Trademark & Brand Usage Policy

1. Purpose

Inkwell is an open source project released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (AGPL-3.0). While the source code is freely available to use, modify, and distribute under the terms of that license, the Inkwell name, logo, brand assets, and associated trademarks are not covered by the AGPL-3.0 and are separately protected.

This Trademark and Brand Usage Policy explains what you can and cannot do with the Inkwell brand. The goal is simple: protect the integrity of the Inkwell name so users always know when they are interacting with the official Inkwell service, while still allowing the open source community to talk about, reference, and build on the project.

2. What This Policy Covers

The following are trademarks and brand assets owned by Stanton Melvin DBA Inkwell (collectively, the “Inkwell Marks”):

• Word marks: “Inkwell,” “Inkwell Social,” “inkwell.social,” “Inkwell Plus”
• Logos: The Inkwell logo, logotype, and icon in all formats and variations
• Visual identity: The Inkwell brand color palette, typography choices, and distinctive visual design elements as used in the official Inkwell service
• Taglines: “Your journal. Your pen pals. Your space.” and “no ads, ever”

3. Permitted Uses (No Permission Needed)

3.1 Referring to Inkwell

You may use the Inkwell name in text to truthfully refer to the Inkwell project or service. For example:

• “This application is compatible with Inkwell.”
• “Built using the Inkwell open source codebase.”
• “This server federates with inkwell.social.”

When referring to Inkwell in text, please use the word “Inkwell” with a capital “I” and lowercase “nkwell.” Do not stylize it as “INKWELL,” “InkWell,” or “inkWell” in running text (the all-caps treatment is reserved for official brand usage in titles and headers).

3.2 Community and Educational Use

You may use the Inkwell name and logo in presentations, blog posts, articles, videos, tutorials, and educational materials that discuss or reference the Inkwell project, provided that the use does not imply official endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation with the Inkwell project unless such a relationship exists.

3.3 Linking and Attribution

You may use the Inkwell logo to link to inkwell.social or to the Inkwell GitHub repository, provided you use an unmodified version of the logo and do not alter its proportions, colors, or design.

4. Restricted Uses (Permission Required)

The following uses require prior written permission from Inkwell. To request permission, email hello@inkwell.social.

4.1 Forks and Derivative Services

If you fork the Inkwell codebase and run your own instance, you must choose a different name, logo, and brand identity for your service. You may not call your service “Inkwell,” use the Inkwell logo, or present your service in a way that could be confused with the official Inkwell platform.

You are encouraged to credit Inkwell as the upstream project. Acceptable examples:

• “[YourProjectName] is based on the Inkwell open source project.”
• “Powered by the Inkwell codebase. [YourProjectName] is not affiliated with inkwell.social.”

4.2 Merchandise and Physical Goods

You may not produce merchandise (stickers, shirts, mugs, etc.) bearing the Inkwell name or logo without prior written permission.

4.3 Domain Names and Social Media Accounts

You may not register domain names, social media accounts, or app store listings that include “Inkwell” or “inkwell” in a way that could suggest an official Inkwell presence (e.g., inkwell-app.com, @inkwellofficial, InkwellPlus). Exceptions may be granted for community fan pages that are clearly identified as unofficial.

4.4 Commercial Use

You may not use the Inkwell Marks in advertising, marketing materials, or product names for commercial products or services without prior written permission.

5. Prohibited Uses (Never Permitted)

The following uses of the Inkwell Marks are never permitted, regardless of context:

1. Using the Inkwell name or logo to imply that your product, service, or fork is the official Inkwell service or is endorsed, sponsored, or affiliated with Inkwell when it is not.
2. Modifying the Inkwell logo (altering colors, proportions, adding elements, combining with other logos) and presenting the modified version as an official Inkwell mark.
3. Using the Inkwell Marks in connection with any product, service, or content that is unlawful, defamatory, harmful, or that violates the Inkwell Terms of Service.
4. Incorporating the Inkwell Marks into your own trademark, trade name, or logo.
5. Using the Inkwell Marks in a manner that disparages or tarnishes the Inkwell project or its community.

6. Quick Reference

7. Relationship to the AGPL-3.0 License

The AGPL-3.0 license governs your rights to use, modify, and distribute the Inkwell source code. This Trademark and Brand Usage Policy is separate from and in addition to the AGPL-3.0. Nothing in the AGPL-3.0 grants you any rights to use the Inkwell Marks.

To be clear: you have the right under the AGPL-3.0 to fork the code, modify it, and run your own service. You do not have the right to call that service “Inkwell” or use the Inkwell brand assets. This is a standard practice in open source projects (similar policies are maintained by Mozilla/Firefox, Mastodon, WordPress, and many others).

8. Brand Asset Files

Official Inkwell brand assets (logo files, color palette, and usage guidelines) are available at: github.com/stantondev/inkwellsocial-brand-assets

These assets are provided solely for the permitted uses described in this policy. Downloading or possessing these files does not grant any trademark license beyond what is described here.

9. Enforcement

We monitor the use of the Inkwell Marks and will take action to address misuse. If you become aware of any use of the Inkwell Marks that you believe violates this policy, please report it to hello@inkwell.social.

If we determine that your use of the Inkwell Marks violates this policy, we will typically reach out to you first and request that you correct the issue. We prefer collaborative resolution. However, we reserve the right to take further action, including legal action, to protect the Inkwell Marks if necessary.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be announced via the Inkwell blog and/or GitHub repository. The “Last Updated” date at the top of this document indicates the most recent revision.

11. Contact

For questions about this policy, trademark usage requests, or to report misuse:

Inkwell
Email: hello@inkwell.social
Address: 1127 Pennington Ln, Westfield, IN 46074