Brand & IP Policy

Layer 0 - Foundation Protection | Version 1.0

Effective: Upon adoption by the Global Council

Preamble#

The AI Fellowship’s identity - its name, visual language, and flagship programmes - is the shared inheritance of every member and chapter. It has been built through the collective effort of thousands of people and represents a promise about what the Fellowship stands for. This policy protects that identity. It is not a bureaucratic restriction; it is the mechanism by which every chapter can benefit from the trust and recognition that the brand carries, while ensuring that trust is never eroded by inconsistency, commercial misuse, or misrepresentation.

This policy should be read alongside the Governance Charter. Chapter Directors are expected to understand it fully. Violations are handled under the IP Enforcement Procedure below.

1. Ownership Declaration#

All intellectual property described in this policy is owned exclusively by The AI Fellowship Foundation (the “Foundation”), a nonprofit entity. This includes all elements of the brand, the AI World Cup competition, and any centrally produced materials. Ownership does not transfer to chapter directors, local entities, sponsors, or partners by virtue of their involvement with the Fellowship. No agreement, contribution, or tenure entitles a chapter, individual, or partner to ownership of or licence beyond what is expressly granted in this policy.

2. What Is Covered#

The following are the exclusive property of the Foundation:

2.1 The Name#

“The AI Fellowship,” “TAIF,” and any derivative names including chapter-specific adaptations (e.g., “The AI Fellowship Lagos,” “TAIF Paris”) are covered. The name may not be used for any purpose not authorised by this policy.

2.2 The Logo and Visual Identity#

All versions of The AI Fellowship wordmark, logomark, and combined logo. The official design system, including colour palette, typography, layout standards, and templates produced by the Foundation. Any visual mark that a reasonable person could mistake for an official AI Fellowship mark.

2.3 The AI World Cup#

The “AI World Cup” name, format, scoring system, judging framework, and all associated materials are owned by the Foundation. No chapter may independently organise, licence, or co-brand an event as “AI World Cup” without a specific written agreement with the Foundation for that event.

2.4 Domain Names#

All domain names including theaifellowship.com and any subdomains. Domain registrations associated with local chapters remain in the name of or under the direct control of the Foundation. Chapter Directors may not register domain names using the Fellowship’s name without prior written approval.

2.5 Centrally Produced Materials#

Presentation templates, onboarding materials, member pledge cards, event collateral, the Member Pledge, this Code of Conduct, and any other document produced and published by the Foundation.

3. Licence Grant to Chapters#

The Foundation grants each active, approved chapter a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to use the Brand Assets described in Section 2 solely for the following purposes:

• Promoting and organising AI Fellowship chapter events
• Recruiting members to the chapter
• Communicating with existing members on behalf of the chapter
• Applying for local sponsorship within the limits defined in Section 5
• Producing local printed and digital materials using Foundation-provided templates

This licence is active only while the chapter is in good standing. Good standing means the chapter has a currently approved Chapter Director, has complied with the Code of Conduct and this Brand Policy, and has not had its licence suspended by the Foundation.

4. Design Rules#

4.1 Logo Use#

• The logo must always be reproduced from official source files provided by the Foundation. Do not recreate, trace, or approximate the logo.
• The logo must never be altered, stretched, rotated, recoloured, or have elements added or removed.
• The minimum safe zone around the logo is equal to the height of the wordmark’s capital letter on all four sides. Nothing may intrude into this zone.
• The logo may be used in the Foundation’s approved colour variants only. On light backgrounds: primary colour version. On dark backgrounds: reversed (white/light) version. Do not place the logo on backgrounds that create insufficient contrast.
• Minimum print size: 20mm wide. Minimum digital size: 60px wide.

4.2 Colour Palette#

Chapters must use only the Foundation’s official colour palette for branded materials. The current palette is specified in the Brand Guide published and maintained by the Foundation. No substitutions are permitted on materials that use the Fellowship name or logo.

4.3 Typography#

Chapters must use only the Foundation’s official typefaces for branded materials. Font substitutions on branded materials require written approval from the Foundation’s design lead.

4.4 Chapter Identification#

All chapter-produced materials must clearly identify themselves as a local chapter: e.g., “The AI Fellowship Lagos Chapter” - not simply “The AI Fellowship.” The chapter name must appear in a way that makes clear this is a local group, not the global Foundation.

