA\u2019s name or logo, and placing reasonable limits on the use of MA\u2019s trademarks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In deciding whether to recognize a trademark, the U.S. PTO looks to, among other things, whether or not the legal owner of the trademark is taking steps to protect their trademark. Implied<\/em> permission to use the MA name and logo, as existed before, is legally insufficient to protect MA World Services\u2019 ownership of MA\u2019s trademarks on behalf of the fellowship of MA.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Under IP law, any owner of a trademark who fails to take steps to enforce their trademark right risks losing ownership of the mark with the U.S. PTO (which is currently re-evaluating MA\u2019s Trademarks). This could in turn result in MA being unable to stop someone with ill intentions from using MA\u2019s trademarks in detrimental ways that trivialize the MA program, confuse MA members, harm MA\u2019s reputation or imply an endorsement of an outside brand, product or organization by MA in violation of the Sixth Tradition<\/em> \u2013 all matters that greatly affect MA as whole (an exception to the otherwise broad autonomy under the Fourth Tradition<\/em>.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, to show the U.S. PTO that MA does protect its trademarks, and allow MA to continue to enforce its trademark rights against outside third parties, it must only allow others to use them if there is a written licensing agreement in place granting the members, meeting, group, region, district or outside third-party express permission to use the MA Trademarks in particular and specific ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If MA World Services were to allow MA entities to freely use the MA name or logo without express written permission, an outside third party could argue (in court or before the U.S. PTO) that since MA does not enforce its trademark rights and freely allows MA entities to use the trademarks however they wish, any outside entity should also be free to use the MA trademarks without permission however they wish. If this were to occur, MA would likely lose its rights to the MA trademarks. This would be harmful to MA because these IP rights are a vital asset to MA, and more importantly, allowing outside third parties to use MA\u2019s trademarks in ways that are confusing to members, or harmful to the MA program that is represented by the MA name and logo would interfere with MA\u2019s ability to \u201ccarry the message\u201d of recovery, a matter that greatly affects MA as a whole.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n This current policy actually expands<\/em> the permitted uses of the MA Trademarks of the MA name and logo from the prior policy in the Service Manual (\u201cSM\u201d). Current and prior versions of the SM have prohibited<\/em><\/strong> the use of the MA name and logo in connection with social or fellowship activities, and did not address the use of the MA logo on websites, social media, merchandise, letterhead, or milestone chips. Many of these uses have become standard practice within our fellowship due to changes in technology that have increased the accessibility of creating websites or social media sites, or the ability to easily order merchandise with anything you want to put on it (see<\/em> SM 8.0, Ch 15: Events, p. 34<\/em>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The policy in the SM needed updating to clarify that these current uses of our name and logo are allowed, provided there\u2019s a written agreement in place. MA World Services prepared the IP Policy as a result of the legal advice received, and has proposed revisions to the SM so that it will accurately reflect the IP Policy, and provide more guidance on the use of the MA name and logo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These updates to the SM make clear that MA World Services now requires ANYONE (including MA members, meetings, groups, districts, regions and Convention hosts or outside third-parties) to obtain express written permission (in the form of a licensing agreement) to use the MA Trademark of the MA name or logo, whether on merchandise, such as milestone chips, t-shirts or other merchandise; flyers, including those advertising MA meetings, workshops, soberthons or fellowship events with a recovery-based component, such as a speaker or meeting; on letterhead for attendance verifications or in furtherance of Public Information or Hospitals & Institutions efforts;; and on any websites or social media pages for groups, meetings, regions, districts, or events, such as Conventions.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n The primary goal of MA World Services\u2019 IP policy is to protect and preserve MA\u2019s legal rights to its trademarks, therefore maintaining MA World Services\u2019 ability to enforce its Trademarks to prevent or stop any use of the MA name or logo that could be confusing to members, trivialize the MA program, or is otherwise detrimental or harmful to MA\u2019s reputation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Additional goals include: (1) to allow recovery based milestone chips, coins, tokens and medallions to be freely available, while protecting MA\u2019s Trademarks on behalf of the fellowship of MA, and (2) to allow meetings, groups, regions and districts to use the MA name and logo broadly and freely in ways that aid in \u201ccarrying the message\u201d of recovery, including by using the logo on, or in connection with some flyers, websites, social media and other uses expressly allowed by written Licensing Agreements that do not harm MA\u2019s reputation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n MA World Services was advised by its legal counsel that if it did not enter into licensing agreements with MA entities, the U.S. PTO might revoke its trademark rights (which are currently subject to review by the U.S. PTO due to a re-application). MA World Services has a duty and responsibility to protect MA\u2019s legal rights on behalf of the fellowship in furtherance of \u201ccarrying the message\u201d of recovery. (Tradition Five<\/em>). Having legally strong policies and procedures will help prevent infringement, unnecessary lawsuits and other legal actions that would take resources away from MA\u2019s primary purpose, and interfere with MA\u2019s ability to effectively \u201ccarry the message.