Always Use a Trademark as an Adjective, Followed by the Appropriate Noun Descriptor(s)
If not, the trademark could become generic, and the trademark status would be lost. Also, make sure that 3Com and the ® symbol (3Com® ) precedes a trademark on first mention of the product or service.
Correct: The 3Com® NBX® business telephone has powerful call-processing features.
Incorrect: NBX® has powerful call-processing features.
Trademarks Must be Used Properly in Order to be Protected Under Trademark Law
Otherwise, trademarks risk becoming generic. The former trademark "aspirin" -a product of Bayer Corp.-is a good example of a trademark that became generic through improper use. Because the word "aspirin" was consistently used without the proper noun-phrase "pain reliever" following it, "aspirin" became the generic term for "pain reliever" and, therefore, was no longer protected under U.S. trademark law.
*See the 3Com Corporate Trademarks and Nouns List at www.3com.com/corpinfo/en_US/legal/trademark/tmn_list.html for suggested nouns and product names.
Use trademarks only in the form in which they have been registered or are being claimed. It's important that all parties involved in developing communications for
3Com be consistent in their use of trademarks. To maintain the integrity of a trade-mark, never use it in a possessive, plural, hyphenated, or abbreviated form. Never alter it by adding letters or numbers. When placing "3Com ® " before a trademark,
never break up the ® symbol and "3Com" by using it in a possessive form (3Com®'s). Always use the proper spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and font type, such as italic or bold.
Never Use Trademarks in Possessive Form
Correct: 3Com® SuperStack® hubs have popular features.
Incorrect: 3Com® SuperStack®'s features make them a popular product.
Incorrect: 3Com® SuperStack® hubs' have popular features.
Incorrect: 3Com®'s SuperStack® hubs are popular.
Never Use Trademarks in Plural Form
Correct: Use 3Com® HomeConnect® solutions for your networking needs.
Incorrect: Use 3Com® HomeConnects® solutions for your networking needs.
Never Hyphenate a Trademark
Correct: 3Com® WorldPort® software enables easy setup.
Incorrect: 3Com® WorldPort®-enabled software makes setup easy.
Never Alter a Trademark
Correct: Use a 3Com® EtherLink® network interface card in your computer.
Incorrect: EtherLinkize® your computer.
Use Proper Capitalization for a Trademark
Correct: 3Com® AirConnect® Wireless PC Cards mobilize your workforce.
Incorrect: 3Com® AirConnect® Wireless PC Cards mobilize your workforce.
Always Follow a Trademark with the Appropriate Noun(s)
Correct: 3Com® XJACK® connector
Incorrect: 3Com® XJACK®
Use Lowercase Letters for the Generic Noun(s) Following the Trademark
Correct: 3Com® Ergo® Audrey ™ Internet appliance
Incorrect: 3Com® Ergo® Audrey ™ Internet Appliance
Attribute the ™ or ® Correctly
Correct: 3Com® SuperStack® II Switch 9300
Incorrect: 3Com® SuperStack II® Switch 9300
Differentiate a Trademark (brand name) from the Company Trade Name
"3Com" can be used as a trademark (brand name) to identify products or services, or as a trade name to identify the company.
Use the Circle R (®) Trademark Symbol when Using "3Com" as a Trademark or Brand Name, but Not as a Trade Name
Correct: 3Com announces its new line of 3Com® servers.
Never use the circle R (®) symbol when using "3Com" as part of the legal corporate name.
Incorrect: 3Com® Corporation.
Trademark Acknowledgment
3Com Trademarks
Always attribute 3Com trademarks and service marks in the copyright block. For example, if your material contains references to 3Com, Megahertz, and Audrey products, the copyright block should read: Copyright © 2001 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. 3Com and Megahertz are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. The 3Com logo and Audrey are trademarks of 3Com Corporation.
All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies.
Third-Party Trademarks
3Com respects third-party trademarks. If you use another company's trademark, it's not necessary to use the trademark symbol within the text unless a specific contract dictates otherwise.
Correct: Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
When third-party names are mentioned, always use a generic
umbrella statement.
Correct: All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies.
3Com Logos
For questions about 3Com logos, e-mail the Corporate Branding department at Branding_Questions@3com.com. Corporate Branding is responsible for maintaining 3Com's corporate identity and brand.
The 3Com logo should always be reproduced from an electronic template or a logo stat sheet, which dictates the placement of which dictates the placement of the trademark symbol. For more information about how to use the 3Com Logo, see the Proper Usage Guidelines at www.3com.com/legal/trademark/prop_usage_tmb.html. For information about downloading logos, e-mail the Corporate Branding department at Branding_Questions@3com.com.
Attribute Trademarks with the Appropriate Symbols
Always mark trademarks with the appropriate symbols in a head, as well as on first occurrence in text. It's not necessary to repeat the designation throughout the document. The same standards apply to attributing trademarks on a Web page since each Web page has the potential to be viewed individually, even if it's part of a multipage section or site. Attribute trademarks on first occurrence within sidebars, charts, tables, graphics, diagrams, marketing slides, banners, "Related information"
links, and other links on a Web page, because these elements have greater potential to be read or placed independently.
Note: If a trademark that has already appeared in a head appears in a subhead (as on a data sheet), don't attribute it again. Only attribute a trademark in a subhead if it's the first time the trademark appears.
How to Incorporate Trademark Symbols into Documents
See the following table to locate ™ and ® symbols on your keyboard or in the menu options for the software applications listed. If you use a different application, check the user manual or the on-screen "Help" menu (if available) for information regarding trademark symbols. Always superscript the symbols using the appropriate command. If the formatted ™ and ® symbols aren't available to you,
simply use parentheses to denote the trademark designation: (TM) or (R).
