SFT

These guidelines apply to all persons who use our marks. That firstly means licensees who agree to follow these protocols; and secondly we hope people who refer to our products in articles or news reports, as well as consultants, outside vendors, and other third parties, will use this page to identify our trademarks.

The presentation of trademarks on this site is not an exhaustive list. The omission of a mark from this site should not be considered an indication that Snap Film Technologies does not use the mark, and does not constitute a waiver of any intellectual property rights that Snap Film Technologies may have in the mark.

Trademark & information Resources for Licensees:
trademarks, graphics, key information; protocols for use

"Us", "we", "our" etc. here means the owners of intellectual property described in WO 0249928 and related filings. "Snap" can be used to mean the same.

We have designed this protocol in our business interests, as well as Licensees' interests: we believe that Licensees will also benefit from this protocol because it ensures clear and accurate association of tradename with the product you have Licensed, it enables contact, and it thus contributes to the utility of the IP at the core of this business.

The Licensee is responsible for ensuring that the proper names are used and protocols followed, whether in their own manufacture or in manufacture contracted by them.
Snap requires that Licensees shall not: usurp the trade meanings of any of the tradenames and trademarks described here; nor usurp their association with the products for which we designate them; nor imply by their use ownership of the IP that is licensed from Snap. Use or development of any unauthorised tradename or trademark in any of these prohibited senses shall be deemed a transfer of Licensee's interest in that unauthorised name or mark to Snap, but nevertheless for the purposes of the License and this Protocol that transfer shall not imply authorisation by Snap of Licensee to use, and use may be subject to penalties including revokation of License.

None of this prevents, and indeed Snap encourages, Licensees' use of their own tradenames as manufacturers/suppliers/vendors, and using their trade names prominently on product and packaging.

All names and graphics pertaining to SNAP products are copyright©. Graphic files are JPEG or GIF or as noted. Please download to incorporate into your printed matter. If you need modifications or graphics that are not on the site, please ask.

These tradenames, and trademarks are made available here for Licensees' purposes of marketing SNAP!™ products under License and according to our protocols. Some are for direct inclusion on product & related printed materials, some are more suited to use in brochures/catalogs. If the resource you need is not here, please ask us.

FIELD NAMES for categories of information back to top this section as page

For convenience each type of information is given a Field name with a 3-letter acronym. Information can exist in written form, for some there is a preferred graphic form, and in one case it is neither (punched-hole indicia on Xbags). See protocols to decide whether graphic or written form is required. Generally: graphic form is required where feasible and reasonable (e.g., in colour-printed packaging the graphic form would be required, on an unprinted bag neither is required); written form acceptable on transaction documents and such materials not seen by final user.

All information is subject to revisions as provided by SNAP!™, so check the web site regularly.

key: ACRONYM: its name: what it is, and/or where to find it or link to it

FNL: family name/logo: Presently FNL = SNAP!™, graphic device (preference in order: colour , monochrome , line , text); always include "™"
PNL: appropriate product name/logo, include "™" *see NAMES*. Note that Licensees are not permitted to create or use or develop product tradenames other than those authorised; such use results in immediate transfer of rights in the unauthorised tradename to us.
SCI: short contact etc. information: Presently SCI = "www.snapopen.com".
PAT: patent information: Presently "pat. WO 0249928". [all SNAP™ products: included on printed packaging and product, catalogs, brochures]
LMI: Licensee and Manufacturer identification, or if existing printing does not adequately identify Lic. and Mfr., use agreed code* printed in readable plain print, and if this is on a printed product please send two clear samples (two bags), which if they are produced on a roll, stack, or wicket etc. shall be sent attached together. Also include either a batch number or a date. Format as "MLI-S42-C31-031123" where S42 is replaced by Licensee code, C31 replaced by Mfr code (or "x" if Mfr name, address & contact info given instead), and 031123 is the date as YYMMDD. Licensee and Manufacturer codes are those issued by us (Snap Film Technologies).
FIVEFIELDS: this set includes key items 1 to 5, which can be presented any way you like, as a list or as a convenient cluster unobtrusively on the packaging or on-product printing.
IHO: indication of how to open (see each product for suggested forms of this indication). May be indicia for product, or other printing for product and/or packaging *see product info*
GNT: Guarantee. The guarantee "first time every time™" is made easily achievable with this technology, and it is a powerful marketing tool for Licensees to capture new market. Licensees are required to appropriately monitor their procedures to make this guarantee meaningful, and they are required to support this guarantee, whether or not the Licensee explicitly includes it in advertising or packaging, to all of their (Licensee's) customers. Where explicitly printed the guarantee should be accompanied by Manufacturer/Marketer contact information. We recommend using this guarantee as a marketing tool; we reserve the right to require its inclusion in printing but for the time being we are making the printing a Licensee choice. (Any alternative wording of a guarantee or promise having the same effect is prohibited, but if an alternative is used notwithstanding this prohibition then [1] Licensee's rights in that alternative shall automatically and immediately be surrendered by Licensee to SNAP and [2] the Licensee shall assume any legal liability arising from any third party claim to rights in it or from Licensee's infringement thereof.) The guarantee can appear in any style, size, colour, etc., provided that it has a decent appearance, according to the prominence Licensee wishes to give it.
SLO: slogans. Some of these will be available on the web site. If you wish to use a particular slogan not on the web site, please obtain approval. All slogans become the property of SNAP, but SNAP at its discretion may reserve them for the use of the proposing Licensee for a time if they are highly original and do not derive obviously from statements existing in SNAP's literature and web site(s). No Licensee shall use a slogan reserved for another by SNAP.
(*Licensees: your license will include your code, and if you are manufacturer also then include "MFR" after your code. Manufacturers making product under customer's license: include MFR identification and if possible contact information, or ask us for a special code.)
(*see product protocols* For PNL and IHO see section under each product, because there are unique PNL/IHO for each product. Use of alternative product logos/names is strongly discouraged and requires advance approval from us. Licensees consent that any alternative that is used results in automatic and immediate surrender, to Licensor, of all rights you otherwise possessed in that alternative in any and all countries.)

