BLUETOOTH SIG MEMBERSHIP

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is a network of member organizations that are the caretakers and innovators of Bluetooth® technology. As a Bluetooth SIG member, your organization will join a community that helps you grow your business and shape the future of Bluetooth technology.

OBJECTIVE OF BLUETOOTH SIG 

The primary purpose of the Bluetooth SIG is to support members to make sure that all Bluetooth products are qualified properly and that they comply with the Bluetooth license agreements. The Bluetooth compliance program consists of two steps, which Bluetooth SIG members have to complete – the qualification and the declaration process.

WHEN DO I NEED TO BECOME A BLUETOOTH SIG MEMBER?

A. Any company incorporating Bluetooth wireless technology into products, using the technology to offer goods and services or simply re-branding a product with Bluetooth technology wants to use word or symbol of ‘Bluetooth’ on their products must become a member of the Bluetooth SIG.

B. Regardless if a company uses the Bluetooth trademarks (Bluetooth word mark, figure mark and combination mark) to market its product as Bluetooth enabled, a member company must be compliant with the Bluetooth Patent & Copyright License Agreement. Companies are encouraged to review the conditions of the license agreements and consult their legal counsel with any questions regarding the applicable requirements.

C. If the company is owned by more than 50% of a parent company that is already a member of the Bluetooth SIG, that company may participate under the parent’s membership. Simply create user accounts under the parent member account. 

However, it is recommended for subsidiary companies that are branding and selling Bluetooth products as their own to create their own separate member account. If each organization uses the same email domain, parent and subsidiaries must participate under the same membership.

REQUIREMENTS OF BLUETOOTH MEMBERSHIP

There are eligibility requirements to apply for Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) membership:

• Membership is at the company level. 

• Company's formation documentation is required to be submit with the application.

• A unique email domain is required which will be used to verify registration and register additional users under your company's membership.

• A signing authority on behalf of the company is mandatory which means the authority has the ability to enter into a legally binding agreement for the company. It is required by authority to review and agree, on company's behalf, to the Bluetooth SIG membership agreements.

• To submit the Membership Application Form for the company, it will be required to review and agree, on company’s behalf, to the Bluetooth SIG membership agreements. Only authorized signatory can sign and submit the application.

• After the submission of the application the company will not become a Bluetooth SIG member until the Bluetooth SIG notifies in writing that it has accepted the company’s application and issued company a membership.

TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP UNDER BLUETOOTH SIG

There are two types of membership under Bluetooth SIG :-

1. Adopter Membership

It is Beginner level membership which is free of any charges or fees.

Adopter membership includes the following benefits:

• A license to build products using Bluetooth technology under and in compliance with the Bluetooth Patent/Copyright License Agreement

• A license to use the Bluetooth trademarks on qualified products under and in compliance with the Bluetooth Trademark License Agreement

• The ability to network and collaborate with tens of thousands of Bluetooth SIG members in a wide variety of industries—from chip manufacturers to application developers, device makers and service providers

• The ability to participate in SIG expert groups, study groups, and sub groups within working groups

• Access to tools such as the Profile Tuning Suite (PTS), providing protocol and interoperability testing*

2.    Associate Membership

After taking adopter membership the companies can upgrade to associate membership which annually chargeable and allows company to save money on qualifying Bluetooth products, as well as participate in the Bluetooth specification development process through working groups and committees.

AGREEMENTS GOVERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF BLUETOOTH SIG

To become a Bluetooth SIG member, a company must apply for membership, enter into the Membership Agreements, and agree to be bound by the SIG’s Corporate Documents. An applicant company consents to all agreements during the membership application process.

One of these agreements is the Bluetooth Trademark License Agreement, which sets forth the terms and conditions for use of the Bluetooth word mark and logos. Only Bluetooth SIG member companies may use the Bluetooth word mark and logos on their qualified products, in accordance with the terms of the Bluetooth Trademark License Agreement.

