Clear guidelines to support your TYPO3 activities — and protect the brand we all share
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://typo3.org/article/typo3-trademark-usage-whats-allowed-and-whats-not
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://typo3.org/article/typo3-trademark-usage-whats-allowed-and-whats-not
I have two questions about the paid ads:
- In the article at TYPO3 Trademark Usage: What’s Allowed and What’s Not, it says that paid ads with the word “TYPO3” in it are reserved for gold/platinum members and TYPO3 partners. In the trademark policy at TYPO3 Trademarks, it says that this is reserved for gold/platinum members only, but not for partners. Which of these two is true?
- Does this mean that I (not being a gold or platinum member or partner) could not run a Google ad promoting that I give workshops on TYPO3 development, and that small agencies cannot advertise being a TYPO3 agency or being a TYPO3 hoster? Have you checked that this actually is enforceable?
I also have two questions about the social media handles.
- The policy says that the TYPO3 wordmark must not be used as part of social media handles, regardless of membership status. Does this mean that a X/Twitter handle like “typo3_security” would not be allowed?
- Have you checked with all TYPO3 teams and committees beforehand whether they are okay with this policy? (I can imagine that some teams and user groups might have social media handles with “TYPO3” in it, which now would pose a problem. I’d assume you’d check in with the affected teams first before announcing this policy, but actually don’t know.)
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For example, when I google for “typo3 freelancer” (with disabled ad blocker), I see an ad for https://www.malt.de/ with the headline “Verfügbaren Freelancer im Bereich Typo3 auf Malt” (including the spelling errors). If Malt is no gold/platinum member, would this now be prohibited?
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That’s a really good question, and if that were actually the case, I’d find it pretty absurd.
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Hi @oliklee thanks for the good questions on this important topic. To clarify: it’s for both partners and members. We will correct that.
With regards to question 2: yes that is correct. And to be true, the old policy stated already that explicit approval was needed to be allowed to advertise with our trademark. In the new policy we made it more clear what in practice was already the case. The new policy is more restrictive and clearer about who can use the TYPO3 trademark in advertising.
Since advertising is not free, and apparently it is worth it, why not add the 230 euro per month for a Gold membership and support the product you built your business on?
Your 3rd question: That is correct. An agency, member or non-member is not allowed to own a social media handle with our trademark in it. The TYPO3 Association - as trademark owner - is the only one that can own those.
Regarding your 4th question: This restriction on social media handles isn’t entirely new. The previous policy already mentioned “Twitter account names” as requiring explicit permission under the advertising section. What we’ve done is clarify and consolidate these rules.
As for coordination with TYPO3 teams and committees - yes, we have considered this. Official TYPO3 project teams, working groups, and recognized user groups that operate under the TYPO3 Association umbrella can request authorization to use handles that include TYPO3, as they represent the official project. However, this needs to be coordinated through the proper channels within the Association to ensure consistent branding.
The policy is primarily aimed at preventing third parties from creating the impression of official status or association approval where none exists. If you’re aware of specific teams having issues with this policy, please encourage them to contact the trademark team directly so we can address their concerns.
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@wowawebdesign I want to strongly oppose the suggestion that this is in any way “absurd.” I think it is absurd to think that an open source and freely available product where companies build their businesses upon gives them the right to use our brand for whatever they like.
The TYPO3 trademark represents the collective value, quality, and reputation built by our community over many years. While the software is freely available, the brand is a protected asset that requires careful management.
If you can pay for advertising using our brand name, why not support the TYPO3 ecosystem that makes your business possible in the first place? A Gold membership is just 230 euro per month – a fraction of what most agencies spend on their advertising budgets.
It’s important to note that this policy isn’t actually new. The previous trademark policy already required explicit permission for using TYPO3 in advertising campaigns, including Google AdWords/AdSense. What we’ve done in the 2025 policy is simply make it clearer who can receive this permission and establish a more transparent process.
