# Using the SDMB Banner
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-sdmb-banner/480305
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [January 7, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-sdmb-banner/480305 "2009-01-07T23:57:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-sdmb-banner/480305/1 "2009-01-07T23:57:55Z")
We have a SDMB group on the SparkPeople website, and I’d like to use part of the banner as our logo on the site. Is this allowed?
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-sdmb-banner/480305/2 "2009-01-08T01:10:35Z")
I am in no way speaking for The Straight Dope, as I have absolutely no formal relationship with them beyond being a member on this message board. But since the banner does sport a copyright mark, my bet is that it’s not something they’ll want to allow you to do.
That’s my guess, anyway.
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### Author:  [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-sdmb-banner/480305/3 "2009-01-08T18:25:45Z")
> [@jali](#):
>
> We have a SDMB group on the SparkPeople website, and I’d like to use part of the banner as our logo on the site. Is this allowed?
I’m afraid not. The Straight Dope logo is a registered trademark, and we don’t allow its use by third parties unless we have a formal relationship with them in connection with some major venture, such as publishing a book. The trademark also extends to the words Straight Dope, whether or not the same typeface is used. We have purposely not trademarked “SDMB” or “Teeming Millions,” so feel free to use those. We do provide a link badge with the Straight Dope logo for public use at:
[http://www.straightdope.com/images/badges/badgeicons/straightdope.gif](http://www.straightdope.com/images/badges/badgeicons/straightdope.gif)
This may be sufficient for your purpose.
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### Author:  [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-sdmb-banner/480305/4 "2009-01-08T18:41:10Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> … But since the banner does sport a copyright mark, my bet is that it’s not something they’ll want to allow you to do.
I think that it contains an R in a circle, which denotes registered trade mark, not copyright.
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### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-sdmb-banner/480305/5 "2009-01-08T18:50:24Z")
Thanks for the clarification. We named our team SDMB, so no worries about stepping on the “Straight Dope” toes.
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### Author:  [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-sdmb-banner/480305/6 "2009-01-09T01:15:34Z")
> [@Ed\_Zotti](#):
>
> I’m afraid not. The Straight Dope logo is a registered trademark, and we don’t allow its use by third parties unless we have a formal relationship with them in connection with some major venture, such as publishing a book. The trademark also extends to the words Straight Dope, whether or not the same typeface is used. We have purposely not trademarked “SDMB” or “Teeming Millions,” so feel free to use those. We do provide a link badge with the Straight Dope logo for public use at:
>
> [http://www.straightdope.com/images/badges/badgeicons/straightdope.gif](http://www.straightdope.com/images/badges/badgeicons/straightdope.gif)
>
> This may be sufficient for your purpose.
Thanks for the response. I like the linkie logo and I hope the others agree.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-sdmb-banner/480305/7 "2009-01-09T01:52:25Z")
> [@Giles](#):
>
> I think that it contains an R in a circle, which denotes registered trade mark, not copyright.
Either that, or that it’s kosher, right?
I can never keep those three things straight…
😉
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### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-sdmb-banner/480305/8 "2009-01-09T02:09:48Z")
> [@jali](#):
>
> Thanks for the response. I like the linkie logo and I hope the others agree.
Thanks for the link!