4.5 Prohibited Modifications#

• Do not place the logo on busy photographic backgrounds without the approved container treatment.
• Do not add taglines, slogans, or descriptors to the logo that were not approved by the Foundation.
• Do not combine the Fellowship logo with sponsor logos in a way that implies co-branding or joint ownership.
• Do not use brand assets to endorse products, services, or positions that the Foundation has not endorsed.

5. Sponsorship Boundaries#

5.1 What Chapters May Do#

Chapters may solicit and accept local event sponsorship within the guidelines of this policy. Chapters may use their own chapter name to credit sponsors (e.g., “The AI Fellowship Lagos Chapter thanks [Sponsor] for supporting this event”). Chapters retain all local sponsorship revenue they raise.

5.2 What Requires Foundation Approval#

• Any sponsorship arrangement that names “The AI Fellowship” (without a chapter qualifier) in the sponsor’s materials.
• Any multi-chapter or global sponsorship proposal.
• Any arrangement in which a sponsor receives a platform, speaking slot, or visibility at more than one chapter event.
• Any sponsorship deal exceeding a value threshold set annually by the Foundation (current threshold to be published in the Chapter Director Handbook).
• Any MOU or formal partnership agreement of any kind.

5.3 Prohibited Sponsor Categories#

The following categories of sponsors are prohibited at all levels - chapter, regional, and global - regardless of the value of the deal:

• Tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products
• Gambling, sports betting, and online casino products
• Weapons manufacturers and defence contractors
• Predatory lending products (payday loans, high-interest consumer debt products)
• Cryptocurrency or blockchain projects engaged in unregistered securities activity or with public records of fraud
• Companies currently under active investigation by securities regulators
• Adult entertainment
• Political parties or explicitly partisan political organisations
• Any organisation that has been publicly credibly accused of significant discriminatory practices, human rights violations, or large-scale environmental harm and has not demonstrably addressed those allegations

Chapter Directors who are uncertain whether a potential sponsor falls into a prohibited category must seek Foundation guidance before accepting.

5.4 Sponsor Communication Standards#

Chapters must not imply to sponsors that they represent or can bind the Foundation. All sponsor agreements should state clearly that they are with the local chapter only. Templates for chapter-level sponsor agreements are available from the Foundation.

6. IP Enforcement Procedure#

If the Foundation becomes aware of an actual or potential violation of this policy:

1. Notice - The Foundation will notify the chapter director (or individual) in writing, identifying the specific violation and requesting correction or cessation within 14 days.
2. Cure period - If the violation is capable of being remedied (e.g., incorrect logo use, unauthorised colour modification), the chapter or individual has 14 days to correct it and confirm correction to the Foundation.
3. If not cured - If the violation is not corrected within the cure period, the Foundation may: suspend the chapter’s brand licence; require the chapter to remove all materials using the brand; seek legal remedies if the violation constitutes trademark infringement or otherwise harms the Foundation.
4. Non-curable violations - Some violations (e.g., entering into a prohibited sponsorship, using the AI World Cup name for an unauthorised event) may result in immediate suspension of brand licence without a cure period.
5. Chapter dissolution - If a chapter’s brand licence is revoked and not reinstated within 60 days, the chapter is considered dissolved. The exit provisions of Section 7 apply.

7. Exit Provisions#

7.1 When a Chapter Closes#

When a chapter is dissolved (whether voluntarily or by the Foundation):

• The chapter’s brand licence terminates immediately.
• All branded materials - digital and physical - must be removed or returned within 30 days.
• Any domain names registered on behalf of the chapter must be transferred back to Foundation control within 30 days.
• Member data held by the chapter must be deleted or transferred to the Foundation as directed, in compliance with applicable data protection law.
• Unused sponsorship funds raised in the name of the chapter must be returned to sponsors or transferred to the Foundation, not retained by departing Chapter Directors.

7.2 When a Chapter Director Leaves#

When a Chapter Director leaves (whether voluntarily or by removal):

• Their access to all Foundation systems, platforms, and communication channels associated with the chapter is revoked.
• They have no ongoing right to use the Fellowship brand in any professional capacity.
• Any materials they created in their capacity as Chapter Director remain the property of the Foundation.
• They may retain recognition for their contributions (e.g., “Former Chapter Director, TAIF Lagos”) in personal biography contexts, but may not suggest ongoing affiliation.

7.3 Alumni Recognition#

The Foundation may, at its discretion, maintain an alumni record of former Chapter Directors and their contributions. Inclusion in this record is a courtesy, not a right, and does not convey ongoing brand usage rights.