The Fellowship Intellectual Property Trust (FIPT) describes in detail how NA’s name, trademarks, and recovery literature are protected and administered by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (NAWS). It covers NA’s name, trademarks and recovery literature in all forms, including translations, and all mediums, whether printed, electronic and any other media that may be developed in the future. Additional guidelines, contained in this and the other Intellectual Property Bulletins, for the use of NA’s intellectual properties by the fellowship are presented as an adjunct to the FIPT. The guidelines are based partly on legal considerations and partly on the nature of NA. By following these simple steps, the fellowship will help ensure that NA’s name, trademarks, and recovery literature will always be available to fulfill our primary purpose.

All matters not specifically addressed by the Intellectual Property Bulletins will be considered under the conditions of the Fellowship Intellectual Property Trust. Any questions or concerns about the Bulletins should be directed to NA’s World Service Office.

This Bulletin reflects the policy affecting the use of NA intellectual property within the NA Fellowship. Use of the fellowships trademarks and recovery literature is a commitment to comply with these Guidelines. Usage inconsistent with the Guidelines is improper. Usage disputes are dealt with in Intellectual Property Bulletin #5.

Use by NA groups
These Guidelines outline the appropriate uses of NA logos and recovery literature by NA groups. The Guidelines also lay out criteria a group can use to avoid improper use. A description of the NA group--its nature, function, and role in the NA Fellowship--can be found in current NA service manuals. You are encouraged to review those sections describing groups prior to attempting use of the Guidelines described below.

Use by NA service boards and committees
Service boards and committees created directly or indirectly by NA groups may use NA logos and recovery literature in the ways described in these Guidelines so long as they register with NA World Services.

Use by individual NA members or others
Guidelines, in this or other Intellectual Property Bulletins do not grant individual NA members or those outside NA permission to use NA trademarks or intellectual property. Individual NA members or others who wish to use NA’s trademarks or copyrighted recovery literature should write directly to NA World Services.

GUIDELINES FOR USE OF NA TRADEMARKS

Four of the NA Fellowship’s registered trademarks are: the name “Narcotics Anonymous,” the stylized NA initials, the diamond in a circle, and the original NA group logo, all shown below:

Guidelines for Use
Use of Narcotics Anonymous trademarks should always reflect the seriousness of our primary purpose and our spiritual foundation of anonymity. The Narcotics Anonymous name or trademarks should not be used by an NA group, service board or committee in any way that would imply legal liability or financial responsibility by or to another part of the fellowship, service structure, or outside enterprise.

Narcotics Anonymous trademarks should not be used in any way that would serve to endorse, finance, promote, or affiliate the NA Fellowship with any outside enterprise.

Narcotics Anonymous trademarks should not be used in conjunction with any law enforcement, political, medical, or religious slogans, themes, or other related materials.

Narcotics Anonymous trademarks should not be used or displayed in such a manner as to possibly offend or disrespect the sensibilities of other organizations, groups or NA as a whole.

Narcotics Anonymous trademarks should not be used in any manner that could draw us into public controversy.

Narcotics Anonymous trademarks should not be used on locally developed recovery literature.

“NA Fellowship Approved” trademark
The “NA Fellowship Approved” trademark is used to indicate that a piece of recovery literature has been approved by the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous as given voice by its groups through their regional delegates at the World Service Conference. The “NA Fellowship Approved” trademark may not be used on any other materials.

Marking trademarks
Either the capital letter “R” or a “TM” should be placed inside a small circle to the right of all NA trademarks every time any of them are used. By doing so, we are showing that these logos are legally owned or registered trademarks. This is one way in which we help preserve the fellowship’s legal right to ownership of its trademarks.

Protecting artwork
Whenever an NA group, service board, or committee has an artist create original artwork, drawings, designs, or screens using any NA trademark, the NA body should always be sure the artist signs a document releasing to the NA body his or her rights to the artwork, including the original rendering. By doing so, we ensure that neither the NA logos nor any artwork that has been created for the benefit of the fellowship can later be used to benefit a private individual or an outside business enterprise.

GUIDELINES FOR REPRODUCTION OF NA RECOVERY LITERATURE

NA World Services acts as the publisher of all NA Fellowship-approved recovery literature. As such, it has been entrusted with the responsibility to obtain copyright protection for these items on behalf of the fellowship. This ensures that the fellowship’s message as presented in our books and pamphlets is not tampered with.

Narcotics Anonymous World Services is largely dependent on the income generated from the sale of NA recovery literature. This income is used to cover the costs of publishing as well as the expenses associated with other services provided to the World Service Conference and the NA Fellowship-at-large. A large part of NA World Service’s income comes from NA groups who purchase recovery literature to distribute at their meetings. Many groups consider their purchase of NA Fellowship-approved recovery literature as one way in which they contribute to the unity and growth of NA as a whole.

Use by NA groups
As a general rule, no one has the authority to reproduce NA Fellowship-approved recovery literature without prior written permission from Narcotics Anonymous World Services. However, given the nature of our fellowship, our experience indicates that NA groups and only NA groups should have the authority to reproduce fellowship-approved recovery literature in certain instances. When preparing to reproduce NA Fellowship-approved recovery literature, NA groups should discuss the Fourth Tradition and follow all of these general guidelines:

1. An NA group should only reproduce NA Fellowship-approved recovery literature when it has a clear need to do so.
2. NA Fellowship-approved recovery literature reproduced by an NA group should be distributed only within that group. Such materials should always be given away free of charge; they should never be sold to generate income.
3. The text of NA Fellowship-approved books and pamphlets reproduced by an NA group should not be altered or modified in any way.
4. The copyright for the item being reproduced should be shown prominently as follows: “Copyright © [year of first publication], Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.”

Use by registered NA service boards and committees
Registered NA service boards and committees who wish to quote or reprint portions of NA Fellowship-approved recovery literature should always include the proper notation or credit identifying the origin of the quote or reprinted portion they wish to use. Generally speaking, the length of a reprint or quote should not exceed 25% of the original piece. In the case of NA books, reprints or quotes should not exceed 25% of a single chapter or section. In the case of an article from The NA Way Magazine, the entire piece may be used if the source is fully cited.

Any use of NA’s name, trademarks or recovery literature that is not specifically covered is reserved to NAWS, Inc. The use covered in the Intellectual Property Bulletins does not create any other right or claim by the user to any of the fellowships marks under any theory of law, fact, or equity.