The policy is quite specific: “Non-members and members below the Gold level are not permitted to use the TYPO3 wordmark in any form of paid advertising.”
This is a deliberate decision to:
- Protect the TYPO3 trademark from dilution
- Create clear value for our Gold and Platinum members
- Establish a consistent standard for commercial use of the trademark
While descriptive use of TYPO3 is allowed in your regular website content, blog posts, and unpaid communications, paid advertising is a specific category where we’ve restricted usage to Gold+ members.
For businesses that profit from TYPO3, contributing to its sustainability should be considered an essential investment, not an optional expense.
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Ric, thanks for your reply. But I think you know that I’ve been doing a lot for TYPO3 for many years now—whether it’s through sharing knowledge or, for the past few years, by sponsoring various TYPO3 events. I’m also, of course, a member of the Association and, since 2024, a TYPO3 Consultant Partner.
That said, a Gold Membership is definitely too expensive for me. Still, I’d like to have the option to run ads—for example, to promote a new TYPO3 video course.
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@wowawebdesign thanks for your comment and for everything you’ve contributed to the TYPO3 community over the years. Your involvement, as a long-time advocate, event sponsor, and Consultant Partner, is truly valued.
That said, ensuring the sustainability of our ecosystem requires more than occasional sponsorships or voluntary contributions. To keep TYPO3 free and robust for everyone - including agencies, freelancers, developers, and end users - we need consistent and predictable funding.
It’s important to note: this rule isn’t new.
The previous policy already required explicit permission for using the TYPO3 name or logo in paid advertisements and that permission was rarely granted. What’s changed now is that we’ve made the rule more transparent and enforceable: ad usage is allowed, but only for Gold and Platinum Members.
Allowing commercial use of the TYPO3 brand is a form of endorsement. And if we permit that without meaningful contribution, we risk becoming an ecosystem that enables unsustainable business models and ultimately undermines our own sustainability.
This isn’t about exclusion. It’s about fairness, clarity, and the long-term health of the TYPO3 project.
I understand your points. But I still think it’s wrong to allow only Gold and Platinum members to run ads. I’d guess there are far more Bronze and Silver members, and for most of them, a higher-tier membership just isn’t an option.
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Thanks for your comment - and I fully respect that not every business can move to a higher membership tier.
That said, advertising - especially in a niche B2B market like TYPO3 - usually requires a serious budget to be effective. If you’re ready to spend money on ads, then €230/month for a Gold Membership is not an unreasonable ask. It’s not a barrier, it’s a signal: that you’re committed to the ecosystem that supports your business.
And just to clarify: this isn’t a new restriction. Under the previous policy, using the TYPO3 name or logo in paid ads already required explicit permission - which was rarely granted. The new policy just makes this transparent and fair for everyone.
There are still plenty of other marketing channels open to all members: blog posts, video content, newsletters, posts on social media channels and community contributions.
“It is not allowed to […] use ‘TYPO3’ in ways that discredit the CMS.” (incl. articles)
Since the definition of discreditation is open to interpretation, it now seems that authors risk violating trademark policies simply by publicly criticizing TYPO3.
I recall a time when the community was encouraged to speak up to help improve the product.
I don’t want to comment on the other points at this stage — whether the policies are new or have been in place for some time doesn’t change their impact. They significantly affect the work I do to support TYPO3 and the community, and I’ve to reconsider my role and ongoing contributions.
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[quote=“Michael Schams, post:12, topic:6303, full:true, username:mschams1”]
“It is not allowed to […] use ‘TYPO3’ in ways that discredit the CMS.”
That’s a valid point you made here! Our intention is to make sure that publishing false, misleading, or defamatory statements about the software or making demonstrably false claims about TYPO3’s capabilities or security is not allowed.
We will make sure that in a revised version it becomes clear what we exactly mean with the discredit.
