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THE FELLOWSHIP INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TRUST

APPROVED EDITION
REGISTERED JULY 1, 1993

Approved by the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous as given voice by its groups through their regional service representatives at the World Service Conference on April 27, 1993.

Operational Rules revised by the regional service representatives at the World Service Conference on April 30, 1997 and April 27, 1998.

Jump to sections of the Operational Rules listed by clicking on links

INSTRUMENT:

ARTICLE I

Section 1: Name of the Trust

The name of this trust shall be "The Fellowship Intellectual Property Trust."

Section 2: Creation of the Trust

The Trustor, the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous as given voice by its groups through their regional delegates at the World Service Conference, does hereby reaffirm and restate its transfer, assignment, and conveyance of all NA recovery literature, trademarks, service marks, and all other intellectual property to Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. as Trustee, to hold and administer in accordance with this Trust document and its purpose.

Section 3: Nature of the Trust

The Trustee shall hold the Trust Properties as a perpetual charitable trust, subject to revocation by the Trustor, and shall use the properties and income derived therefrom exclusively for the charitable and educational purposes described in the statement of purpose below, and for the payment of the incidental expenses and costs of the administration of the Trust.

Section 4: Purpose of the Trust

The sole object and purpose of this Trust is to hold and administer all recovery literature and other intellectual properties of the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous in a manner that will help addicts find recovery from the disease of addiction and carry that message of recovery to the addict who still suffers, in keeping with the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of NA.

Section 5: No bond required

The Trustor waives the requirement that the Trustee give a bond to secure performance of the Trustee's duties.

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ARTICLE II: PARTIES TO THE TRUST
The Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, as given voice by its groups through their regional delegates at the World Service Conference, is the Settlor and the Trustor. Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. is the Trustee of the Trust. The Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous as a whole is the Beneficiary of the Trust.

ARTICLE III: IDENTITY OF TRUST PROPERTY

The Trust Property includes all recovery literature, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, and all other intellectual property of the Fellowship. From time to time, the Trustor may add to, modify, or delete property from the Trust. All additions made to the Fellowship's recovery literature, trademarks, service marks, copyrights and all other intellectual property by the Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. shall additionally be considered property subject to this Trust. However, note that NA service handbooks and other service materials approved by NA's World Service Conference are specifically excluded from the purview of this Trust.

Recovery literature should be taken to mean any Narcotics Anonymous book, booklet, or pamphlet intended primarily for use by individual NA members or for use or distribution within the context of an NA recovery meeting. Service materials should be taken to mean those materials intended primarily for use within the context of an NA service board or committee.

ARTICLE IV: OPERATIONAL RULES

The Trustor shall generate Trust Operational Rules which shall be controlling on the Trust and the parties thereto except if such Rules conflict with the terms of this Instrument.

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ARTICLE V

Section 1: Trustee's duties

The Trustee has the following general duties with respect to administration of the Trust:
    The Trustee has a duty to administer the Trust according to the Trust Instrument and, except to the extent that this document provides otherwise, according to the statutes of California.

    The Trustee shall follow written direction given to it from time to time by the Trustor. However, if a written direction would have the effect of modifying the Trust, the Trustee has no duty to follow it unless it complies with the requirements for modifying the Trust herein.

    The Trustee has a duty to administer the Trust solely in the interest of the Beneficiary and the Trustor.

    The Trustee has a duty to deal impartially with the Beneficiary.

    The Trustee has a duty not to use or deal with Trust Property for the Trustee's own profit or for any other purpose unconnected with the Trust, nor to take part in any transaction in which the Trustee has an interest adverse to the Beneficiary or the Trustor.

    The Trustee has a duty to take, keep control of, and preserve the Trust Property.

    The Trustee has a duty to make the Trust Property productive.

    The Trustee has a duty to keep the Trust Property separate from other property not subject to the Trust, and to see that the Trust Property is clearly designated.

    The Trustee has a duty to take reasonable steps to defend actions that may result in a loss to the Trust, and to prosecute actions to protect the Trust Property.

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Section 2: Delegation of duties
The Trustee shall not delegate to others the performance of acts that the Trustee itself can reasonably be required to perform, and may neither transfer the office of Trustee to another nor delegate the entire administration of the Trust to another entity. All other matters may be delegated, but where the Trustee has properly delegated a matter to an agent, employee, or other person, the Trustee has a duty to exercise reasonable supervision over the person or entity performing the delegated matter.

