Guidelines for Proper Referential Use of the GED® Trademark by ...

Guidelines for Proper Referential Use of the GED ®
Trademark by Third Parties
GED ® , GED TESTING SERVICE ® , and GED PLUS ® are all registered trademarks owned by American
Council on Education (“ACE”). GED Testing Service LLC (“GED Testing Service”), as the exclusive
licensee of these marks, administers and polices the GED ® brand and related trademarks on behalf of
ACE. GED Testing Service requires all third parties using or referencing the term “GED” (the “GED
Trademark”) to comply with these guidelines, unless otherwise provided in a written license agreement
between ACE or GED Testing Service and the third party. Failure to comply with these guidelines may
constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws.
Other trademarks include:
• Official GED Practice Test
• GED Administrator
• GED Marketplace
• GED AccessPoint
• Official GED Testing Center
• Success is just clicks away
• GED 21 st Century Initiative
Any use of the term “GED,” regardless of the context, constitutes a use of the GED Trademark
that is subject to these guidelines. These guidelines cannot anticipate every potential use of the
GED Trademark. Even in instances where pre-approval is not required, we encourage you to send any
materials using the GED Trademark to us to ensure that you have complied with these guidelines.
Consistent with the trademark fair use doctrine, third parties may use the GED Trademark to refer to
the GED ® test or the GED ® test credential provided that they comply with the following provisions:
General Guidelines
• Your company or brand name should always appear on your product or materials in a manner
and size that will immediately identify you as the source of the product or service.
• The GED Trademark should never be displayed alone.
• The GED Trademark must always be used as a proper adjective that is followed by the
registration symbol and generic term:
Correct: The best way to prepare for the GED ® test is…
Incorrect: The best way to prepare for the GED ® is…
• A superscript registration symbol should always be used in conjunction with the GED
Trademark (GED ® ), except as otherwise provided in these guidelines.
• The following notice (“Standard Disclaimer”) should appear in a legible font and color on any
materials or websites where the GED Trademark is used:
“GED ® is a registered trademark of the American Council on Education (ACE) and
administered exclusively by GED Testing Service LLC under license. This material [or
content] is not endorsed or approved by ACE or GED Testing Service.”
GED ® and GED Testing Service ® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education (“ACE”). They may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of
ACE or GED Testing Service. The GED ® and GED Testing Service ® brands are administered by GED Testing Service LLC under license from the American Council on Education.

• Do not use any possessive or plural form of the GED Trademark.
Correct: The GED ® test question was difficult.
Incorrect: The GED’s question was difficult.
Correct: The students all got their GED ® test credentials.
Incorrect: The students all got their GEDs.
• Do not use the GED Trademark in a manner that suggests or implies that you or your product is
endorsed by, affiliated with, or sponsored by ACE or GED Testing Service, unless otherwise
licensed to do so by ACE or GED Testing Service.
• Do not place more emphasis on the GED Trademark than the surrounding text or marks.
• Do not use any GED ® logos, logotypes, trade dress or other brand elements in connection with
products, packing, manuals, advertising material, or websites for any purpose.
• Do not use logos or designs that incorporate the GED Trademark.
• Do not use, claim ownership of, or attempt to register any trademarks, logos, or brands that
contain the GED Trademark as a component (e.g., “GED Master” or “GED Excel”).
• Do not use the GED Trademark in any manner which suggests ownership by a third party (e.g.,
[Publisher’s Name]’s GED).
• Do not use the GED Trademark in the name or dba of your company (e.g., GED Publishing,
Inc.).
• Do not use the GED Trademark as part of a job title, unless otherwise licensed to do so by ACE
or GED Testing Service (e.g., GED Administrator, GED Proctor, or GED Coordinator).
• Do not use the GED Trademark as a generic term for “high school equivalency examination,”
“high school diploma,” or similar exam or credential which has not been authorized or accredited
by the appropriate governmental authorities.
• Do not use the GED Trademark adjacent to the term “online” or in a manner to falsely suggest
that the GED ® test may be taken online or a GED ® test credential may be obtained online.
Correct: “online preparation for the GED ® test” or “online resources for GED ® test
takers”
Incorrect: “get your GED ® online”
• Do not use the GED Trademark in combination with, in close proximity to, or on the same cover
or packaging as the words “official,” “authorized,” “original,” or other terms that imply
sponsorship or endorsement by ACE or GED Testing Service.
• Do not use the GED Trademark in connection with products, services, or materials prepared for
or related to a version of the GED ® test that is no longer being offered by ACE or GED Testing
Service.
