Urantia Foundation
Copyright and Registered Marks Policies
Re: Policy Regarding Personal Use of "Urantia," "Urantian," and the Three Blue Concentric-Circles Symbol
(Revised January, 2000)Dear Readers of The Urantia Book
In September 1998, Urantia Foundation established policies that clarified, we thought, the permissible use of "Urantia," "Urantian," and the Concentric-Circles Symbol and permitted the personal use (not the organizational or commercial use) of these marks. It appears that there is still some confusion, however, about the permissible use of "Urantia," "Urantian," and "The Urantia Book" as part of organizational names and Internet domain names. We have slightly revised our policy, therefore, in the hope of further clarifying the permissible use of Urantia Foundation's trademarks. In addition, this letter will address the use of these trademarks by groups or organizations.
The Urantia Foundation, upon its establishment on January 11, 1950, commenced using the Concentric-Circles Symbol and the words "Urantia," "Urantian," and "The Urantia Book" to identify itself, its publications, and its religious educational services. Between 1952 and 1978, it registered "Urantia," "Urantian," and the circles as trademarks, service marks, and collective membership marks, that is, as the official marks of Urantia Foundation and its affiliated organizations. After the copyright expires (currently anticipated in 2050 for the English text), these registered marks will continue to serve as identifiers to the public of the inviolate text of The Urantia Book published by Urantia Foundation, whether in English or other languages.
In order to preserve its ability to use the trademarks for this purpose, the Foundation must reserve their use for itself and its licensees, organizations that support the Foundation's Declaration of Trust, its plans, policies, and purposes, and its ownership of the copyright and marks. Those organizations granted licenses have acknowledged the Foundation's exclusive right to the trademarks and agree not to do anything to bring disrepute to the marks. The Foundation reserves the right to terminate licensing agreements and would exercise this right if doing so, in the opinion of the Trustees, would protect the revelation.
Because Urantia Foundation holds the Urantia trademarks for books, publications, services, and collective membership organizations, when an organization or group (unaffiliated with Urantia Foundation) adopts a name that includes the word "Urantia" or appropriates an Internet domain name that includes "Urantia," the Foundation's marks are implicated. This is because such use could confuse people about that organization's affiliation with Urantia Foundation. The Urantia Foundation adopted its previous policies regarding personal use of the marks because individual use is not likely to engender confusion as to sponsorship or affiliation. Subject to the qualifications discussed below, Urantia Foundation discourages the use of "Urantia" in organizational names and Internet domain names because, in the event people are confused (or would likely be confused) by the unlicensed inclusion of the word "Urantia" in an organization's name, the Foundation may have to assert its rights under trademark law against the infringing organization in order to preserve the Foundation's rights to the marks.
That having been said, an organization need not be licensed to include the words "Readers [or "Students" or the like] of The Urantia Book" in its group name or domain name. The use of this phrase, when taken as a whole, is "descriptive" and is "fair use" for those persons who wish to describe the tie between their organization and the book.
The use of the words "The Urantia Book" not preceded by the words "readers of" or "students of" raises some difficult questions. Under trademark law, the owner of a copyright in a book holds common law trademark rights in the book's title. Any use of the title of the book as a designation of origin or sponsorship that causes a likelihood of consumer confusion violates these legal rights. In light of the confusion we have observed regarding names using "Urantia Book" without such descriptive modifiers as indicated above, we advise against an organization calling itself a name that suggests source, sponsorship, or custody of The Urantia Book, such as "The Urantia Book Society" (as opposed to "The Society for Readers of The Urantia Book"). The risk of confusion is simply too great.
None of this has anything to do with referring to The Urantia Book in writings or speeches. The Foundation has policies permitting liberal quotation of the text for labors of love, educational purposes, and commercial works. We recognize that the trademark rights, which the Foundation has acquired through longstanding use and registration of its marks, provide us only with the exclusive rights to use "Urantia," "Urantian," "The Urantia Book," and the Concentric-Circles Symbol as means of identifying Urantia Foundation, its affiliate organizations, its products, and its services. Other organizations may use the words "The Urantia Book" in the name of their organization or Internet domain name as long as the words are preceded by such words as "readers of" or "students of."
We realize that, as awareness of the book and its teachings increases, individuals and groups of readers will make use of the teachings in myriads of ways. We encourage such efforts. The Foundation has long had the policy not to interfere with the energetic and enthusiastic efforts of an individual to introduce The Urantia Book to his or her varied contacts and human associates. We do not desire to be the arbiter of anyone's philosophy, beliefs, or conduct. However, to prevent confusion in the eyes of the public, the words "Urantia," "Urantian," and the Concentric-Circles Symbol must be reserved as the exclusive identifiers of those organizations affiliated with Urantia Foundation. Use of the marks by unaffiliated organizations would cause confusion, which, we believe, it is the Foundation's duty and responsibility to prevent.
It is our desire to work cooperatively with all individuals, groups, and organizations working to bring the teachings of The Urantia Book to the world.
If you have any questions, please contact us.POLICY REGARDING PERSONAL USE OF "URANTIA," "URANTIAN," AND THE THREE BLUE CONCENTRIC-CIRCLES SYMBOL
Articulated in this policy are the following uses of "Urantia," "Urantian," and the three blue concentric circles symbol set against a white background to which Urantia Foundation consents as "safe harbors" for fair use by an individual for personal, noncommercial purposes. Providing these "safe harbors" means Urantia Foundation has granted these uses as ones that you can freely make without concern for violating any of the trademarks, service marks, or collective membership marks of Urantia Foundation.
1. You may use “Urantian” or “Urantians” merely to refer to readers of The Urantia Book or as inhabitants of planet Earth.
2. You may use “Urantia” merely as a reference to planet Earth.
3. You may use “Urantia,” “Urantian,” and/or the three blue concentric circles symbol in weddings, funerals, and worship services, including the program handout used at the particular calendar event.
4. You may make personal use of “Urantia,” “Urantian,” or the three blue concentric circles symbol in jewelry or on clothing.
5. You may display the three blue concentric circles symbol on any page of a Web site provided that:
(a) The symbol does not appear on the front cover of the Web page as an identifier of the Web site.
(b) The symbol is accompanied by words to designate it as the Banner of Michael or representing the Trinity government or conveying other meanings associated with the symbol described in The Urantia Book. You may depict the symbol on a pennant, flag, or other visual representation of its meaning.
(c) The use of the symbol is not associated with any commercial activity.
(d) The words “This Web site is unaffiliated with Urantia Foundation” appear somewhere on the front page.
6. You may use the three blue concentric circles symbol in any artwork provided that the artwork contains other prominent elements besides the symbol.
If you have questions about this policy or other such uses, please contact Urantia Foundation by telephone at +1-773-525-3319, by e-mail at urantia@urantia.org, or in writing addressed to Urantia Foundation, 533 Diversey Parkway, Chicago, Illinois 60614.