FAQ: BlackBerry is Spelt with Two Capital “B”s & More

RIM has always been a bit of a hard @$$ about other companies using their trademarks. Even their own partners are subjected to a whole slew of rules and restrictions about how to use these trademarks. I guess they are required to maintain the brand identity and protect it from dilution, but I thought I would share some of them with you. It also lays the issue to rest that BlackBerry is spelled with two capital “B”s.

Keep in mind these come directly from RIM…

• BlackBerry is spelt with two capital “B”s
• That means BlackBerry instead of Blackberry
• BlackBerry can NEVER be abbreviated to BB or Berry or BBerry
• Guilty as charged… Good thing we are not a RIM partner 🙂
• Devices must be shown in full. Nothing is allowed to cover any part of the image.
• Seriously RIM? This one is a bit ridiculous even by your standards.
• BlackBerry should always be used as an adjective, a describing word, not a noun or a verb
• I guess this is to protect their brand. They are also sticklers about calling it the BlackBerry Smartphone not just a BlackBerry
• Keep in mind that BlackBerrys, BlackBerries, & BlackBerry’s are also considered unacceptable. You must call them BlackBerry smartphones… 🙂
• Research In Motion is always spelt with a capital R, I, & M
• The names of BlackBerry products cannot be translated
• This is because RIM only owns the trademarks to the full product names in English
• BlackBerry Enterprise Server & BlackBerry Internet Service may never be abbreviated to BES or BIS
• Guilty as charged once again…
• Official device colors cannot be changed in images
• Take that Photoshop!
• Third parties are not allowed to use BlackBerry in their top level domains
• Makes me wonder how other websites with the term BlackBerry in their domain get away with it…

Oh, and I left my favorite two for last:

• Use of variations, abbreviations or takeoffs
• It is not permissible to use a variation, abbreviation or takeoff of a RIM Trademark. For example, “BlackBerries”, “BB” and “Crackberry” are not acceptable uses with reference to any products or services of RIM.
• Harmful use
• Your use of RIM Trademarks must not be obscene, disparaging, defamatory or libelous to RIM or any other person.

You can read more at RIM’s trademark page