G013 Trademarks and Copyrights

Summary

G013 describes the registered trademarks and copyrights. It also covers permitted use of copyrights and design reproductions.

1.0 Trademarks And Service Marks

1.1Registered Marks

The following are among the registered USPS trademarks and service marks:

1-800-ASK-USPS	PostalOne!
Business Reply Mail	Priority Mail
Confirm	Priority Mail United States Postal Service and Design
Delivery Confirmation	Returns@Ease
DMM	Signature Confirmation
The Eagle Logo	Stamps By Mail
Express Mail	Stamps to Go
FASTforward	U.S. Mail and Design
First-Class Mail	U.S. Postal Service
Official Election Mail and Design	United States Post Office
The Old Eagle Design	United States Postal Service
Parcel Post	United States Postal Service and Design (with the Eagle Logo)
PC Postage pcpostage.com	USPS
Planet	usps.com
Planet Code	We Deliver
Planet Code USPS and Design	We Deliver For You
Postal Explorer	ZIP+4

1.2Use of Registered Marks

USPS trademarks must be used in the form listed in 1.1. Proper use of USPS registered marks requires capitalizing the initial letters of the marks to distinguish them from terms not used as trademarks. Words and phrases that are registered trademarks may also use the registration symbol ®. Figures that are registered marks must always use the registration symbol. (An exception to this rule is the USPS emblem used on letterheads and business cards. All other uses of the emblem must include the ®.)

1.3Proposed or Pending Registration

The USPS has additional trademarks not yet registered. The rules in 1.2 apply to these common law marks, except that such marks are not to be identified by the symbol ®. Instead, the superscript initials ä may be used to identify these marks. The common law USPS trademarks and service marks for which registration is pending or proposed include the Express Mail International Service logotype, Presort, Registered Mail, and Standard Mail.

2.0 Copyrights

2.1Copyrighted Material

The USPS secures copyrights in its philatelic designs and certain publications. The designs of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, stamped cards, aerogrammes, souvenir cards, and other philatelic items issued on or after January 1, 1978, are copyrighted by the USPS under title 17 USC.

2.2Permitted Use

The use of illustrations of the designs covered by such copyrights is permitted:

a. In editorial matter in newspapers, magazines, journals, books, philatelic catalogs, and philatelic albums.

b. In advertising matter, circulars, or price lists for the sale of the postal items illustrated.

c. In advertising matter, circulars, or price lists for the sale of newspapers, magazines, journals, books, philatelic catalogs, and philatelic albums containing illustrations of philatelic designs.

d. In motion-picture films, microfilms, slides, or electronic tape for projection on a screen or for use in telecasting. No print or other reproduction from such films, slides, or tapes may be made except for the uses permitted in this section.

2.3Design Reproduction

Illustrations permitted by 2.2a through 2.2c may be in color or in black and white, and may depict philatelic items as uncanceled or canceled. When depicting uncanceled items in color, illustrations must be less than 75% or more than 150% in linear dimension of the size of the design of the philatelic items as issued. Color illustrations of canceled philatelic items and black and white illustrations of uncanceled or canceled philatelic items may be in any size.

2.4License Request

The USPS may grant licenses for the use of illustrations of its copyright designs and registered trademarks outside the scope of the above permission. A request for such a license must be sent to the manager, Licensing, Public Affairs and Communications (see G043 for address).

2.5Publication 65

The USPS copyrights each edition of Publication 65, National Five-Digit ZIP Code and Post Office Directory, to protect the accuracy and integrity of the ZIP Code information distributed to the public. The USPS licenses publishers on a nonexclusive basis to reproduce and sell Publication 65 or parts thereof, if the parts cover a complete state or a combination of states and include full ZIP Code information for multi-ZIP Coded post offices. Licensees must comply with the terms of the licensing agreements. The licenses are issued on an annual basis and may be renewed.

3.0 Inquiries

Inquiries about USPS copyrights or use of USPS trademarks and service marks, copyright materials, and intellectual property other than patents and technical data rights in USPS contracts must be sent to USPS Stamp Development. Inquiries about licenses to publish or reproduce ZIP Code information must be sent to the National Customer Support Center (see G043 for address).

DMM Issue 58 Updated 12-9-04

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