Why the labelling requirements?

Good labellling helps promote the product, so it is beneficial for all concerned.

The principle governing labelling is that each user is given the best opportunity to recognise the product, and given (especially in the introductory years) the best opportunity to see how to operate it. We acknowledge that much of the market is for unprinted product or packaging, but we do require that if product or packaging is printed then our protocols for labelling are followed. The IHO (InstructionsHowtoOpen) is more important in the adoption stages of the product than later when everybody knows it.

Shoppers using a printed in-store service bags (produce, bulk sales bins, checkout, etc.) should be able to see the SNAP!™ logo (FNL) alerting them to the ease-of-opening feature, as well as the simpler logo (PNL) identifying the particular SNAP!™ product, and indication of how to open (IHO), and store/department managers' access to the product is improved by including contact information (SCI).

Users of retail products (e.g. trash bags) should see on printed products AND/OR on the packaging of unprinted products the SNAP!™ logo (FNL) alerting them to the ease-of-opening feature, as well as the product logo (PNL) identifying the particular SNAP!™ product. Purchasing managers' access to the product is improved by including contact information (SCI).

Corporate buyers should see on all transaction documents the written forms of the SNAP!™ logo (FNL) and the particular product's logo (PNL). SCI should be included.

NAMES, family and product back to top

The SNAP!™ family and its products are identified by the following NAMES in serif type Times New Roman or similar font. (There are logos corresponding to some names, and there are graphic devices to help explain use of some products.)

Family(FNL)/Product(PNL) NAME	used for which PRODUCTs	notes for NAME text style to be used when possible**
SNAP!™ or SNAP™ (FNL)	ALL products, the "FAMILY" name/logo (FNL).	italicised, bold or not, uppercase (FNL)
Zbag™	side-gusset bags	italicised, 'Z' uppercase and bold (PNL)
Xbag™	flat bags	italicised, 'X' uppercase and bold (PNL)
*MULTI*pack™	with 2 easily opened pockets for kits etc.	italicised, 'MULTI' uppercase and bold (PNL)
*AUTO*pack™	for fully machine-openable bags, with 4 graspable points, in filling applications etc.	italicised, 'AUTO' uppercase and bold (PNL)

** font styles bold and italics required only on consumer-visible printed product and printed packaging; plain text for invoices etc. but please respect CASE and include "™" or "(tm)". I.e., unstyled text is permissible where styled text is unfeasible (e.g. invoices, transaction documents, labels written by machinery incapable of styles), but printed materials, catalogs, brochures, letters can and should use the styled-text form.

For the logos, see NAME/LOGO/GRAPHIC files

PROTOCOLS for when/where to use what names/graphics/devices on products and associated materials back to top

The Licensee is responsible for ensuring that the protocols are properly followed. Contact us for clarification any time. Definitions: "Printed" means printing on product or as on a retail-like printed package; "unprinted" does not exclude "labelled" i.e. supplied with a stick-on, taped-on, stencilled-on, inkjet-printed label. "Readable" means that a photocopy should also be readable.

product unprinted
product printed
packaging retail (printed)
packaging wholesale (unprinted, but usually labelled)
transaction documents
catalogs and brochures (taken to include advertising copy)

On product, unprinted, there is no obligation to create printing for SNAP!™'s purposes alone. back to protocols... ...top

See the relevant sections (packaging, catalogs & advertising, etc.)
On each carton of unprinted product, or in the carton, or both, there should be IHO adequate to inform the user.
If the unprinted product is Xbags™, include punched-hole (etc.) indicia on the bags, and packaging should include the matching descriptive IHO in written or graphic form. There is no obligation to create printing for SNAP!™'s purposes alone.