Section 3: Trustee's standard of care

The Trustee shall administer the Trust with the care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of like character and with like aims to accomplish the purposes of the Trust as determined from the Trust Instrument.

Section 4: Trustee's powers

The Trustee has the following powers: the powers conferred by the Trust Instrument; the powers conferred by statute, except as limited in the Trust Instrument; and the power to perform any act that a Trustee would perform for the purposes of the Trust under the Trustee's standard of care, except as limited in the Trust Instrument. The exercise of a power by the Trustee is subject to the Trustee's fiduciary duties to the Beneficiary and the Trustor. Under this document, the Trustee has the following powers:
    The power to collect, hold, and retain Trust Property.

    The power to receive additions of property to the Trust.

    The power to participate in the operation of any business that is part of the Trust, and to change the legal form of the business.

    The power to manage and control Trust Property, and to manage, control, and divide proceeds and assets generated from the manufacture or sale of products derived from Trust Property.

    The power to encumber, mortgage, or pledge any portion of the Trust Property except those copyrights, trademarks, and service marks held by the Trust.

    The power to enter into a lease for any purpose.

    The power to insure the Trust Property against damage or loss and to insure the Trustee against third-party liability.

    The power to prudently borrow money for any Trust purpose, to be repaid from proceeds from the sale of products generated from Trust Property.

    The power to pay, contest, or settle claims against the Trust by compromise, arbitration, or otherwise, and the additional power to release in whole or in part any claim belonging to the Trust.

    The power to pay taxes, assessments, reasonable compensation of the Trustee and of employees and agents of the Trust, and other expenses incurred in the collection, care, administration, and protection of the Trust.

    The power to hire people, including accountants, attorneys, auditors, investment advisors, or other agents, even if they are associated or affiliated with the Trustee, to advise or assist the Trustee in the performance of administrative duties.

    The power to execute and deliver all instruments which are needed to accomplish or facilitate the exercise of the powers vested in the Trustee.

    The power to prosecute or defend actions, claims, or proceedings for the protection of the Trust Property and of the Trustee in the performance of the Trustee's duties.1
     

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Section 5: Limitation

The Trustee is not granted the power to make loans to the Beneficiary either out of Trust Property or out of proceeds from the sale of products generated from Trust Property, or to guarantee loans to the Beneficiary by encumbrances on either Trust Property or proceeds from the sale of products generated from Trust Property.

Section 6: Indemnification of Trustee

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Trustor shall indemnify the Trustee and its directors, officers, employees, and other persons described in Section 523(a) of the California Corporations Code, including persons formerly occupying any such position, against all expenses, judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any "proceeding," as that term is used in that code section, and including an action by or in the right of the Trustee, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a person described in that code section. Procedures for the approval of indemnity, advancement of expenses, and insurance shall be described in the Trustee's bylaws.

The Trustee and its directors, officers, employees, and other persons described in Section 523(a) of the California Corporations Code, including persons formerly occupying any such position, may not be relieved of liability for breach of Trust committed intentionally, with gross negligence, in bad faith, or with reckless indifference to the interests of the Beneficiary or the Trustor, or for any act wrongfully consented to by the Beneficiary or the Trustor.

Section 7: Nonpartisan activities by the Trustee

The Trustee shall be nonprofit and nonpartisan. No part of the activities of the Trustee shall consist of the publication or dissemination of materials with the purpose of attempting to influence legislation, and the Trustee shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office or for or against any cause or measure being submitted to the people for a vote.

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ARTICLE VI: REVOCABILITY

This Trust is revocable by the Trustor.

ARTICLE VII: TERMINATION

This Trust will terminate when any of the following occurs:
    The Trust purpose is fulfilled;

    The Trust purpose becomes unlawful;

    The Trust purpose becomes impossible to fulfill; or

    The Trustor revokes the Trust.

On termination of the Trust, the Trustee continues to have the powers reasonably necessary under the circumstances to wind up the affairs of the Trust. On termination of the Trust, the Trust Property is to be disposed of as determined by the Trustor. If no such determination is made, the Trust Property shall be transferred to the Trustor.

