Content Removal Policies Github Trademark Policy (GitHub)
Updated 17 October 2025
This document outlines GitHub's policy regarding trademark violations, clarifying what actions are considered violations and what are not. It details the process for trademark holders to report alleged infringements and explains how GitHub responds to such reports, including potential account suspension or username release.
GitHub Trademark Policy
What is a GitHub Trademark Policy Violation?
Using a company or business name, logo, or other trademark-protected materials in a manner that may mislead or confuse others with regard to its brand or business affiliation may be considered a trademark policy violation.
What is not a GitHub Trademark Policy Violation?
Using another's trademark in a way that has nothing to do with the product or service for which the trademark was granted is not a trademark policy violation. GitHub user names are available on a first come, first served basis and may not be reserved. A GitHub account with a user name that happens to be the same as a registered trademark is not, by itself, necessarily a violation of our trademark policy.
How Does GitHub Respond To Reported Trademark Policy Violations?
When we receive reports of trademark policy violations from holders of federal or international trademark registrations, we review the account and may take the following actions:
When there is a clear intent to mislead others through the unauthorized use of a trademark, GitHub will suspend the account and notify the account holder.
When we determine that an account appears to be confusing users, but is not purposefully passing itself off as the trademarked good or service, we give the account holder an opportunity to clear up any potential confusion. We may also release a username for the trademark holder's active use.
How Do I Report a Trademark Policy Violation?
Holders of registered trademarks can report possible trademark policy violations to GitHub via Submit a Trademark Policy Violation Report. Please use the contact form and submit trademark-related requests using your company email address and include all the information requested below to help expedite our response. Also be sure to clearly describe to us why the account may cause confusion with your mark or how the account may dilute or tarnish your mark.
What Information is Required When Reporting Trademark Policy Violations?
In order to investigate trademark policy violations, please provide all of the following information:
Username of the reported account
Your company name
Your company GitHub account (if there is one)
Company website
Your trademarked word, symbol, etc.
Trademark registration number
Trademark registration office (e.g., USPTO)
Description of confusion (e.g., passing off as your company, including specific descriptions of content or behavior)
Requested Action (e.g., removal of violating account or transfer of trademarked username to an existing company account)
Include the following statement: "I have a good faith belief that use of the trademark described above is not authorized by the trademark owner, or its agent, or the law. I have taken nominative and other fair uses into consideration."
Also include the following statement: "I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in this notification is accurate and that I am the trademark owner, or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner, of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed."
Include your physical or electronic signature.
Note: A federal or international trademark registration number is required. If the name you are reporting is not a registered mark (e.g., a government agency or non-profit organization), please let us know:
Your first and last name
Title
Address
Phone
Email (must be from company domain)
About this template
What is this template?
Content Removal Policies Github Trademark Policy (GitHub) is a free, ready-to-use Intellectual Property Disputes template you can open, customize, and download on GitLaw. It gives you a professionally structured starting point, so you never have to draft from a blank page. The wording is plain and modern, organized into clear sections that are easy to read, edit, and adapt to your own situation before you share or sign it.
When should you use it?
Reach for this Intellectual Property Disputes template whenever you need a reliable agreement quickly and want to be sure the essentials are covered. It suits individuals, freelancers, startups, and established businesses alike. Instead of paying for a document drafted from scratch, you can start here, tailor the details to your arrangement, and have a polished draft ready in minutes. This version is drafted with United States of America in mind, though you should always review the final wording against the laws that apply to you.
What's typically included?
A well-drafted Intellectual Property Disputes usually sets out the parties involved, the scope of the agreement, and each side's rights and responsibilities. Expect sections covering key terms and definitions, how long the agreement lasts, how it can be ended, and what happens if something goes wrong. This template brings those building blocks together in a sensible order, so you can focus on the specifics rather than worrying about what to include. Open it to read the full document, then sign up to edit, negotiate, and e-sign it directly in GitLaw.