OSWOA™   TRADEMARK
OSWOA BEING AN ACRONYM FOR
"Original Small Works Of Art"

Please read below if you are planning on 
using the OSWOA™  trademark to describe your artwork.

What is a trademark?

A trademark is a name, letter (s), symbol, word or mark (or a combination of any) that identifies the goods or services of a person or business, or of anyone the copyright owner gives permission to use under specific guidelines, and helps to set their services or products apart from similar goods or services. 

A trademark helps provide peace of mind with the consumers, as they will know that the quality of such goods and services are of consistent quality and thereby, helps to aid in the promotion of those goods and services. 

In the case of OSWOA, it was important to trademark the acronym in order to enforce the rules governing art being sold under the OSWOA acronym, allowing us to maintain the the high standard of art that consumers have come to expect when purchasing art under the OSWOA trademark.


Why is it important to use marks correctly?

Rights to a trademark can last indefinitely if the trademark owner keeps using the trademark correctly to identify the goods or services, or if those given permission to use the trademark does so correctly,
However, if. used improperly, the trademark could be lost causing a company to lose a valuable asset. 

It's up to the copyright owner to police the use of the trademark to assure it's proper use. It is not only the misuse of trademark by the owner that might cause loss of trademark, but also trademarks can be lost by improper use of the trademark by the public if the trademark owner does not actively try to prevent such misuse..

THE GUIDELINES BELOW, when met, ALLOW PERMISSION FOR THE USE OF THE OSWOA TRADEMARK. They are also to help educate those who wish to use the OSWOA acronym in the proper use of the OSWOA trademark.

PERMISSIONS: 

The  OSWOA acronym is allowed to be used by anyone to describe works of art that adhere to the guidelines set forth in this website on www.oswoa.com/oswoa1.htm . 

The  OSWOA acronym may be used by organizations and/or individuals holding exhibits of actual OSWOA art or actual OSWOA art competitions (meaning exhibitions or shows being held in a brick and mortar building, such as a gallery or studio) to advertise the show or exhibition.

Anyone is free to use the OSWOA acronym in the title and description of any online auction site, such as Ebay, as long as the art follows the rules set for OSWOA art on this page as well as those governing the various types of OSWOA on  www.oswoa.com/oswoa1.htm 

Somewhere in the text where you use the OSWOA acronym, please describe it as an acronym for Original Small Work of Art.   

When using the OSWOA acronym use all caps and somewhere in the text use either the TM on the acronym OSWOA or use a * to direct to a footnote identifying OSWOA as a trademark..  

Although you may not use the OSWOA acronym in a domain name, you can use it in any part of your website to explain or identify OSWOA art as long as that art follows the rules governing OSWOA art.

The OSWOA acronym may be used by the media to describe OSWOA art and the OSWOA art movement, either virtual or real. The media can also use OSWOA to sell or display individual OSWOA works as long as the publication does not use OSWOA as part of it's publication name and as long as it's publication is not an online virtual publication.

The OSWOA acronym  may be used by individuals selling personally hand embellished art photo albums or frames that hold OSWOA art.  It may not be used by mass manufactures of photo albums, paper, canvas, or any other other commercial products without a licensing agreement with the trademark owners.

SOME GUIDELINES WHEN USING THE OSWOA TRADEMARK:

If using the OSWOA acronym in an online auction or website to describe the art being sold, you must also explain that OSWOA is an acronym for Original Small Work of Art and/or use one of the logos found here.   

Use the OSWOA trademark only as an acronym, not as a noun.  Do not use OSWOA in the plural form. 

When using OSWOA logos, use only the logos made available on this website here.

Do not incorporate the OSWOA trademark in with your own trademarks, logos, or company names.

Do not use OSWOA trademark in a way that suggests a common, or generic meaning.

Do not use the OSWOA trademark as part of a domain name.

OSWOA is Trademarked in the US.  It is best not to use TM with OSWOA outside the US as each country has it's own trademark laws and do not always acknowledge the laws of another country.  

Be sure to email should you have any questions about the correct use of the OSWOA acronym trademark, or, if you should see someone abusing the OSWOA trademark guidelines.  For the benefit of all OSWOA Artists it is best that we move quickly to protect the trademark and see to it that anyone painting OSWOA art is following the rules governing such works.

dustie@dustie.com 

September 18, 2006

© 2006 - 2007

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