f.i.p.t.. f ellowship i ntellectual p roperty t rust

F.I.P.T.

F.I.P.T.FELLOWSHIP

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TRUST

What is it ?

Why is it needed and who watches over it ?

As a member, don’t I have the right to make copies ?

But what about Logos and trademarks ?

Can the groups, areas or regions post literature on the internet ?

What happens if the F.I.P.T is not followed?

What is it ?

FIPT is the legal document that outlines (in detail) the relationship between Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. and the Fellowship as a whole

Why is it needed and who watches over it ?

This is so all of NA's property remains the property of the Fellowship

NAWS is the holder of the copyrights and is accountable to the fellowship via the Regional Delegates

As a member, don’t I have the right to make copies ?

As a general rule, no one has the authority to reproduce NA Fellowship-approved recovery literature without prior written permission from Narcotics Anonymous World Services.

However, NA groups and only NA groups should have the authority to reproduce fellowship-approved recovery literature for internal use.

So what CAN registered service bodies make copies of and for what reasons ?

Groups can make copies for use internally;

IP’s to give to members if out

(not to reproduce in bulk)Portions of other literature

(step study, etc..)

But what about Logos and trademarks ?

Only registered service bodies, groups, and vendors licensed by NAWS have legal rights to use NA logos and trademarks because they are accountable to the owners of those symbols—the NA Fellowship.

This includes the Internet, flyers, merchandise, banners, etc.

Can the groups, areas or regions post literature on the internet ?

NAWS is the sole publisher of NA recovery literature and for that reason no other person or group is allowed to produce or post NA literature anywhere.

What happens if the F.I.P.T is not followed?

When NA literature is posted by anyone but NAWS it puts the copyright for NA literature at risk. You can create a link directly to the literature as posted on na.org

This includes websites/list servers that send out NA literature (or portions of it) via email on a regular basis.

What happens if the F.I.P.T is not followed??

There is a "use-it-or-lose-it" policy when it comes to trademarks.

If NAWS does not use the trademark on a particular type of item (e.g., jewelry, apparel, etc.), then the Fellowship could lose ownership of the trademark on that type of product.

Seriously?!?

Has that ever happened where an organization has “lost” its trademark?

Yes many!

FINAL THOUGHTS F.I.P.T. is there to protect our

literature, logos and trademarks

Groups CAN reproduce pieces of literature for internal use only

For more information go to:

www.naws.org/fipt

and read bulletins 1-5

or contact your Regional Delegates

F.I.P.T.

LET’S PROTECT OUR LITERATURE