ARTICLE VIII: JURISDICTION

The Superior Court of the State of California has exclusive jurisdiction of proceedings concerning the internal affairs of the Trust, and has concurrent jurisdiction over actions and proceedings to determine the existence of the Trust, actions and proceedings by or against creditors or debtors of the Trust, and actions and proceedings involving the Trustee and third persons, in accordance with California Probate Code Section 17000.

There is no right to a jury trial in proceedings under the California Probate Code concerning the internal affairs of the Trust.

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ARTICLE IX: TRUST REGISTRATION

The Trustee shall register the Trust document with the California Attorney General, and shall perform all obligations attendant thereto.

The instrument was signed by Vivienne Long, RSR, San Diego-Imperial Region, designated signator for the Trustor; K. Joseph Gossett, Executive Director, WSO, Inc., Trustee; and Mary Kay Berger, Chairperson, Board of Directors, WSO, Inc., Trustee. It was registered with the Attorney General for the State of California, USA, on July 1, 1993.

OPERATIONAL RULES

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ARTICLE I: BACKGROUND, PURPOSE, AND PARTIES OF THE TRUST

SECTION 1: BACKGROUND OF THE TRUST

The foundation for the Fellowship Intellectual Property Trust was laid, in fact, at the 1st World Convention of Narcotics Anonymous, held November 5, 1971, in La Mirada, California, USA. At that convention, the membership of the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous directed its World Service Board of Trustees to establish a World Service Office to serve as a central Fellowship contact point, an NA information clearinghouse, and NA's publishing agency. Since that time, the World Service Office has been the Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship's authorized publisher, holding the Fellowship's intellectual property in trust as a fiduciary of the Fellowship's primary service arms, the World Service Board of Trustees (through 1976) and the World Service Conference (from 1976 to the present).

The WSO's role as Fellowship publisher has been described in every approved NA service manual, from the first edition of The NA Tree (1975) to the most recent edition of A Temporary Working Guide to our Service Structure, as follows: "[A] major function of WSO is the publication and distribution of literature.... WSO is also responsible for the printing, warehousing, and distribution of all existing literature."

On September 15, 1982, the trust relationship was reinforced when the WSC Literature Committee specifically conveyed the copyright to the book Narcotics Anonymous, NA's Basic Text, to World Service Office, Inc., such specific trust to be administered in accordance with the direction of the World Service Conference as given at its annual meeting of May 5-9, 1982.

In 1988, the trust relationship was further reinforced when the World Service Conference approved guidelines for the WSC Literature Committee which read, in part: "After the World Literature Committee has completed its work on a piece of literature, it is turned over to the World Service Office for production and distribution. Production involves copyright registration... Literature is then sold through WSO."

Finally, in 1991, the World Service Conference reaffirmed the trust relationship that had been established over the years between the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, the World Service Conference, and World Service Office, Inc. This was accomplished by the approval of motions which read as follows:

To reaffirm and ratify that the ownership of all of NA's intellectual and physical properties prepared in the past, and to be prepared into the future, is held by WSO, Inc., which holds such title in trust on behalf of the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous as a whole, in accordance with the decisions of the World Service Conference.

To reaffirm that the World Service Office, Inc., is the exclusive publisher and distributor of all World Service Conference-approved literature, including all books, pamphlets, handbooks, and other intellectual and physical properties, as directed by the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous through the World Service Conference.

The World Service Office Board of Directors is entrusted with the responsibility for protecting the Fellowship's physical and intellectual properties, including the Basic Text, and at the [discretion of the] Board of Directors... shall take legal action to protect those rights against any and all persons who choose to infringe upon this literature trust.

At the World Service Conference in 1997, the name "regional service representative" was changed to "regional delegate". At the World Service Conference in 1998, the name of the legal entity "World Service Office, Inc." was changed to "Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.". The directors of Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. are referred to as World Board members. These name changes are reflected in this document except when used in a historical context.

SECTION 2: PURPOSE OF THESE RULES

These rules describe the way the Fellowship Intellectual Property Trust is to be administered. They describe the intellectual properties held by the Trust, the parties to the Trust, the rights and responsibilities of each of those parties, and the relationship between them. They also describe specific means by which the rights and responsibilities of the Trustee can be revoked and reassigned, and the procedure to be used in altering specific provisions of the Trust Instrument itself.

