Boy Scouts of America

What You Need to Know About Trademarks

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What is a trademark?
A trademark is a word, symbol, design, combination word and design, slogan, or distinctive sound that identifies and distinguishes the products or services of one party from those of another. A trademark identifies the source of a product or service and represents that certain quality standards are inherent in the product or services.

What constitutes a BSA trademark?
All variances of names and visual representations of the Boy Scouts of America are considered BSA trademarks. BSA owns these trademarks and carefully manages their commercial use.

BSA trademarks are the exclusive property of the Boy Scouts of America. In order to protect the proprietary marks of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the U.S. Congress granted BSA a federal charter (36 USC § 21 et. Seq.) in 1916. This charter gives BSA “the exclusive right to use emblems, badges, descriptive or designating marks, and words and phrases (BSA) adopts.” The marks include any trademark, service mark, name, logo, seal, design, insignia, phrase, or other symbol or device associated with or referring to Boy Scouts of America.

How to use BSA trademarks properly
You may use BSA trademarks (but not logos, taglines, or icons) to identify BSA products or services, provided such references are truthful, fair, and not misleading as to BSA sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of your company, your products or services, and that you follow BSA trademark guidelines.

You may not use any logo, insignia, terms in common usage, photography, or descriptive marks relating to Scouting that serve as a direct or indirect endorsement of your product or venture unless such use is agreed to or you are licensed to do so by BSA.

BSA Trademarks in Third-Party Product Names or Materials
BSA trademarks may not be used by third parties as a part of their company, product, service, domain, or trade names without an express written agreement permitting such use. Third parties may not use BSA trademarks in the manufacture or distribution of a product, or in a commercial manner to directly or indirectly sell a product or service.

Third parties should consult with BSA to determine whether and under what circumstances such use of BSA trademarks are authorized.

In some instances, BSA trademarks may be used in the titles of books in printed or eBook format that provide relevant and accurate information specific to supporting the programs of BSA and beyond that which is available from BSA. Publishers of such books need not obtain express permission from BSA if the use of BSA trademarks complies with all of the following requirements:

BSA trademarks do not appear larger or more prominent than the rest of the full book title.
BSA trademarks are not used in a logo or stylized form used by BSA. BSA taglines, mottos, or phrases may not be used under any circumstances, and BSA insignia may not be used on the book’s cover, advertising, promotional material, or otherwise, without express written permission from an authorized representative of BSA.
Proper form, marking, and attribution is used for all BSA trademarks. You may not shorten or abbreviate any of BSA’s trademarks. Always spell and capitalize BSA’s trademarks exactly as they appear in the Language of Scouting online at http://www.scouting.org/identity/los/index.html.
A conspicuous disclaimer is used, preferably on the front or back cover of the book, but at minimum must appear on the copyright page of the book and state in all capital letters: “BOOK NAME” IS NOT AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT ENDORSED OR SPONSORED BY BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. [INSERT TRADEMARK(S) USED] ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.”
There is nothing else in the use of BSA trademarks or in the circumstances that would lead consumers to believe there is an association with, or endorsement by, BSA that does not exist, and the BSA trademarks are used only to refer to the BSA programs that are the subject of the book.