Brand usage application

Application When Creating a Product

1. Front Page

1-1) List the following items on the front page of the usage rules.

Ver. (version)
Date created
Issuer
Stamp Space (Department Creating the Usage Rules, Brand Management Committee, Reception No.)

Usage rules officially take effect when stamped by the Brand Management Committee.

* When making revisions to the usage rules, always consult with the Brand Management Committee and reissue the rules following their approval and stamping.

2. About the Product Brand

2-1) Brand Concept

Clearly establish the concept of the brand for the product or service.

2-2) Brand Definition

Define what kinds of products or services are assigned to the brand.

2-3) Brand Usage Regions

As trademark laws are independent systems for each country, conduct trademark research for each country and list the regions in which usage is possible.

2-4) Countries in which trademarks are established are denoted by "Ⓡ"

As registered trademarks (trademark rights) are independent for each country, when displaying "Ⓡ" to denote a registered trademark, first check the trademark registration status in each country to specify those regions in which "Ⓡ" will be displayed. * Specify whether or not to display "Ⓡ" on a per-country basis.

3. Product Brand Display Rules

3-1) Display of "Ⓡ" with Brand Logos

A brand logo refers to a design, decorative text, Symbol Mark, or combination thereof.
As a brand logo is a mark symbolizing a brand, use a unified logo design.

Develop rules concerning the following items.

a. Display of "Ⓡ"

As a general rule, display "Ⓡ" for registered trademarks.
As a general rule, if a brand logo is a registered trademark, display "Ⓡ." If "Ⓡ" will not be displayed for a brand logo that is a registered trademark, please consult with the Brand Management Committee in advance over matters including the display of "TM". * "Ⓡ" can only be displayed with a brand for which a trademark has been registered.

b. Clear Space Rules

Clear Space refers to the clear space required to distinguish a brand logo from other information and display it clearly while maintaining its independence.
An isolation area of 0.5H is the recommended size, but regardless of this, rules should be established for each brand so that the independence of the brand can be properly ensured.

c. Minimum Allowed Usage Size

The minimum size allowing a brand logo's shape to be correctly shown is defined in mm and pixels. When an element is smaller than the minimum allowed usage size, please use text instead (see other page).
Also, note if depending on the size of a brand logo, "Ⓡ" cannot be clearly displayed, it may be omitted.

d. Usable Colors

Specify the usable colors for the brand logo.
For the colors, please designate printing colors (process colors), printing colors (spot colors), and screen display colors (RGB), etc.
To protect the brand image, as a general rule, colors other than the designated usable colors cannot be used.

e. Backgrounds

To ensure brand logo legibility, as a general rule the use of a brand logo is not permitted when it is not possible to ensure sufficient contrast between the brand logo and background.

f. Examples of Prohibited Use

As a brand logo is a mark that symbolizes the brand, it is necessary to use a unified logo design.
Specify that distortions and other alterations to the brand logo are prohibited.

In addition, list any individual specific examples of prohibited use that are expected to occur.

3-2) When the brand is displayed as text (standard characters)

When a brand is displayed as text (using standard characters), designate rules for the following items.

a. Text Composition

Specify display examples of the brand depicted in text format.
Specify rules about whether the text should be displayed as single-byte or double-byte characters.
If the text consists of English letters, specify when to use upper and lower case.

b. Handling of "Ⓡ" Display

When a registered trademark relates to text (standard characters), in general establish rules that require "Ⓡ" to be displayed to the top right of the brand (text).
When "Ⓡ" is not appended to a registered trademark, please consult with the Brand Management Committee in advance over matters including the display of "TM".
When, depending on the text size, "Ⓡ" cannot be clearly displayed, it can be omitted.

c. Other

When combining a brand (text) with other names, establish rules requiring a single-byte or double-byte space separating the brand from the other names.
Establish rules prohibiting distortions or other alterations of the brand (text).

4. Display of the Brand Rights Holder

When using a brand logo, as a general rule place a notice of the rights holder in an appropriate place on the item on which the brand logo is being used.
Note that this can be omitted if the rights holder cannot be displayed on the item due to space limitations.
Do note display "Ⓡ" or "TM" on a brand within text describing the rights holder.

5. Versions and Revision History of Usage Rules

Set up a revision history of the usage rules and list the version number and creation date for the relevant version.
When revisions have been made, list the new version number, the details of the revisions, and the creation date of the new version.

6. Contact for Inquiries Regarding the Usage Rules

As a contact for inquiries regarding the usage rules, list information such as the company name, department name, external number, internal extension number, and email address.
When information about the rights holder is shown outside the company, only list the information that can be publicly shared.

7. Recipients of the Usage Rules (Created separately from the usage rules)

Create a list of recipients (internal use only) on a separate document from the usage rules. The list should include recipients and a distribution date.
When recipients are added, a recipient and distribution date will be added.
When provisions concerning a deadline for use of the brand are established, this fact should be stated.