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SECTION 3: PARTIES OF THE TRUST

Trustor: The Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous as given voice by its groups through their regional delegates at the World Service Conference

Equitable ownership of the recovery literature, trademarks, service marks, and all other intellectual properties of the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous resides with the Fellowship itself, the basic collective unit of which is the NA group. Decisions concerning NA's intellectual properties directly affect each individual NA group as well as NA as a whole. For this reason, such decisions are made by the duly authorized representatives of the NA groups, their regional delegates, when those RDs gather at NA's World Service Conference. By such means, the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous acts as the Trustor of the Fellowship Intellectual Property Trust and is responsible for the creation, approval, revision, and decommissioning of NA recovery literature, trademarks, service marks, and other intellectual properties. The Trustor's specific rights and responsibilities are detailed in Article III of these rules and in the currently applicable service manuals.

Trustee: Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc., is the Trustee of the Fellowship Intellectual Property Trust, responsible to hold, register, use, and protect the licenses, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, and other intellectual properties composing the Trust Property. The Trustee is responsible to use or regulate the use of those intellectual properties in a manner consistent with the instructions of the Trustor in service to the Beneficiary, the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous as a whole. The Trustee's specific rights and responsibilities are detailed in Article IV of these rules.

Beneficiary: the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous as a whole

The Beneficiary of the Fellowship Intellectual Property Trust is the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous as a whole. The Beneficiary's specific rights and responsibilities are detailed in Article V of these rules.

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ARTICLE II: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES HELD IN TRUST

SECTION 1: TWELVE STEPS, TWELVE TRADITIONS

By license agreement with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., the Trust holds all rights to the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions as adapted for use by the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, listed in Schedule A of these rules.

SECTION 2: OTHER RECOVERY LITERATURE

By assignment from the Trustor, the Trust holds all other recovery literature created directly or indirectly by the Trustor, the Beneficiary, and/or the Trustee. However, note that NA service handbooks and other service materials approved by NA's World Service Conference are specifically excluded from the purview of this Trust.

Recovery literature should be taken to mean any Narcotics Anonymous book, booklet, or pamphlet intended primarily for use by individual NA members or for use or distribution within the context of an NA recovery meeting. Service materials should be taken to mean those materials intended primarily for use within the context of an NA service board or committee.

SECTION 3: TRADEMARKS, SERVICE MARKS

Trademarks and service marks held by the Trust include, but are not necessarily limited to, the name "Narcotics Anonymous," the stylized NA initials in a double circle, and the four-sided diamond enclosed in a circle touching all four of its points. The Trust holds legal title to such marks and all translated, adapted, and hybrid forms of such marks.

SECTION 4: COPYRIGHTS

The Trust holds legal title to the copyrights for all books, booklets, pamphlets, and audio and/or video recordings, both in original and in translation, that have been approved by the World Service Conference or its predecessors. The Trust holds legal title to the copyrights for all literary works in progress, both in original and in translation, developed by the World Service Conference, its boards, and its committees.

SECTION 5: NATURE OF OWNERSHIP OF THE TRUST'S COPYRIGHTED RECOVERY LITERATURE

The creation of all new or revised Trust literary properties will be commissioned by the Trustor, either directly or through a subordinate board or committee of the World Service Conference. The process used to create those properties, from commencement to conclusion, will be under the constant control of the Trustor, exercised directly or by a subordinate board or committee of the World Service Conference. Individuals who take part in the creation of those properties will do so as employees of either the Trustor or the Trustee, whether salaried or volunteer, with full knowledge of the commissioning and controlling interests of the Trustor. No individual participant in any project designed to create or revise Trust recovery literature will retain any claim of copyright with respect to their contributions thereto. The ownership of these Trust Properties will be registered in the name of the Trustee.

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ARTICLE III: RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTOR

SECTION 1: GENERAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous as given voice by its groups through their regional delegates at NA's World Service Conference, as Trustor, has sole authority to approve any proposed revision of the NA Fellowship's adaptation of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. The Trustor and its designated agents have sole authority to commission, direct, and approve the creation and revision of books, booklets, and informational pamphlets for and on behalf of the NA Fellowship. The Trustor and its designated agents have sole authority to create or revise trademarks and service marks for and on behalf of the NA Fellowship.

SECTION 2: WSC BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

The World Service Conference of Narcotics Anonymous accomplishes its tasks, including those tasks having to do with the Trust, through subsidiary boards and committees. The conference may dissolve existing boards and committees and create new boards and committees. The conference may select the leadership and composition of its boards and committees. The conference may delegate portions of its authority to its subsidiary boards and committees. However, in all matters and at all times, these boards and committees are subject to the direction of the World Service Conference.

