Skip to content

TRADEMARK.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
102 lines (67 loc) · 4.01 KB

TRADEMARK.md

File metadata and controls

102 lines (67 loc) · 4.01 KB
Raw

LabFox Trademark Policy

Last updated: 2026-08-18

The source code of LabFox is released under the Apache License 2.0 (LICENSE). However, the name and the brand are not included in that license.

Section 6 of the Apache License 2.0 explicitly excludes any grant of trademark rights. This document explains that boundary in concrete terms.

1. What is covered

The following belong to the copyright holder (sloki9637, https://www.sloki9637.com) and are not subject to the Apache-2.0 license.

  • The name LabFox (including spelling variants: LabFox, Lab Fox, labfox)
  • The LabFox logo and icon
  • The LabFox app icon, splash screen, and store listing images
  • LabFox original illustrations and brand assets
  • The App Store / Play Store / Microsoft Store listing identity

The source code itself may be freely used, modified, and redistributed. The only thing restricted is the brand.

2. Permitted uses

You may do the following without separate permission.

  • Use of the source code — use, modification, redistribution, and commercial use under the Apache-2.0 terms
  • Nominative use — mentioning the name in order to state a fact, such as "uses LabFox", "based on LabFox", or "contributed to LabFox"
  • Personal builds — building the source yourself and using it yourself (you do not have to change the name)
  • Unmodified redistribution — passing on official release binaries exactly as they are, without changes
  • Covering LabFox in technical documentation, blogs, reviews, and courses
  • Listing in package repositories — distributing an unmodified build, provided the origin is identified as this project

3. Uses requiring prior permission

  • Distributing a modified version under the "LabFox" name → A fork must use a different name and a different icon.
  • Publishing an app to an app store under the name "LabFox" or under any name likely to cause confusion
  • Using the LabFox logo or icon in the branding of your own product, service, or organization
  • Using a domain name, account name, or organization name that contains LabFox
  • Any expression that gives the impression that LabFox sponsors, certifies, or is affiliated with you
  • Producing and selling merchandise (goods)

Inquiries: inquiry@sloki9637.com. Describe the intended use.

4. Guidance for forks

Forks are welcome. They are a right guaranteed by Apache-2.0. You only need to observe the following.

  1. Change the application name (LabFox → your own name)
  2. Replace the app icon and logo
  3. State that the original is LabFox, while making clear that it is not an official LabFox distribution
  4. Keep LICENSE and NOTICE

Example wording:

This project is a fork of LabFox (https://github.com/theorvane/labfox), licensed under Apache-2.0. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the LabFox project.

5. Why it is done this way

LabFox follows an open core model.

Source code      Apache-2.0 open source — anyone may use, modify, and redistribute it
Mobile apps      Sold for a price on the App Store / Play Store

The code is kept open, but there must be only one app named "LabFox" distributed through the stores so that users can trust what they are installing. The trademark is reserved not in order to restrict use of the code, but to prevent the confusion of different apps circulating under the same name.

Signal, Element, and Firefox use the same approach.

6. Third-party trademarks

LabFox is an unofficial third-party client and has no affiliation, sponsorship, or certification relationship with GitLab Inc. or GitHub, Inc.

  • "GitLab" is a trademark of GitLab Inc.
  • "GitHub" is a trademark of GitHub, Inc.

LabFox uses these names solely to describe interoperability, and does not use GitHub's logos, icons, illustrations, UI assets, or brand elements.

This document is not legal advice. The actual scope of rights may differ depending on whether the trademark is formally registered and on the applicable jurisdiction.