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Brand Guidelines

These Brand Guidelines apply to all awards programs owned, operated, or administered by Inbound Systems, Inc. (“Inbound Systems,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

They govern the use of awards-program names, logos, badges, graphics, winner marks, nominee and finalist graphics, and related brand assets.

Use of any Inbound Systems awards-program branding constitutes acceptance of these Guidelines.

1. Official Brand Assets

Only official brand assets provided or authorized by Inbound Systems may be used.

These may include:

  • Nominee badges
  • Finalist badges
  • Winner badges
  • Regional Winner badges
  • Voting graphics
  • Social-media graphics
  • Promotional graphics
  • Award-program names and marks

Businesses and other Candidates may not create substitute, imitation, or unofficial versions that could reasonably be mistaken for official Inbound Systems branding.

2. Standalone Awards-Program Logos

The standalone logo of an Inbound Systems awards program may not be used without our express written permission.

Permission to use a Nominee, Finalist, Winner, voting, or other promotional badge does not include permission to use the standalone awards-program logo.

3. Badge Use

Candidates may use official badges and graphics provided by Inbound Systems for the status actually awarded to them.

Badges must be used substantially as provided.

Without prior written permission, users may not:

  • alter the wording;
  • remove or change the award year;
  • change an award designation;
  • materially change colors or graphic elements;
  • remove required branding;
  • combine the badge with another graphic in a misleading way;
  • create a modified badge implying a different status; or
  • otherwise alter the badge in a manner that could misrepresent the recognition received.

Reasonable resizing is permitted so long as the badge remains legible and is not distorted.

4. Nominee and Finalist Branding

Nominee and Finalist recognition is temporary.

Permission to use Nominee and Finalist branding expires when Winners for the applicable award cycle are officially announced, unless Inbound Systems expressly authorizes continued use.

After Winner announcements, a Candidate that did not receive Winner recognition must discontinue use of Nominee or Finalist graphics for that award cycle.

5. Winner Branding

Winner recognition may be promoted indefinitely for the specific year and designation actually awarded.

For example, a Candidate recognized as a 2027 Gold Winner may continue to advertise that 2027 recognition in future years.

Historical Winner branding must not be presented in a manner that falsely implies that the Candidate is a current-year Winner.

6. Accurate Award Claims

Candidates may only make claims that accurately reflect the recognition actually awarded.

Examples of potentially misleading or prohibited claims include:

  • claiming to be “#1” when no #1 designation was awarded;
  • claiming to be the sole Winner when multiple Winner levels were awarded;
  • claiming a different category from the category actually awarded;
  • claiming a different market, region, or year;
  • claiming Gold when Silver or Bronze was awarded;
  • implying Winner status when only Nominee or Finalist status was awarded; or
  • implying current Winner status based solely on a historical award.

Any descriptive language used alongside official branding must remain truthful and consistent with the official award result.

7. Use in Advertising and Marketing

Authorized brand assets may generally be used in:

  • websites;
  • social-media posts;
  • email;
  • digital advertising;
  • print advertising;
  • signage;
  • packaging;
  • menus;
  • vehicles;
  • business cards;
  • presentations; and
  • other promotional materials.

Use must not imply a broader endorsement, certification, accreditation, guarantee, or business relationship with Inbound Systems beyond the actual award recognition.

8. Candidate Name and Business Changes

Award recognition is generally associated with the Candidate that earned it.

If a Candidate later changes its name, is acquired, merges, reorganizes, or is succeeded by another business, historical Winner recognition may be transferred to the successor only with Inbound Systems’ approval.

Approval may depend on continuity of ownership, operations, brand identity, location, services, or other relevant factors.

9. Multiple Locations

Where an award applies to a business with multiple locations, the Winner or recognition mark may be used only in a manner consistent with the actual scope of the award.

A business may not represent an award as applying to locations, entities, or operations that were not included in the recognition unless authorized by Inbound Systems.

10. No Transfer or Sublicensing

Permission to use an official award badge or graphic is granted only to the Candidate or authorized successor associated with the recognition.

Brand assets may not be sold, transferred, sublicensed, or provided to another business for independent use without written permission.

Advertising agencies, printers, designers, and other vendors may reproduce authorized assets solely on behalf of the authorized Candidate.

11. Intellectual Property

Awards-program names, logos, badges, designs, graphics, trademarks, service marks, and related brand assets are owned by or licensed to Inbound Systems.

Except for the limited permissions expressly provided in these Guidelines, no ownership rights or broader license are granted.

Inbound Systems reserves all rights not expressly granted.

12. Misuse and Enforcement

Inbound Systems may require the correction, removal, or discontinuation of any use of its brand assets that we determine is:

  • unauthorized;
  • inaccurate;
  • misleading;
  • altered without permission;
  • inconsistent with the recognition awarded;
  • harmful to the awards program;
  • likely to create confusion; or
  • otherwise inconsistent with these Guidelines.

We may revoke permission to use an award badge or other brand asset if it is used improperly.

Failure to enforce these Guidelines in one instance does not waive our right to enforce them later.

13. Requests for Permission

Requests to use a standalone awards-program logo, modify an official badge, transfer recognition to a successor, or make another use not expressly permitted by these Guidelines must receive written approval from Inbound Systems before use.

14. Relationship to Awards Program Rules

Award status, eligibility, scoring, Winner selection, corrections, and related program administration are governed by the applicable Awards Program Rules.

These Brand Guidelines govern only the use of awards-program branding and related intellectual property.

15. Updates to These Guidelines

Inbound Systems reserves the right, in its sole discretion and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to revise, interpret, supplement, clarify, replace, or otherwise modify these Brand Guidelines at any time, with or without prior notice.

The version then published by Inbound Systems will control.

Users of Inbound Systems brand assets are responsible for reviewing the then-current Guidelines.