Ghost trademark policy

Version 2.0 — 14 Aug 2025

This trademark policy was prepared to help you understand how to use the trademarks, service marks and logos of Ghost Foundation, with Ghost Foundation's open source publishing platform.

While our software is available under a free and open source software license, that copyright license does not include a license to use our trademark and logo ("marks"), and this policy is intended to explain how to use our marks consistent with all applicable law and community expectation.

Trademark rights protect everyone, not just the company that owns them. They help us make sure that potential customers and users understand who is providing software and services, and who is responsible for their quality control.

This policy covers:

  • Our registered trademark and service mark: Ghost®
  • Our logo: This policy covers all of Ghost Foundation's marks, whether they are registered or not.

1. General guidelines

Whenever you use one of our marks, you must always do so in a way that does not mislead anyone about what they are getting and from whom. For example, you cannot say you are distributing the Ghost software when you're distributing a modified version of it, because recipients may not understand the differences between your modified version and our own.

You also cannot use our logo on your website in a way that suggests that your website is an official website or that we endorse your website.

You can, though, say you like the Ghost software, that you participate in the Ghost community, that you are providing an unmodified version of the Ghost software.

You may not use or register our marks, or variations of them as part of your own trademark, service mark, domain name, company name, trade name, product name or service name.

Trademark law does not allow your use of names or trademarks that are too similar to ours. You therefore may not use an obvious variation of any of our marks or any phonetic equivalent, foreign language equivalent, takeoff, or abbreviation for a similar or compatible product or service. We would consider the following too similar to one of our marks:

  • MyGhost
  • GhostConnector
  • Ghost Cloud
  • Managed Ghost
  • Hosted Ghost
  • Variations in other languages (e.g., Fantasma, Geist, Esprit)

2. Acceptable uses

Unmodified code

When you redistribute an unmodified copy of our software — the exact form in which we make it available — you must retain the marks we have placed on the software to identify your redistribution.

Modified code

If you distribute a modified version of our software, you must remove all of our logos from it. You may use our word marks, but not our logos, to truthfully describe the origin of the software that you are providing. For example, if the code you are distributing is a modification of our software, you may say, "This software is derived from the source code for Ghost."

Statements about compatibility

You may use the word mark, but not the logo, to truthfully describe the relationship between your software and ours. Any other use may imply that we have certified or approved your software. If you wish to use our logo, please contact us at the email address below to discuss license terms.

Naming compatible products

Do not prefix your offering with "Ghost." Use a trailing descriptor instead.

  • Not allowed: Ghost Hosting, Ghost Analytics, Ghost Toolkit.
  • Allowed: Hosting for Ghost, Analytics for Ghost, Toolkit for Ghost.

When using an allowed trailing descriptor for your product or service, you may call your software "[XYZ] for Ghost" only if:

  • Any/all versions of the Ghost software you deliver with your product are the exact releases provided by us.
  • Your product is fully compatible with the then-current APIs for the Ghost software.
  • You include the required trademark legend (see Section 5)

Managed services

We consider managed services provided by others to be a separate product from our own, because the quality of managed services depends on more than our software. So, you may refer to your own managed service providing Ghost software as long as your use is consistent with all relevant licenses from Ghost Foundation and:

  • You do not use the logo on your managed service.
  • Your product is fully compatible with the then current APIs for the Ghost software.
  • You make it clear that Ghost Foundation is not the source of the service.
  • You do not imply that Ghost Foundation sponsors or approves your service.

Therefore, you might say, "XYZ is a fully managed cloud service for Ghost", and include the required trademark legend (see Section 5).

Professional services

If you provide maintenance, consulting, training or support for Ghost software, you must make it clear that the services are not provided by Ghost Foundation. For example, you can offer "Support for Ghost software" but not "Ghost Support".

User groups & meetups

You can use the word mark as part of your user group name provided that:

  • The main focus of the group is our software
  • The group does not make a profit
  • Any charge to attend meetings are to cover the cost of the venue, food and drink only

You are not authorized to conduct a conference using our marks.

