May seem like a silly question... (DirectX logo)

May seem like a silly question... (DirectX logo)

• Keith Blackham

  I had the same question just recently, and emailed our Friendly Community Manager :), in doing so I got a really good and helpful answer.
  
  What I found out is that there is no official logo bundles available, but there are copyrights and legalities on the actual names.
  
  From the above information, I would not be putting any logo's onto a game I was writing, but I would make sure that the information that the application uses DirectX was clearly marked in the System requirements. Also if you are using Managed DirectX make sure that you mention the release of the Managed Libraries that the application uses as some of the older releases will not work with the newer code.
  
  

• stevensrf

  I would recommend asking them directly - directx@microsoft.com; better to know for sure than risk getting into any trouble over it.

  Admittedly it was a few years ago, but I asked if I could use the logos for v7/v8/v9 on my website (to mark the different tutorials) and the official line was that they didn't want websites that weren't affiliated ( ) with Microsoft to be using the official logos. Or something to that effect - I forget the exact details

  It's quite possible things have changed since then though.

  hth
  Jack

  
  
  

• herenvardo

  As long as you provide clear information that the logo and DirectX name are registered trademarks of the Microsoft corporation, I don't see why you can't use them ;)
  
  I hope this helps.
  Take care.
  
  
  

• amisner2k

  These are the best links I can find, nothing specific to the DirectX logo but it seems that Jack's advice is probably correct. This is probably one for our ever friendly community manager.
  
  http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/trademarks/linklogo.asp
  http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/trademarks/
  http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/trademarks/logoprog.asp
  http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/trademarks/resellerguide.asp
  
  From the copyright on Microsoft.com
  http://www.microsoft.com/info/cpyright.mspx
  
  

  PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE LIMITATION.

  Unless otherwise specified, the Services are for your personal and non-commercial use. You may not modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works from, transfer, or sell any information, software, products or services obtained from the Services.
  

  
  
  

• lokeshbhatnagar

  svip wrote:

  What are the terms for using the DirectX logo in a game Been looking all over without finding an answer. In my case I'd like to display it as an icon while performing initialization and during configuration.

  While the DirectX name is a registered trademark, the logo graphic itself isn't listed as one of Microsoft's trademarks.  Regardless, even it were a trademark, I don't see how using it in the context you describe would infringe on that trademark any more than just using the name DirectX.  Since the file directx.ico is part of the sample code included the DirectX SDK, you're allowed to copy and use it in your application subject to the conditions set out in the DirectX SDK EULA.
  
  One thing about the DirectX logo, there's a reason why Microsoft doesn't claim it as a trademark, they don't use it in their marketting.  It's not really a logo at all, just an default icon included in the DirectX SDK.  Unless your application is primarily used by developers, I really wouldn't expect it to be very meaningful to most of your users.
   
  

• Andrew Tweddle

  Thanks for the helpful replies.
  
  I noticed the OpenGL logo on the other hand has very well defined (and strict) terms of use in a long legal document - but they don't mention anything about its use in applications either.
  
  Am I just being paranoid I'll mail MS as advised and check though, best to be safe, would be a silly thing to risk in a large project.
  
• May seem like a silly question... (DirectX logo)