close
The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20260211002041/https://opensource.fb.com/legal/trademark/
Meta Open Source

Meta Open Source - Trademark Policy

Meta Platforms, Inc. ("Meta") is committed to promoting the use of its open source software. While open source software is generally free to download and modify subject to certain certain restrictions, the right to use open source software does not include the right to related software or project names and logos. Meta therefore provides this policy in order to provide guidance for third parties on how Meta's open source's software and project names and logos (collectively, the "OS Trademarks") may be used. Additional trademark policies or brand guidelines may apply to the use of particular OS Trademarks, please refer to the relevant documentation for any additional details.

Nominative Fair Use Allowed

Trademark law allows for "nominative fair use," which means that third parties are allowed to use a trademark for the purpose of identifying Meta's open source software and projects so long as such use (1) cannot be readily identified without using the trademark (e.g., to reference an OS Trademark in order to truthfully state that a third party's software uses the source code of the OS Trademark); (2) includes the minimum necessary to identify the OS Trademark (e.g., the name may be used, but not the stylized wording or the logo); and (3) does not suggest any sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation between the third party and Meta or the OS Trademarks.

Unauthorized Use

Except as authorized by this policy or any other applicable trademark policy or brand guidelines we may publish, all other uses of the OS Trademarks are prohibited without written permission from Meta (requests for permission may be sent to opensource@fb.com). Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, the following: using or registering, or otherwise claiming trademark rights in any of the OS Trademarks, or any part of any OS Trademark, including as a, or as part of any, trademark, service mark, company name, trade name, username, mobile app name, or domain name. Further, third parties may not use or claim rights in any name or logo that may be confusingly similar to or dilutive of any of the OS Trademarks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Trademarks protect not only owners, but also users and developers. Trademarks let users and the open source community know that they can rely on the quality represented by the brand. It is important for trademark owners to protect their trademark rights against third party uses that are likely to mislead or confuse consumers or the open source community.

Can OS Trademarks be used in the name or logo of forked software projects?

Trademarks, or anything similar, may not be used in the name or logo of forked software projects.

Can OS Trademarks be used in the name or logo of projects built on top of Meta's open source software?

Trademarks, or anything similar, may not be used in the name or logo of projects built on top of Meta.

Can OS Trademarks be used in a domain name?

OS Trademarks, or anything similar, may not be used in a domain name (or any trademark, service mark, company name, trade name, username, or mobile app name).