Publications and educational materials

You may use our word marks in the title of publications such as books, articles, tutorials, or training materials, provided that:

  • The use is referential and not misleading
  • The publication is not published by or affiliated with Ghost Foundation
  • You include a disclaimer stating: "This publication is independent of and not affiliated with, authorized, sponsored, or approved by Ghost Foundation"
  • You do not use our logo on the cover without written permission

3. Restricted uses requiring permission

You must not use the Ghost marks in any of the following ways without a written license from the Ghost Foundation:

  • Domain names. You need permission to register or use a domain name that contains a Ghost mark in it. Do not register a domain that looks or sounds similar to a Ghost mark or includes a misspelled Ghost mark, because that can confuse Ghost users.
  • Social handles & app/package slugs. Account names, handles, organization names, repository names, package IDs, or slugs in app stores or directories
  • App store listings. Use of the marks in listing titles, publisher names, icons, or promotional assets.
  • Advertising & paid placements. Use of the marks in ad creative, headlines, captions, thumbnails, or placements (including search, social, display, CTV/TV, print, and out-of-home).
  • Movies & TV shows. Use of the marks in titles, credits, dialogue, set dressing/props, product placement, or any promotional materials.
  • Commercial merchandise. Any physical or digital goods (e.g., apparel, stickers, mugs, NFTs) bearing the marks.

4. Prohibited uses

Mirror sites and content reproduction

You may not create mirror sites or reproduce Ghost documentation in a way that:

  • Implies it is the official Ghost website or documentation
  • Confuses users about the source of the content
  • Fails to clearly indicate it is a third-party mirror
  • Does not link back to the official Ghost website

Misleading uses

You may never use our marks in a way that:

  • Suggests Ghost Foundation's endorsement of your product or service
  • Implies an official partnership that doesn't exist
  • Confuses users about the origin of products or services
  • Damages the reputation of Ghost or its community

5. How to display our marks

When you have the right to use our marks, here is how to display them.

Trademark marking and legends

The first or most prominent mention of a mark on a webpage, document, or documentation should be accompanied by a symbol indicating whether the mark is a registered trademark (®) or an unregistered trademark (™).

  • Ghost® (registered trademark)
  • Ghost Logo™ (unregistered trademark)

Place the following notice at the foot of the page where you have used the mark: "Ghost is a trademark of Ghost Foundation - https://ghost.org"

Use of trademarks in text

Always use trademarks in their exact form with the correct spelling, neither abbreviated, hyphenated, or combined with any other word or words.

  • Correct: Ghost®
  • Incorrect: GHOST, GHost, Ghost-CMS, Ghost-platform, Ghost®Platform

Use of logo

You may not change our logo except to scale it. This means you may not add decorative elements, change the colors, change the proportions, distort it, add elements, or combine it with other logos.

International use

This policy applies to the use of Ghost marks worldwide. When using Ghost marks in non-English contexts:

  • Do not translate "Ghost" into other languages as a trademark
  • You may translate descriptive text about Ghost software
  • Follow local laws regarding trademark use in your jurisdiction
  • Use the English "Ghost" mark even in non-English content

6. Reporting violations and enforcement

Community role in trademark protection

We rely on our community to help protect Ghost trademarks. If you encounter potential trademark misuse, please report it to us.

How to report violations

To report suspected trademark violations, email info@ghost.org with:

  • URL or location of the suspected violation
  • Description of how the mark is being used
  • Why you believe it violates this policy
  • Screenshots or other documentation (if available)
  • Your contact information (optional)

Revoking permissions

We reserve the right to revoke permission to use our marks if:

  • The use no longer complies with this policy
  • The use damages Ghost's reputation
  • The user fails to correct violations after notice
  • The use creates confusion in the marketplace

7. Questions and license requests

If you have questions about this policy, wish to discuss a license to use our trademarks that is not consistent with this policy, or want to report a violation of this policy, please contact us at info@ghost.org.

For license requests, please include:

  • Your name and organization
  • Description of intended use
  • Duration of use
  • Geographic scope
  • Whether the use is commercial or non-commercial

Your application's approval will be considered based primarily on whether the product or service in question...

  • Is clearly differentiated and not confusing to Ghost users
  • Promotes Ghost usage and adoption around the world
  • Is released under an open source license compatible with Ghost's license
  • Is created by significant contributors to the Ghost open source project
  • Has a positive impact on the overall Ghost community

8. Acceptance of this policy

By using any Ghost marks, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this trademark policy. Any use of our marks constitutes acceptance of and agreement to comply with this policy. If you do not agree with these terms, you may not use Ghost marks except as permitted by law (such as nominative fair use).

We may update this policy from time to time, and it is your responsibility to check this policy periodically for changes. Continued use of our marks after any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. The version number and date at the top of this document indicate when the policy was last updated.

These guidelines are based on the Model Trademark Guidelines, available at http://www.modeltrademarkguidelines.org, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US.