MasterCard Rules (PDF)

Trademarks and Service Marks
4.2 General Rules for Use of the Mark
When promoting any Mark with another acceptance mark in any media to
denote acceptance, no other acceptance mark, symbol or logo may be or
appear to be larger or more important than or more welcomed than the
Mark. To maintain visual parity, a Mark must be at least as prominent as,
and appear in at least the same frequency, size, and color treatment as, any
other acceptance mark displayed. To maintain parity within written text, the
MasterCard Word Mark must be at least as prominent as, and appear at least as
frequently as, any other acceptance mark mentioned.
NOTE
Refer to Rule 5.11.1 Discrimination in Chapter 10, “Asia/Pacific Region Rules,”
Chapter 13, “Latin America and the Caribbean Region Rules,” and Chapter 15,
“United States Region Rules” for variations on the use of the MasterCard Brand
Mark.
4.2.10 Use of the Card Face Design
4.2.10.1 In Advertising and Marketing Material
An Issuer is permitted to depict a Card face for an advertising or marketing
purpose, subject to the following requirements:
1. The proportions of the Card face design, including typestyle and relative
positions of the legends, may not be altered or distorted.
2. The legend “VALID THRU” or the equivalent must be depicted on the Card
face design, unless the Card face design contains an effective date and an
expiration date, in which case the words “VALID DATES” must be depicted
in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 2.5.1.5 of the
Security Rules and Procedures manual and in the Card Design Standards
System.
3. The Card face design must bear account information (for example, the
account number, the effective date and/or expiration date) and all Card face
design requirements set forth in the Security Rules and Procedures manual
and in the Card Design Standards System.
The first six digits of the account number must be either a Bank
Identification Number (BIN) assigned to the Issuer by the Corporation or
the unassigned BIN 541275, which the Corporation has set aside for Issuer
use in advertising and marketing Card face designs
4. The MasterCard Identification Area (or the MasterCard Brand Mark, if the
Card face design depicts a Card with the hologram on the Card back)
must be completely visible on at least one Card face design depicted in
the materials.
©1969–2012 MasterCard. Proprietary. All rights reserved.
MasterCard Rules • 12 December 2012 4-7