Guidelines on using the Rotary Marks
Help Rotary International protect its good name and intellectual property by correctly using the Rotary name, Rotary emblem and other Rotary Marks.
The Rotary Marks include Rotary, Rotary International, Interact, Rotaract, The Rotary Foundation, Paul Harris, End Polio Now, and Rotarian, among numerous others. The Rotary Marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Rotary International in more than 65 countries.
The Rotary Marks shouldn't be altered, modified, or obstructed in any way. Anyone who notices a club or district incorrectly using the Rotary emblem or other Rotary Marks -- on fliers, websites, or anything else -- should advise the club or district to correct the materials and contact their CDS representative.
Get Rotary logos and graphics.
The following guidelines on the use of the Rotary Marks are from the Rotary Code of Policies (noted below as RCP). Please follow these guidelines in naming your project or program and in developing promotional materials. (See Rotary Code of Policies article 33 and Manual of Procedure chapter 5.)
Rotary name
- The RI Board has determined that any use of the "Rotary" name without a further qualifier, such as the name of a Rotary club, Rotary district, or other Rotary entity, refers to the international association RI. (Rotary Code of Policies [RCP] 33.040.6)
- New project names or programs not under the exclusive control of RI or The Rotary Foundation must include the name of the participating Rotary club(s), district(s), or other Rotary Entity immediately following or preceding the name "Rotary" and should not use the word "International." (RCP 33.040.6)
- If using the words "Rotary" and "Foundation," these words must not appear together, but must be separated by additional identifying information, such as the name of the participating Rotary club(s), district(s), or other Rotary Entity. (RCP 33.040.5)
- Ongoing projects and programs not under the exclusive control of RI and not conforming to these guidelines should be renamed to provide this additional identifying information (i.e., the name of the participating Rotary club(s), district(s), or other Rotary Entity must be included when using the name "Rotary"). (RCP 33.040.6)
- No alterations, obstructions, or modifications of "Rotary" are permitted. No abbreviations, prefixes, or suffixes of "Rotary," such as "Rota," are permitted. (RCP 33.040.6)
- Rotary clubs, districts, other Rotary Entities, and individual Rotarians should purchase domain names that comply with the naming guidelines outlined in the RCP and the Manual of Procedure. Rotary Entities are encouraged to check with their CDS representative to ensure their proposed domain name complies with Board policy for use of the Rotary Marks, before registering domain names. Domain names not in compliance with Board policy should be changed to comply. RI reserves the right to ask for the transfer of ownership to RI of any non-compliant domain name. (RCP 52.020.1, 33.040.6)
- Rotary clubs and districts planning community projects may be interested in applying for a community project License (RCP 33.040.7).
- The name of any project or program that does not conform to RI Board guidelines must receive specific RI Board approval. (RCP 33.040.6)
Rotary emblem
- The Rotary emblem, like the Rotary name, represents the international association, RI, and also includes the name "Rotary International." (RCP 33.030.6)
- Whenever the Rotary emblem is used for a project, program, or activity not under the exclusive control of RI or The Rotary Foundation, the name of the participating club(s), district(s), or other Rotary Entity should also be used in addition to the Rotary emblem and should appear in close proximity to and equal prominence with the Rotary emblem. (RCP 33.030.6)
- Any reproduction of the Rotary emblem must meet RI's specifications. (See Manual of Procedure chapter 5; RCP 33.030.6.) Camera-ready art can be obtained through your CDS representative or shop.rotary.org. No alterations, modifications, or obstructions of the Rotary emblem are permitted. The Rotary emblem must be reproduced in its entirety. (RCP 33.030.6)
- The RI Bylaws discourage any joint use of the RI emblem with the emblem or logo of another organization for any commercial purpose. (RI Bylaws 18.020; RCP 33.030.12)