Regarding brand logos

[rektdeckard]

We receive a lot of requests to support brand logos for various platforms and services. This is tough for a number of reasons, including the potential legal gray-area of modifying brand IP, a desire to maintain stylistic consistency in the set, and a desire to not boil the ocean by including icons without broad utility. Additionally, brands and logos change over time, and this adds a maintenance burden proportional to the number of brands we support.

When we decide to implement a brand icon, it is usually because it meets some or all of these criteria:

• Represents a social network or platform, or an open standard
• Has large reach and recognition, and is not specific to one country
• Is useful outside of commercial contexts (a link on a personal website or portfolio, for example)

And when we implement a brand logo, it is always a stylized interpretation of that logo meant to match Phosphor's rules and aesthetics, not to be a faithful representation of the brand.

Because of this, we have some general recommendations regarding their use:

1. In general, use official brand assets instead of Phosphor brand icons — especially in commercial projects. There are potential legal issues related to using and modifying registered trademarks and intellectual property of other companies, and in implying affiliation with companies based on use of their logos.
2. If you are looking for a convenient means of using official brand assets in your project, choose something like Simple Icons. Tools like these provide accurate and compliant brand icons in a single place, and often link to first-party brand guidelines so you can understand your obligations and rights when it comes to using them.
3. If you decide to use a Phosphor brand icon, understand that you may be violating terms of use of that company. We are not responsible for any legal action taken as a result.

Before you use or request a brand icon, consider whether it reasonably meets the criteria above, and whether you should be using a stylized version of that brand logo to begin with.

Thanks,
The Phosphor Team

This is not legal advice.