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Sometimes I feel like people keep shouting “Enterprise, Enterprise,” but forget that the majority of TYPO3 users—and those who actively support the system and promote it—aren’t Gold or Platinum members. They’re freelancers and small agencies who might “only” be Bronze or Silver members.
We’ve seen this pattern again and again over the years, and I just hope it doesn’t backfire.
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Thank you for raising this. It’s important I clarify what has (and hasn’t) changed in the updated trademark policy.
Since 2017, TYPO3’s trademark rules have stated that any use of the TYPO3 name in paid advertising requires prior approval, regardless of membership level. That principle remains unchanged. (see the former version of the trademark rules: TYPO3 Trademarks
The only update in 2025 is this:
Gold and Platinum members now receive automatic approval for advertising use of the trademark.
But they are still subject to the same trademark restrictions as all others.
This change is purely procedural, intended to reduce overhead for our largest financial supporters. Not to grant broader rights or exemptions.
To clarify:
- Bronze and Silver members are not losing any rights - their permissions remain the same as before.
- Most Bronze and many Silver members don’t advertise using the TYPO3 name. So for them, nothing changes in practice.
- A large portion of trademark use comes from non-members, who do not financially contribute but are still bound by the same trademark terms.
That said, we want to be absolutely clear:
The TYPO3 project depends on all contributors. Not just the top-tier sponsors.
Silver and Bronze members play a vital role in supporting TYPO3 through code, community work, event organization, advocacy, and consistent engagement.
Their support is essential and deeply valued.
At the same time, we have to be transparent that:
The operational backbone - servers, security, documentation, releases, events, and education - requires significant funding.
Gold and Platinum sponsors help carry that load, and this procedural change reflects their role in sustaining TYPO3’s infrastructure.
If the language used caused concern, I truly appreciate you raising it.
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Hi @herlaar, thank you for your replies.
If you’re ready to spend money on ads, then €230/month for a Gold Membership is not an unreasonable ask.
and
For businesses that profit from TYPO3, contributing to its sustainability should be considered an essential investment, not an optional expense.
Honestly, in the last 15 years, I’ve contributed countless hours to the TYPO3 project in multiple teams/committees, on code contributions, on organizing events and on giving talks and workshops. If you convert this work time into money (with my hourly rates at that time), I think that should be enough to last a lifetime without also being asked to contribute money on top of that.
So at least in my case, I think a Gold membership for being able to have ads is indeed unreasonable to ask.
In addition to that, I left the TYPO3 Association last year as I didn’t feel safe in the Association anymore after what happened last year. The reasons for this have not changed, and hence becoming an Association member again (Gold or otherwise) currently is not an option for me.
[social media handles with “typo3” in it]
As for coordination with TYPO3 teams and committees - yes, we have considered this. Official TYPO3 project teams, working groups, and recognized user groups that operate under the TYPO3 Association umbrella can request authorization to use handles that include TYPO3, as they represent the official project. However, this needs to be coordinated through the proper channels within the Association to ensure consistent branding.
I think if there are exceptions to these rules, they need to be stated in the rules as well. Otherwise, some people and companies are more equal than others, and someone in a person of power within the Association might use the not-always-applied rules to selectively punish or harm someone that they don’t like. (I’ve seen this happen.)
If you’re aware of specific teams having issues with this policy, please encourage them to contact the trademark team directly so we can address their concerns.
I was more thinking along the lines of “talking to the teams and committees first before passing rules that might negatively affect them” instead of expecting them to repair things after the fact.
Since 2017, TYPO3’s trademark rules have stated that any use of the TYPO3 name in paid advertising requires prior approval, regardless of membership level. That principle remains unchanged.
In the current version, I don’t see any mentioning of the possibility of using the brand as part of your domain, product name etc., and the wording makes it pretty clear that there are no exceptions:
What You Can’t Do — Even if You’re a Member of the TYPO3 Association
To protect the TYPO3 trademark, the following is not allowed for anyone (not even Gold or Platinum members):
Use “TYPO3” in your company name, product name, or domainExamples: TYPO3Experts.com, TYPO3 Cloud Hosting, TYPO3 Toolkit
This means that names like “TYPO3camp name-of-place” are not allowed either.