The specific purpose, function, authority, and composition of each of the conference's standing subsidiary boards and committees, and the relationship between them and the conference, is described in the relevant guidelines and handbooks approved by the World Service Conference. The conference regulates its ad hoc committees through motions passed at its annual meeting, recorded in its minutes.

SECTION 3: ADDITION, REVISION, OR DELETION OF PROPERTIES FROM THE TRUST BY THE TRUSTOR

The Trustor may add properties to the Trust, delete properties from the Trust, or revise the content or nature of Trust Properties by the following means:
    Proposals must be distributed to the NA groups via their regional delegates no less than ninety days prior to the annual meeting of the World Service Conference at which the proposals will be considered.

    For such a proposal to be approved, two-thirds of the regional delegates recorded as present in the WSC roll call immediately prior to the vote must vote "yes" to the proposal.

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ARTICLE IV: RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 1: IDENTIFICATION OF TRUSTEE

Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc., a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, is Trustee of the Fellowship Intellectual Property Trust. Its bylaws are filed with the California Secretary of State.

SECTION 2: GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR TRUST PROPERTIES

The Trustee shall hold in a fiduciary capacity the right to control and use all Trust Properties, and specifically to manufacture and sell products generated from Trust Properties, so long as the Trustee's actions are not inconsistent with the directions of the Trustor.

SECTION 3: FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP TO TRUSTOR

The Trustee is a service entity which functions within the totality of the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous and, in so doing, endorses the aims, goals, and purposes of the Fellowship. The Trustee, including its directors, officers, and employees, is and shall be subject to, and will abide by, the principles of the Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous as set forth in the book Narcotics Anonymous.

Further, the Trustee shall abide by motions adopted by the Trustor at each World Service Conference meeting, and shall implement decisions reached by the Trustor as they pertain to the administration of the Trust. This applies even to decisions reached by the Trustor which have the effect of modifying either the Trust Operational Rules or the Trust Instrument, provided those decisions are reached in a way that is consistent with Article VII of these Rules. It is herein specifically acknowledged that the Trustee acts as a fiduciary in its dealings with and on behalf of the Trustor.

SECTION 4: TRUSTEE COMPENSATION

Directors and officers of the corporation serving as Trustee shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses they incur in their service to the Trust.

No director, officer, employee, or other person connected with the Trustee, or any other private individual, shall receive at any time any of the net earnings or pecuniary profit generated by the Trust; provided, however, that this provision shall not prevent payment to any such person of reasonable compensation for services rendered to or for the Trustee in furtherance of its purposes.

SECTION 5: REGISTRATION OF TRUST PROPERTIES

The Trustee shall take all reasonable measures to register and protect the Trust's copyrights, trademarks, and service marks, both in their original forms and in their translated, adapted, or hybrid forms, in the United States and other countries where those properties are used or are likely to be used, in accordance with the provisions of United States law and all applicable international intellectual property rights treaties.

SECTION 6: MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, AND SALE OF PRODUCTS

The Trustee shall use, produce, print, manufacture, and/or reproduce products using Trust Properties, and shall offer such products for sale to the Beneficiary and the general public. The Trustee may enter into appropriate agreements and arrangements with third parties regarding the manufacture, distribution, and sale of products using Trust Properties.

SECTION 7: TRUSTEE AUTHORITY WITHOUT NOTICE OR PERMISSION

In the absence of the Trustor's specific direction to the contrary, the Trustee may make the following decisions relative to administration of the Trust without prior notice to or permission of the Trustor:
    The Trustee has complete discretion as to the manufacturing format of products generated from Trust Properties, including appearance, design, typeface, paper grade, binding, cover, ink, or other material.

    The Trustee has complete discretion in the management of all affairs related to the perpetuation of the Trust's business, including contracts, leases, licenses, covenants, manufacturing specifications, inventory and production quantities, distribution and marketing policies and programs, and pricing of products generated from Trust Properties.