The applicant will be bound by the following documents if applies for membership:-

A. Corporate Documents

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Bylaws

B. Membership Agreements 

• Patent & Copyright License Agreement
• Trademark License Agreement and Attachments
• Membership Commitment Agreement

C. Policies and Rules

• Code of Conduct and FAQs
• General Rules of Antitrust Compliance
• Confidentiality Policy

BLUETOOTH QUALIFICATION PROCESS

One of the core responsibilities of the Bluetooth SIG is to help member companies ensure their Bluetooth products properly comply with the Bluetooth Patent & Copyright License Agreement and the Bluetooth Trademark License Agreement (collectively, the Bluetooth License Agreement). This promotes global product interoperability and reinforces the strength of the Bluetooth® brand to the benefit of all SIG members.

The Bluetooth SIG manages this responsibility through the Bluetooth Qualification Process. this process must be completed for any product to which the Bluetooth License Agreements are applied.

Launch Studio is the online tool you use to complete the Bluetooth Qualification Process. There are two paths within Launch Studio depending on whether your product is using a new or existing Bluetooth design.

PATH 1 - QUALIFICATION PROCESS WITHOUT TESTING

One of the following criteria are need to complied with to fall under path 1:-

a) Using another member organization's qualified Bluetooth End-Product or Subsystem in your product without changes or additions to the Bluetooth capabilities or

b) Purchasing a product manufactured by a third party and distributing it with your company’s name or logo or

c) Creating combinations involving only qualified Bluetooth Subsystem Products and/or qualified Bluetooth End Products provided no design changes were made during the combination

PATH 2 – QUALIFICATION PROCESS WITH TESTING

Creating or Manufacturing any product or combination other than those involving only qualified Bluetooth Subsystem Products and/or qualified Bluetooth End-Products

If you do not qualify your product, membership become subject to enforcement action. the updated policy outlines the escalation schedule. If no corrective actions are taken, your Bluetooth SIG membership could be suspended or revoked.

USAGE OF THE LOGO AND BRAND OF BLUETOOTH ON THE PRODUCTS

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) owns the Bluetooth word mark, figure mark and combination mark (collectively, the Bluetooth trademarks), and protects the Bluetooth trademarks through the brand enforcement program.

 In order for a company to use the trademarks, two things must happen: 

• A company must be a member of the Bluetooth SIG and
• The goods offered must have completed the Bluetooth Qualification Process. 

Members should always refer to the Bluetooth brand guide when using the logos.

WHO CAN USE BLUETOOTH TRADEMARKS AND LOGO?

The Bluetooth word mark and logos can only be used by Bluetooth SIG members, who are also licensees, and in relation to all qualified Bluetooth enabled goods and services. This includes qualified products, product packaging, sales literature, advertisements, press materials, radio/TV commercials, exhibition stands, outdoor advertisements, websites, etc.

GUIDELINES FOR USING BLUETOOTH WORD MARK AND LOGO

  Bluetooth Word mark And Logo Can Be Used In Following Manner

The Bluetooth trademark can be used in by the licensee in following places:-

• Advertisements
• Computer programs
• Direct mail units
• Exhibition stands
• Posters
• Packaging
• Point-of-sale materials
• Press materials
• Properly qualified and listed Bluetooth enabled products
• Product & sales literature
• Radio / TV commercials
• Visual aids
• Websites

The licensee shall not get trademark of its logo along with symbol or word mark of Bluetooth in it.

The Bluetooth trademark followed by symbol “®”in superscript format and shall be used after the licensee’s logo or trademark.

Example:-

[Licensee Name] Bluetooth® Watch

[Licensee Name] BLUETOOTH® Wireless Headset

2.  Bluetooth Trademark used in Mobile Software Application:

When used with mobile software applications, as with other products, the Bluetooth Trademarks may not be used as a standalone name, icon, logo or other designation of the mobile application and cannot be altered but used only along with licensee’s logo.

3. Acceptable forms of using Bluetooth Logo

  4. Acceptable forms of Bluetooth Word Mark

 5. Usage of Combination of Bluetooth logo and word mark

For more information contact below:-

Compliance Chambers

Advisory & Consulting

Address F-2 / 151, Sector - 11

Rohini, New Delhi |  Pin Code 110085

Email Us at: compliance.chambers@gmail.com

Website: https://compliancechambers.blogspot.in/

Abhimanyu Rajpurohit:  +91 93100 48341, +91 7838060605

Manish Nama:               +91 88007 22330, +91 88004 22330