Special Guidelines for Publication Titles, Products, Courses, Websites, or Applications that
Contain the GED Trademark
• The name or title of a book, program, application, course, or other product should clearly identify
the product or service and/or you as the source of the product or service.
• The GED Trademark, a superscript registration symbol (®) and an appropriate generic term
(e.g., “test” or “test credential”) should appear on the same line in the title.
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• The GED Trademark should be used in a font equal to or smaller than the other text on the
surrounding page, cover, or packaging. The font should not be displayed in a “bold” font or
color that emphasizes the term over the publisher’s text or marks.
Correct: XYZ COMPANY PREPARATION FOR THE GED ® TEST [title]
Incorrect: GED ® PREPARATION GUIDE [title]
• Do not use the GED Trademark in the name for a series of works, unless otherwise licensed to
do so by ACE or GED Testing Service.
Correct: “[Publisher’s Name]’s Test Guides”
Incorrrect: “[Publisher’s Name]’s GED Test Guides” or “GEDMaster Test
Books”
Preparation
• When you reference the GED Trademark, the following notice should appear on (i) the copyright
page of the work and (ii) either the front cover or back cover of publications, materials, or
packaging, and on opening or welcome screens of mobile apps, and at the bottom of each
webpage in no smaller than 8 point font:
“This [material OR website or any products or services described on this website] is not
endorsed or approved by ACE or GED Testing Service.”
Note: Publishers are expected to take responsibility to ensure that their authors, editors, licensees,
and/or contractors are in compliance with these guidelines as well as with applicable copyright and
trademark laws.
Additional Guidelines for Using the GED Trademark in Relation to Practice Tests
• ACE and GED Testing Service LLC own all intellectual property rights related to the Official
GED Practice Test. You may not confuse the public into thinking that a practice test that you
publish is an official or authorized GED ® practice test. You may not include a practice test in
any product, application, program, or other material related to the GED ® test, unless you
comply with the provisions in these Guidelines and each of the following:
• Do not use the GED Trademark adjacent to the term “practice test.”
Correct: “[Publisher’s Name]’s Practice Test for the GED ® Test”
Incorrect: “GED ® Practice Test” or the “GED ® Test Practice Test”
• Any practice test must be accompanied by the following disclaimer in a legible font at the
beginning of the practice test:
“This practice test is not related to the Official GED Practice Test produced and
distributed by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the GED Testing Service.
ACE and GED Testing Service LLC have not approved, authorized, endorsed, been
involved in the development of, or licensed the substantive content of this practice test.”
Special Guidelines For Using the GED Trademark In Academic Research Papers
Recognizing that the GED ® tests and their outcome are frequently studied by academics,
ACE and GED Testing Service acknowledge that the use of the ® after GED in every instance as
recommended above is not feasible. If you use the GED Trademark in academic research papers only,
you must comply with the following in lieu of those specified in Section I of the guidelines:
• The superscript registration symbol (®) must follow the GED trademark in the following
circumstances:
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In the title, if the GED Trademark is used in the title of the report or paper;
When the GED Trademark is first used on the inside cover page, if any;
When the GED Trademark is first used in the body of the report; and
When the GED Trademark is first used in each chapter or section of the report, if any.
• Both the Standard Disclaimer and the following additional disclaimer must appear on (i) the
copyright notice page, if any (in no smaller than 8 point font) and (ii) in a footnote or endnote
after the first reference of the GED Trademark in text:
“[Name of author] and this work are not affiliated with or endorsed by ACE or GED
Testing Service LLC. Any reference to “GED” in the title or body of this work is not
intended to imply an affiliation with, or sponsorship by, ACE, GED Testing Service LLC,
or any other entity authorized to provided GED ® branded goods or services.”
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ACE and GED Testing Service LLC reserve their right to take any action against any entities, products,
domain names, or websites that do not comply with these guidelines, including, without limitation,
entities or materials that (i) are promoted or advertised in any manner suggesting that it is authorized or
endorsed by ACE or GED Testing Service LLC, (ii) include misrepresentations about the GED ® test or
test credential or the products or services that it offers, (iii) use the GED Trademark in a generic
manner, or (iv) use the GED Trademark in a manner which is likely to deceive or mislead the public.
Trademark Review and Approval
Please send an electronic color copy of your proposed content or materials, including the front and
back cover and the spine, in a .pdf or .jpg format, to trademarks@GEDtestingservice.com.
Review response time is approximately ten to fifteen (10-15) business days.
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