Name and badge policy
What anyone can do with the UGP name, grade names and badges without asking, and what needs the steward's written agreement.
"Universal Grading Protocol", "UGP" and "UGP Verified", and the UGP badge artwork, are trademarks of Device Supply. They are used in commerce and are not registered.
Anyone can, without asking
- State "Graded to UGP v[x]", with the conformance level and verification tier, in the claim format.
- Use the published grade names exactly as defined.
- Refer to the standard by its name.
- Display the steward's published "Graded to UGP" badge next to grades that meet the claim format. See the badge kit.
Needs the steward's written agreement
- Using a UGP grade name, or the UGP name, for a different definition.
- Publishing a modified version, extension or translation under the UGP name.
- Using the name or badge in a way that suggests Device Supply inspected, certified, endorses or is affiliated with a device, business or product.
- Using "UGP" or "Universal Grading Protocol" in a company, product or domain name.
To ask, use the Contact page.
UGP Verified
"UGP Verified" and its badge are reserved for devices inspected under the steward's certification programme (V2), and for graders and facilities the steward has approved. The steward publishes the programme rules and a public registry; until then, no one uses the name. See UGP Verified.
No ®; ™ optional
Nobody uses the ® symbol with the UGP names: ® is reserved for registered marks, and using it on an unregistered mark would misstate the legal position. Device Supply may use ™ next to the name to signal its claim; it is not required.
(Informative: in Canada, rights in an unregistered mark arise from use and are protected through the tort of passing off. ™ simply signals the claim and has no registration requirement.)