\u201d As MA continues to grow, the possibility that MA might be the subject of even a meritless legal action increases, so MA World Services has a duty to follow the advice of its hired experts and legal counsel to reduce the likelihood that this may occur. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n MA World Services attempts to manage MA\u2019s IP in such a way that will best benefit the fellowship of MA, help carry MA\u2019s message of recovery, prevent uses that trivialize the MA program or dilute the MA Trademarks that have come to represent the MA program of recovery, and avoid any harm to MA\u2019s reputation. In applying this IP Policy, the Board carefully balances the 12 Traditions<\/a>, 12 Concepts for Service<\/a>, and other principles of MA\u2019s program of recovery with the legal requirements of the U.S. PTO and international equivalents, and the advice of its legal counsel, and will not attempt to exert excessive \u201ccontrol\u201d over MA\u2019s IP any more than is legally and practically necessary to protect MA\u2019s trademark and copyright rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MA World Services\u2019 policy is to freely allow members, groups, meetings, districts, and regions (\u201cMA entities\u201d) to use the MA name and logo, provided it is being used properly in support of MA\u2019s primary purpose of helping the marijuana addict who still suffers, and in ways that will not harm MA\u2019s reputation. For example, some uses of the MA trademarks of the phrase \u201cMarijuana Anonymous\u201d and\/or the MA logo, that would <\/strong>likely be allowed<\/strong> under MA World Services\u2019 standard written licensing agreement, include, but are not limited to:<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each proposed use of the MA name and logo should be evaluated on a case by case basis to ensure it does not harm MA\u2019s reputation, confuse MA members, dilute the MA trademarks (which have come to represent the program of MA) or trivialize the MA program. Uses that are in furtherance of \u201ccarrying the message\u201d of recovery, and are not detrimental to MA\u2019s reputation are generally permissible, especially when requested by an MA member, meeting, group, region or district (the entities who MA World Services holds MA\u2019s trademark rights on behalf of) and when it is to support their efforts as MA entities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, when evaluating proposed third-party uses of MA\u2019s trademarks, MA World Services will carefully consider the needs and best interests of the fellowship. For example, MA World Services acknowledges the importance of having a variety of different recovery-based milestone coins, chips, tokens and medallions available at a wide-range of price points and quality levels. Therefore, MA World Services has, and will continue to permit third party chip manufacturers to license use of MA\u2019s trademark for the purpose of making a variety of different chips available to MA members at a range of price-points and quality levels (such as cheaper plastic chips, mid-level aluminum chips, customizable handmade wooden, ceramic or wood burned chips, and more expensive heavier metal coins), provided the quality is not below average, or otherwise harmful to MA\u2019s reputation.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n Yes, the License or Permission to use the MA Trademarks granted by MA World Services\u2019 general Licensing Agreement for regions and districts specifically extends to include all registered groups and meetings within the region or district (that want to be included). The Agreement defines \u201cregistered\u201d groups or meetings as those that are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The important factor is that the region or district knows that the group or meeting is part of its region or district, and is able to contact and communicate with that group or meeting regarding the licensing agreement, and any use of the MA Trademarks by the group or meeting, if needed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n MA World Services acknowledges that some groups and meetings may not wish to be posted on the MA World Services \u201cMeeting Finder\u201d or a region or district\u2019s website(s) to protect their meeting from unwanted disruptions. Those meetings and groups may<\/em> still be covered by the licensing agreements, provided that the region or district knows of the group or meeting, or maintains contact info for those groups and meetings that would allow the region or district to easily contact the meeting or group about their use of the MA Trademarks, or other terms of this Agreement. The key determination in deciding whether a group is covered by a district\u2019s agreement is whether or not MA World Services is easily able to contact and communicate with the group or meeting about the terms of the licensing agreement and their use of the MA name or logo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order for groups or meetings to be included within the region or district\u2019s agreement, MA World Services must be able to easily obtain information about which meetings and groups are part of the region or district when needed. This is so that MA World Services can communicate with meetings or groups that a region or district\u2019s agreement extends to about its terms and their uses of the MA Trademarks, and whether any uses need to be corrected, either by contacting the group or meeting directly, or through contacting the region or district that signed the Licensing Agreement with MA World Services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meetings or groups that do not meet the above definitions of a \u201cregistered\u201d meeting within a district or region, or are otherwise not part of a region or district who wish to the use the MA name or logo still are able to do so, they just need to enter into their own separate licensing agreements with MA World Services by contacting legal@ma12.