Legally you do not need permission, it is considered fair use. Business wise and so on is another matter.
Ask HN: For a startup website to show customer logos, do you need permission?
21–30 of 31 posts
Re: Ask HN: For a startup website to show customer logos, do you need permission?
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
Good to know there's a whole set of actions you have to be prepared for if you list a company's logo -- discounts, set up reference call, etc. Thank you.
Some companies don't give you a choice ;) Digitalocean TOS, not changable and required on signup: 2.3 You grant us permission to include your name, logos, and trademarks in our promotional and marketing materials and communications.
> TOS, not changable and required on signup
Companies that regularly deal with large companies usually have the general TOS, and the TOS they'll agree to with large companies (or when reasonable sized companies check the terms w/ counsel before agreeing).
If I'm working with an easily replaceable supplier and they use my logo without explicit permission, it might be reason enough to replace that supplier. I remember being in someone's S-1 filing and getting a little bit upset (I can't remember if they notified us or not), but I can't really blame people for disclosing their largest customer by name is > 10% of revenue.
Re: Ask HN: For a startup website to show customer logos, do you need permission?
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
The enforceability of that is probably extremely weak, most plainly: does the person agreeing to the TOS have the right to grant permission to use the logos or trademarks?
Yeah, but it's still kind of a shitty move.
I don’t disagree at all :) these sort of scummy clauses deserve more scrutiny.
Re: Ask HN: For a startup website to show customer logos, do you need permission?
#24Yes. Ask for permission.
Re: Ask HN: For a startup website to show customer logos, do you need permission?
#25You are supposed to. Generally its better to ask. If theyre already a customer, there is a good chance someone is going to go to your site and see it. Sometimes it gets wierd, we had a large fast food logo on our site. We had only sold to 5 or so franchises in our area... So it was true but only kindof.
If you wanted to piss off the legal team at my large multinational employer and create strong headwinds for any future renewal conversations or more broad adoption for the rest of time, slapping our logo on your front page without asking was a guaranteed way to do it. Our lawyers did not forgive or forget.
Re: Ask HN: For a startup website to show customer logos, do you need permission?
#26yes
Re: Ask HN: For a startup website to show customer logos, do you need permission?
#27Yes, they should get permission. A company logo is protected by trademarks and copyrights in almost all jursdictions. Companies do not like to see their logos splashed across their vendors' websites, case studies, presentations etc., without their legal/communications teams having a say over that. Most Fortune 500 companies would have this as a standard legal clause in their agreements and require that such requests be made in writing.
(This excludes public brand usage guidelines published by companies for including their logos eg: Social media links for FB, Goog, LinkedIn, Instagram etc., and they are covered by the separate terms of use there.)
Check your agreement with your client. If it has such a clause related to marketing material (social proof would fall under that), seek their permission as prescribed in your agreement. It may help to get your client liaison on your side by letting them know first.
Then wait.
It is quite possible that the client may not get back to you. In that case, err on the side of caution and DO NOT use the logo on your website/social proof page.
As an alternative, when we made presentations to a small room (of prospective clients, potential investors etc.,) we may include a Top clients roster slide with the logos but mark that specific slide as confidential and show it only within the room and never use it for broader distribution. This practice is easier for your legal team to clear if the parties in the room are under non-disclosure agreements. It may be okay in other circumstances; read the room and use your discretion.
Not a lawyer.
Source: personal experience.
Re: Ask HN: For a startup website to show customer logos, do you need permission?
#28What about the font awesome brand logos they provide? Can I put them on my personal, or business, website as the "text" part of a link to my profile in their platform?
I mean, I already do it, but should I also ask permission to do that? That would be weird since they had to pay font awesome to have their logo included in the font.
Re: Ask HN: For a startup website to show customer logos, do you need permission?
#29I’ve come across my company’s logo used like this a few times before on startup sites. It made me curious and would ask around if anyone had ever heard of or used said startup. In most cases no one had ever heard of the startup or they were commissioned for some small project that never went anywhere. No one seemed to care though that the logo was being used. I would take those logo lists with a grain of salt.
Re: Ask HN: For a startup website to show customer logos, do you need permission?
#30Yes, just make sure you have a clause in you terms and conditions in your website to be able to use all logos of companies signing up.