Brand Policy: Trademark and Logo Usage

I. POLICY OVERVIEW

In order to protect the reputation of our brand as the industry leader in ambulance-specific billing training and education, NAAC  has specific guidelines regarding the use of Brand Elements (trademarks).  This policy establishes when NAAC Brand Elements may be used, for what purposes, and restrictions that may apply to such use.  Brand Elements should only be used when NAAC explicitly gives written permission, and that usage is restricted to the guidelines outlined in this policy.

II. BRAND ELEMENTS DEFINED

A Brand Element is a word, name, symbol, or device (or any combination thereof) that identifies the goods or services of a person or company and distinguishes them from the goods and services of others.  For NAAC, this includes but is not limited to, trademarks such as our name (NAAC), current logos and credentials CAC, CACO, CAPO, CADS and NAAC intellectual property, and future logos, credentials and intellectual property.

III. POLICY DETAILS

A. ORGANIZATIONS THAT EMPLOY CERTIFIED AMBULANCE CODERS, CERTIFIED AMBULANCE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS, CERTIFIED AMBULANCE PRIVACY OFFICERS, AND/OR CERTIFIED AMBULANCE DOCUMENTATION SPECIALISTS, AND HAVE BEEN GRANTED PERMISSION, MAY:

1. Create a link from their website to our website’s homepage (http://www.AmbulanceCompliance.com).
2. Use only NAAC approved and distributed Certified Ambulance Coder (CAC), Certified Ambulance Compliance Officer (CACO), Certified Ambulance Privacy Officer (CAPO) and/or Certified Ambulance Documentation Specialist (CADS) artwork.
3. Use the NAAC approved and distributed CAC, CACO, CAPO and/or CADS logo to hyperlink to our website or print in materials (i.e. marketing and informational brochures, business cards, RFPs, etc.) as long as the organization employs at least one active CAC, CACO, CAPO and/or CADS at all times.
4. Any online or printed use of the CAC, CACO, CAPO and/or CADS  logo must be pre-approved by NAAC prior to going live (online) or being published (print).

B. ORGANIZATIONS THAT EMPLOY CERTIFIED AMBULANCE CODERS, CERTIFIED AMBULANCE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS, CERTIFIED AMBULANCE PRIVACY OFFICERS AND/OR CERTIFIED AMBBULANCE DOCUMENTATION SPECIALIST AND HAVE BEEN GRANTED PERMISSION, MAY NOT:

1. Use the NAAC logo on their website, or in printed materials (i.e. marketing and informational brochures, business cards, letterhead, etc.).
2. Incorporate NAAC Brand Elements into their own product names, service names, trademarks, logos, or company names, or use NAAC Brand Elements for their own purposes or for purposes not authorized by NAAC .
3. Use NAAC Brand Elements in the title of their own products or services (i.e. CAC, CACO, CAPO, CADS or any other NAAC certification).  Note: only approved events or trainings may use our NAAC CEU Approved trademark to describe their training.
4. Register top-level or create second-level domain names with NAAC Brand Elements.
5. Use NAAC Brand Elements in any manner that implies a relationship or affiliation with, sponsorship, or endorsement by NAAC , or that can be reasonably interpreted to suggest content has been authorized by, or represents the views or opinions of NAAC or NAAC personnel.
6. Copy or imitate the look and feel of NAAC publications, design properties, the website, products’ trade dress, or NAAC brand packaging, distinctive color combinations, typography, graphic designs, product icons, or imagery associated with NAAC products or Brand Elements.
7. Display a NAAC Brand Element in a manner that is in NAAC ’s sole opinion misleading, unfair, defamatory, infringing, libelous, disparaging, obscene, or otherwise objectionable to NAAC .
8. Adopt marks, logos, slogans, or designs that are confusingly similar to NAAC Brand Elements.
9. Display a NAAC Brand Element on any website that contains or displays adult content, promotes gambling, involves the sale of tobacco or alcohol, or otherwise violates applicable law.
10. Display a NAAC Brand Element on a site that violates any law or regulation.
11. Use NAAC Brand Elements in a way that suggests a common, descriptive, or generic meaning.

C. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REVISION

NAAC will monitor and evaluate this policy on an on-going basis will revise this policy as needed.