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SECTION 8: TRUSTEE OBLIGATION FOR NOTICE AND APPROVAL

The Trustee must notify the Trustor at least ninety days prior to any given annual World Service Conference meeting of the Trustee's intent to publish or otherwise manufacture a product based on an alteration of any Trust Property. The Trustee may not publish or manufacture such a product prior to receiving the Trustor's approval at that annual meeting. For such a proposal to be approved, two-thirds of the regional delegates recorded as present in the WSC roll call immediately prior to the vote must vote "yes" to the proposal.

SECTION 9: UTILIZATION OF REVENUES

From the revenues accruing from licenses, covenants, or sale of products generated from Trust Properties, the Trustee shall provide services as directed by the World Service Conference, including but not limited to the following:
    The Trustee shall provide administrative, organizational, and logistical services to the World Service Conference of Narcotics Anonymous and the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous at large.

    The Trustee shall provide service to individual addicts and groups of addicts seeking recovery from addiction, and shall assist the general public in understanding addiction and the Narcotics Anonymous program for recovery from addiction. Such assistance may include direct and indirect communication with addicts, organizations, agencies, governments, and the public at large.

    The Trustee shall publish and distribute periodicals written or prepared by and/or for the World Service Conference.

    The Trustee shall not utilize revenues generated from Trust Properties to engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the primary purpose of Narcotics Anonymous, which is to carry the NA message to the still-suffering addict.

SECTION 10: DISBURSEMENT OF TRUST REVENUE

The Trustee shall hold and manage in a fiduciary capacity the income produced by any of the activities described in Article IV, Sections 6 and 9, of these Rules in such a manner as to further the purpose described in Article I, Section 4, of the Trust Instrument.

SECTION 11: PROTECTION OF TRUST PROPERTIES

The Trustee shall have the duty and authority to protect the Trust Properties from infringement. The Trustee will utilize the following process to proceed with protection of the Trust Properties.
    Before legal proceedings are initiated, the Trustee will request that all infringing parties cease and desist their infringement.

    The Trustee will seek to resolve the infringement prior to filing formal litigation.

    Prior to filing suit, at least three-quarters of the board members of the Narcotics Anonymous World Services corporation must approve the action.

    Prior to filing, the Trustee will report to all World Service Conference participants its intent to file infringement suit, unless the provision of such a report would demonstrably impair the Trustee's ability to effectively protect Trust Property. In the event that prior notice of intention to protect the intellectual properties of the Trust would jeopardize the success of any action, appropriate provisions or remedies such as injunctions and seizure orders may be sought without prior notice.

    Once filed, settlement of infringement litigation shall be at the discretion of the Trustee.

SECTION 12: TRUSTEE REPORTING OBLIGATION

Each year, the Trustee shall give a full written report of its activities to the Trustor. This report shall be delivered to all participants of the World Service Conference at or before its annual meeting, and shall be available at cost or less to any Narcotics Anonymous member. This report shall include:
    An audit of the Trust for the previous year.

    A description of all Trustee activities funded from proceeds generated by the Trust in the previous year.

    A budget and project description for Trustee activities planned for the coming year.

An audit of the Trust for the previous year will be provided, upon completion, to all participants of the World Service Conference as Trustor. This audit shall be performed by a certified public accountant. Additionally, the Trustor may elect to instruct the Trustee to perform a review of operational practices and policies, above and beyond the review of internal controls and procedures which is conducted annually.

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ARTICLE V: RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BENEFICIARY

SECTION 1: FELLOWSHIP USE OF TRUST PROPERTIES

Use of NA's copyrights, trademarks, and service marks by NA groups, service boards, and committees is covered in a separate document called Internal Use of NA Intellectual Property

SECTION 2: BENEFICIARY IMPACT ON THE TRUST

The Beneficiary may take part in decisions affecting the Trust through the established Narcotics Anonymous service structure as described in the most recent Narcotics Anonymous service manual.

SECTION 3: INSPECTION OF TRUSTEE ACTIVITIES

Conditions of inspection

Any regional service committee or equivalent service body may inspect the records and operations of the Trust on behalf of the Beneficiary, provided the following conditions are met.
    A motion to conduct an inspection of the Trust must be approved by a regional service committee or its equivalent.

    The regional service committee wishing to inspect the Trust must assume the expense associated with the participation of its own representative in the inspection. All other costs associated with the inspection shall be borne by the Trustee.

    The regional service committee must present a written request for inspection of the Trust, detailing its concerns and any particular areas of Trust operations it wishes to inspect.