On product, printed, include FNL, PNL, IHO, SCI, PAT, LMI. back to protocols... ...top

FNL: must be in graphic form* and adjacent to PNL. (*If the colours you are using are not consistent with what we offer here, please contact us indicating the colours you are printing in and we will advise on the best match to fit with those colours.)
PNL: If graphic form is not available, text 12 point minimum, please observe the character styles as given for each product name/logo.
IHO: see under each product
SCI: readable text 10 point minimum.
PAT: readable text 8 point minimum.
LMI: readable text 8 point minimum.
GNT: the guarantee "first time every time"™ is recommended, and should be accompanied by Manufacturer/Marketer contact information.
For example (for Zbag™) IHO would be near the mouth of the bag:

Anywhere convenient on the packaging is the other information, which we can call FIVEFIELDS for convenience, comprising: FNL (line or any authorized colour configuration), PNL, PAT, SCI and LMI. This could be anywhere on the bag (or package if the bag is unprinted), discreetly near the recycling symbols, etc., in a space about 50mm wide and 30 mm high. You don't have to follow this arrangement exactly, it is a suggestion, and as noted you can include any other tracking information you wish. The layout could be as for the packaging example below.

On packaging, retail, printed: back to protocols... ...top

Some products have printing directly on them. Most retail products have printed packaging. All products have invoices etc. that refer to them.

IHO: see under each product, for colour retail packaging

FIVEFIELDS, comprising the following fields:

FNL: graphic form* and adjacent to PNL.
PNL: If graphic form is not available, text 12 point minimum, please observe the character styles as given for each product name/logo.
SCI: readable text 10 point minimum.
PAT: readable text 8 point minimum.
LMI: readable text 8 point minimum.

For example, using IHO based on punched holes* at the tabs of an Xbag™, here is all the required information. This would be on the front of the box, would visibly attract the shopper to the product at the same time as explaining how to operate it. This would occupy less than 1/3 of the width and height of the front of your box/package. (*The punch-hole indicia show where the top of the bag is, show where to grip the bag, and they function as a trademark; also they are an easy device to incorporate into the Xbag™.)

• <------ grip at holes & tug ------> • ™
opens first time, every time!

Xbag^{™

pat W0 0249928}

www.snapopen.com
LMI-S42-C31-031123

On packaging*, wholesale: back to protocols... ...top

(*cartons, labels, etc. for a SNAP™ product; we acknowledge that wholesale packaging may not be printed but will usually if not always be labelled; no special printing on cartons aggregating multiple purchased† products (†means excluding samples, gifts, items invoiced at zero cost))
IHO: optional except where wholesale packaging of UNprinted product is the sole opportunity to remind the produce manager (etc.) of the best way to open the bags. Use your judgement, consider including a few instruction sheets/notes/sticky labels (it's in your interests that the customer's employees know how to get the best benefit from your bags, so they'll come back for more and even spread the news).
FNL: written form sufficient, and adjacent to PNL.
PNL: written form sufficient but where possible please observe the character styles as given for each product name/logo.
SCI: readable, need be mentioned only once per document
PAT: optional (nevertheless, once per document will help protect your market)
LMI: on orders 10 kg and over, readable. (On smaller orders under 10 kg, LMI can be omitted)

E.g.: "Item: SNAP!™ Zbag™ (T-style, x mm high X x mm wide, rolls of xxx per roll, cardboard core x mm, printed as per order xxx, HDPE, xx gauge) LMI-S42-C31-031123"

On transaction documents (invoices, purchase orders, etc.): back to protocols... ...top

FNL: written form sufficient, and adjacent to PNL.
PNL: written form sufficient but where possible please observe the character styles as given for each product name/logo.
IHO: --na-- except where document is for UNprinted product and document is the sole opportunity to remind the produce manager (etc.) of the best way to open the bags; use your judgement, consider including a few instruction sheets/notes/sticky labels (in your interests)
SCI: readable
PAT: readable
LMI: on orders 10 kg and over, readable. (On smaller orders under 10 kg, LMI can be omitted)

E.g.: "Item: SNAP!™ Zbag™ (T-style, x mm high X x mm wide, rolls of xxx per roll, cardboard core x mm, printed as per order xxx, HDPE, xx gauge)"

In catalogs (web or paper), brochures, advertising: back to protocols... ...top

FNL: in graphic form if possible and adjacent to PNL. (*If the colours you are using are not consistent with what we offer here, please contact us indicating the colours you are printing in and we will advise on the best match to fit with those colours.)
PNL: graphic form or written form text 12 point minimum, please observe the character styles as given for each product name/logo.
IHO: as sufficient to advise catalog shopper/browser of the nature and ease of use of the product
SCI: readable. May omit in flyer advertising.
PAT: optional (it's in your interests to notify your customer that you are licensed for the product, because your competitors may not be)
LMI: --na--

Introduction

FIELD NAMES for categories of information back to top this section as page

NAMES, family and product back to top

PROTOCOLS for when/where to use what names/graphics/devices on products and associated materials back to top