This looks really broken to me.
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@oliklee thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Let me clarify a few things directly:
1. The rules are deliberately simple — and will stay that way.
We’ve chosen clarity and consistency over exceptions and complexity. That’s why the core rule remains:
If you want to use the TYPO3 trademark (e.g., in ads, product names, domains, or social handles): ask for permission.
This applies to everyone. For Gold and Platinum members, we’ve only automated that permission for advertising — not expanded their rights. That’s the only procedural change.
2. We won’t negotiate the rules based on past experiences or personal dynamics.
The trademark policy is not the place for discussions about personal grievances, community history, or governance conflicts. That’s outside the scope of this framework — and beyond the responsibility of the trademark team.
3. No one is above the policy — and no one is excluded by it.
Everyone has access to the same clear process:
Want to use “TYPO3” in a restricted context? Ask.
Not sure whether something falls within scope? Ask.
Think the answer is inconsistent? Ask — and we’ll review it based on the same rules for everyone.
That’s how we keep it fair, enforceable, and transparent — without playing favorites or relying on informal exceptions.
If teams or groups have practical concerns about how the policy affects them, we’re happy to clarify, but always within the boundaries of the published rules. That’s what protects the TYPO3 brand and ensures it remains a shared, respected asset.
Ric,
thanks for your reply.
We’ve chosen clarity and consistency over exceptions and complexity. That’s why the core rule remains:
Ah, this was missing from the article, and is only mentioned in the guideline itself. Maybe it would make sense to amend the article accordingly to avoid confusion.
If teams or groups have practical concerns about how the policy affects them, we’re happy to clarify, but always within the boundaries of the published rules. That’s what protects the TYPO3 brand and ensures it remains a shared, respected asset.
I’m confused about conflicting messages here: Is it “any use of the trademark could potentially be allowed if permission is granted (after asking)”, or is it “permission can only be granted (after asking) within the boundaries of the existing rules (i.e., to clarify the rules), but not for cases not covered by the rules”?
Also, I’m a bit confused what the main purpose of the trademark policy is: Is it to protect the trademark, or is it to generate revenue? (The points about “giving back” sound more like the latter.) Both would make sense, and both can’t be the main purpose at the same time. I’d appreciate it if this were made clear and transparent.
Thanks, but just to be clear:
• The article already includes a call to contact us if you’re unsure and there is a link to the policy with more explanation. That covers the “ask for permission” part.
• Yes, you can request permission. Sometimes we grant it. Even if technically outside the strict wording, if there’s a valid reason. That’s at our discretion, not an entitlement.
• The trademark policy exists to protect the TYPO3 brand, not to generate revenue. Mentioning support or giving back is context, not the goal.
Thank you for the clarifications.
That is very helpful to know, has made things a lot more clear to me, and has alleviated quite a few of my concerns.
I think it would be helpful to state this so clearly in the policy as well. At the moment, the policy is structured like this:
- these are the rules (worded in a way that implies that there are no exceptions)
- there are some exceptions, like events
- if unsure (but not for exceptions), please ask
When reading the policy, this seemed to have given me an incorrect understanding of how things work with the trademark. My best guess is that the policy was evolved over time, and that this structure was not intended this way. Maybe it would be helpful to rework the policy accordingly.
Also, maybe it would be helpful to state which exceptions automatically apply to TYPO3 teams, committees or user groups. (At the moment, the statement is that there will be no exceptions, which I find misleading: “Branding: This restriction applies to all individuals and organizations, regardless of membership status.”)
I understand the “gold and platinum members and partners only” rule for paid advertisement to be an exception to this, as this seems to be mainly about revenue, not about protecting the brand. Or am I missing something here?