Selection of inspection team

    The regional service committee requesting the inspection will select two members of the World Board for inclusion on the inspection team. These two members will facilitate the inspection.

    The regional service committee requesting the inspection will designate one of its participants to be included on the inspection team.

Inspection limitation

A Trust inspection conducted by a regional service committee on behalf of the Beneficiary may examine any aspect of the Trustee's operations, including all records, with the exception of documents privileged by law, including but not limited to the Trustee's personnel records.

Report of inspection

    One of the two inspection team members drawn from the World Board will develop a report of the team's findings relative to the region's stated concerns. The report will include full documentation of the inspection team's findings.

    The final report, along with a copy of the original request for inspection, will then be published in the next Conference Report.

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ARTICLE VI: REVOCATION AND REASSIGNMENT OF THE TRUSTEE'S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

SECTION 1: CONSIDERATION OF REVOCATION

The Trustee's rights and responsibilities may be revoked and reassigned to another party by the Trustor, provided the following conditions are met:
    A written petition to revoke the rights and responsibilities of the Trustee must be submitted to the World Service Conference. To be considered, the petition must meet one of the following conditions:
      Either the petition must be signed by a third of the regional service committees recognized as voting participants in the most recent annual meeting of the World Service Conference,

      Or the petition must be signed by the World Board, the motion to submit such a petition having been approved by no less than two-thirds of the members of the World Board.

    In order to be considered at any given annual meeting of the World Service Conference, such a petition must be received between June 1 and December 31 of the previous year, allowing time for the petition to be distributed to Conference participants.

    If the above criteria are met, the petition will be placed on the agenda of the next annual meeting of the World Service Conference. Statements of the petitioners will be published with the petition itself in the Conference Agenda Report.

SECTION 2: REVOCATION PROCESS

    A majority of regional delegates must approve before proceeding with the revocation process.

    An ad hoc committee will be appointed by the chairperson of the World Service Conference. The committee will consist of the following:

      four regional delegates

      the chairperson and three members of the World Board, one of whom will chair the committee

    This committee will hold two forums during the upcoming year to receive Fellowship input, and will provide accounts of those forums in the Conference Report.

    In addition to those forums, the committee will meet at least twice, and will provide accounts of its meetings in the Conference Report.

    At the conclusion of its study, this committee will prepare a written report to be included in the Conference Agenda Report, along with any motions or recommendations related to the proposed revocation.

    Any motion to revoke the Trustee's rights and responsibilities arising from the committee's study will require approval of two-thirds of the regional delegates recorded as present in the WSC roll call immediately prior to the vote.

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SECTION 3: REASSIGNMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

Should the Trustee's rights and responsibilities be revoked, the Trustor will immediately direct the Trustee to assign those rights and responsibilities either to the Trustor or to the entity the Trustor wishes to administer the Trust. The Trustee shall comply immediately with such direction.

ARTICLE VII: REVISION OF TRUST RULES AND INSTRUMENT

SECTION 1: REVISION OF TRUST OPERATIONAL RULES

The Trust Operational Rules may be revised by the "yes" vote of two-thirds of those regional delegates recorded as present in the World Service Conference roll call immediately prior to the vote.

SECTION 2: REVISION OF TRUST INSTRUMENT

Provisions of the Trust Instrument may be changed only under the following conditions:
    Any motion to review proposed revisions to the Trust Instrument must receive the approval of a majority of regional delegates at the World Service Conference.

    After such review is approved, proposed revisions will be open for a six-month review and input period, after which the proposed revisions will be presented in the Conference Agenda Report for adoption.

    A motion to adopt any proposed revisions to the Trust Instrument will require a vote of "yes" from two-thirds of those regional delegates recorded as present in the World Service Conference roll call immediately prior to the vote.

SCHEDULE A: TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, AS ADAPTED FOR USE BY THE FELLOWSHIP OF NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

License to adapt the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions for use by the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous granted by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

TWELVE STEPS

    We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.

    We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

    We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

    We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

    We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

    We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

    We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

    We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

    We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

    We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

    We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

    Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

TWELVE TRADITIONS

    Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on NA unity.

    For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority--a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

    The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using.

    Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or NA as a whole.

    Each group has but one primary purpose--to carry the message to the addict who still suffers.

    An NA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the NA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property or prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

    Every NA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

    Narcotics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

    NA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

    Narcotics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the NA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

    Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

    Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

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