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n Any independent groups or meetings that are not currently a part of a \u201cregistered\u201d region or district, and are therefore \u201cunaffiliated\u201d should enter into their own separate licensing agreements with MA World Services to use the MA Trademarks of the name and logo in furtherance of their efforts as a group or meeting, and to aid in \u201ccarrying the message\u201d of recovery.\u00a0 A representative from these groups or meetings that are not part of an existing region or district should contact\u00a0Legal@MA12.org<\/a>\u00a0and they will be provided with the same licensing agreements that district and regions are also signing to use the MA name or logo in the ways explained above. MA World Services may not know that your independent or unaffiliated meeting, group, or region exists, or how to contact you, so a representative of the independent group, region, or meeting is responsible for contacting MA World Services to obtain and sign a licensing agreement if it wishes to use MA\u2019s Trademarks of the MA name or logo.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n MA World Services hired attorneys specializing in Intellectual Property (IP) law to assist it with re-registering its Trademarks in 2023. As part of this process, MA\u2019s IP attorneys advised MA World Services to prepare a policy and licensing agreements for those who want to use the logo. Similarly, when the Chips Committee reached out to outside third-party chip manufacturers, they too required that MA show legal ownership of its own Trademarks before it took on the cost and effort of making the plates needed to make MA chips. So, if MA lost the rights to its trademark due to a failure to enter into licensing agreements with meetings, groups and districts, it could also detrimentally affect MA\u2019s ability to have MA chips made. As MA has rapidly grown in recent years, the amount of legal scrutiny on the legal, business and financial affairs has also grown, making it more important than ever for MA World Services to work with experts and ensure our operations remain in line with all the requirements to continue operating effectively as a non-profit corporation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is also an expansion of the prior written policy in the Service Manual, which did not allow for any use of the MA name or logo on flyers, and did not address using the MA logo on websites, or on milestone chips. As a result of the lack of information, the policy needed updating.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n\n
Helpful Links & Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Frequently Asked Questions (\u201cFAQ\u201d) About MA World Services\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Intellectual Property (“IP”)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What is Intellectual Property Law<\/summary>\n
What is Copyright Law?<\/summary>\n
Copyright law protects \u201cworks\u201d (such as audiovisual, visual, and written works) from being copied by another individual or business without permission.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
What is Trademark Law?<\/summary>\n
A trademark is a symbol and\/or word(s) used to represent an organization like MA, or a business or its products. Once registered, that same symbol or series of words cannot legally be used by any other organization.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/details>\n\n\n\nWhat are Licensing Agreements?<\/summary>\n
A licensing agreement, or license, is a written contractual agreement between the owner of a trademark, copyright, or patent granting another party permission to use that intellectual property in a particular and specific way.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Why does MA World Services require licensing agreements?<\/summary>\n
What do MA’s policies, procedures, and Traditions say about this?<\/summary>\n
MA World Services’ Trademark Policies & Procedures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Who does MA’s Intellectual Property apply to?<\/summary>\n
Which uses of MA’s Trademarks does this policy apply to?<\/summary>\n
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What is MA World Services’ policy regarding use of the MA name & logo by MA entities (including meetings, groups, regions & districts)<\/summary>\n
Why do MA entities need permission to use the MA name and logo?<\/summary>\n
What does the Service Manual say about use of the MA name & logo by MA entities (members, meetings\/groups, and districts\/regions)?<\/summary>\n
Why does it matter whether or not MA World Services owns its trademarks? What is the rationale for requiring MA entities to sign legal agreements with MA World Services?<\/summary>\n
How will MA World Services enforce this policy, and what uses of the MA name or logo will generally be allowed?<\/summary>\n
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If a district or region signs a licensing agreement granting it permission to use the MA name and logo, does that extend to meetings and groups within that region or district?<\/summary>\n
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What about independent groups, meetings, or regions that are not part of any existing, registered region or district?<\/summary>\n
Why do we have a “new” policy? Why do we now need licensing agreements to use the MA name and logo when we didn’t before?<\/summary>\n