Do you want to use the GoDaddy.com logo or name as part of your website? Are you thinking of providing a link to the GoDaddy.com homepage from your blog?

Please take a moment to review these guidelines. We hope that they will answer all your questions about what GoDaddy.com permits and prohibits.

Why do we need these guidelines?

Go Daddy’s trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, product names, service names, trade dress, web pages, screenshots and other distinctive features (“Go Daddy Brand Characteristics” or “Brand Characteristics”) are valuable company assets. By following these guidelines, you help to strengthen our corporate identity by creating a consistent brand impression.

When do I need permission to use Go Daddy Brand Characteristics?

Go Daddy is committed to protecting our brand. We would like to ensure that our Brand Characteristics are not used to imply that Go Daddy endorses a site or product. We also do not want our Brand Characteristics to be associated with materials that Go Daddy determines to be objectionable. For this reason, if you would like to request permission to use any of our Brand Characteristics on your website, in an article, as part of an ad, or for any other reason, you must first obtain express written consent from Go Daddy.

You may, however, use Go Daddy Brand Characteristics without obtaining prior consent if there is clear and express language on our website stating that you may use those Brand Characteristics, such as with a specially-designed gadget, banner or text link. Our legal agreement for any particular product or service also outlines permissive use of our Brand Characteristics. Our legal agreements can be found here.

To obtain permission to use any of the Go Daddy Brand Characteristics, send an email to permissions@godaddy.com. Make sure not to use any of the Brand Characteristics until you receive our written consent to do so.

Please note that Go Daddy can only grant permission for the use our own Brand Characteristics and cannot grant permission to use trademarked or copyrighted materials belonging to third parties.

Below please find a general overview of trademark law that we hope will help you to understand the guiding principles and goals of our guidelines. Please note, this summary and the guidelines are not intended as legal advice.

What is a trademark?

A trademark is a name or logo used by a company to identify its good or services. A trademark helps a company to distinguish its goods from those of competitors and to ensure that the consumer receives consistent quality. Trademark law protects the public’s ability to rely on trademarks for information about the source and quality of products or services.

What is trademark infringement?

Trademark infringement usually occurs when a company or an individual is using a trademark in a way that might confuse the consumer as to the source of the goods or services. Trademarks are compared based on similarities or differences in sight, sound and meaning, as well as factors such as whether the products are related. A mark that looks similar, sounds similar, or has a similar meaning to an established mark and is used on similar products might constitute an infringement. For instance, if a provider that is not associated with the Go Daddy is offering domain registration services on a site called “Go Doddi” it could be confused with Go Daddy’s well known trademark and mislead consumers.

In addition to protecting consumers against possible confusion as to the source of goods or services, trademark law also allows the owner of a famous trademark to forbid others from using that mark in a way that lessens the distinctiveness of the mark. This is known as trademark dilution. Trademark dilution occurs when a mark is “blurred” or “tarnished”. Blurring occurs if the mark is used on goods or services which are not similar to the famous mark. Tarnishment occurs when the famous mark is used in a way which is unwholesome or unflattering or which links the mark to poor quality products or services. For instance, trademark dilution may occur if the famous mark KODAK were used for shoes, or if SONY were used for cough syrup.

Why is it important to use marks correctly?

When a trademark is continually used by the owner to identify goods and services, the mark can last for an indefinite period. If the mark is not used properly, however, a company can lose rights in its trademark and the trademark itself will lose all value.

Remember, if you want to use any of the Go Daddy Brand Characteristics you must first submit a request to permissions@godaddy.com. If you are granted permission to use one of the Go Daddy Brand Characteristics, be sure to apply the below guidelines to ensure proper trademark usage.

How to use our marks:

Below find a list of Go Daddy’s registered and pending trademarks. Please note that these brand guidelines apply to, but are not limited to, the following marks.

Registered Trademarks

Pending Trademarks