SWIFT Trademark Guidelines

November 2008 version

1 Introduction

SWIFT has a worldwide reputation for the security, availability and resilience of its network, products and services.

The SWIFT trademarks are important vehicles of that reputation and, as such, are protected as valuable assets by SWIFT.

Any improper or unauthorised use of the SWIFT trademarks is likely to affect that reputation.

These guidelines explain to which extent third parties may obtain permission to use SWIFT trademarks.

Third parties are invited to consult these guidelines. No use of SWIFT trademarks is permitted without SWIFT’s prior permission.

Questions about the use of the SWIFT trademarks should be addressed to the Legal Department.

2 SWIFT Trademarks

In this document, the term ‘SWIFT trademarks’ means all registered trademarks, non registered trademarks, trade names and company names owned by SWIFT.
All SWIFT trademarks are owned by S.W.I.F.T. SCRL, Avenue Adèle 1, 1310 La Hulpe, Belgium.

2.1 S.W.I.F.T. and SWIFT

Both S.W.I.F.T. (with dots) and SWIFT (without dots) are used to identify the company.

2.1.1 S.W.I.F.T.

S.W.I.F.T. is protected as a company name and a trade name and is also registered as a trademark in many countries.

The Articles of Association define the company name as Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication and its abbreviation as S.W.I.F.T.

S.W.I.F.T. is used when referring to S.W.I.F.T. SCRL.

2.1.2 SWIFT

SWIFT is protected as a trade name and registered as a trademark in many countries.
It is commonly used when referring to either S.W.I.F.T. SCRL or the SWIFT group (S.W.I.F.T. SCRL, its branches and subsidiaries).

2.2 Registered product and service names

SWIFT has registered its main product and service names on an extensive basis worldwide. The SWIFT product and service names registered as trademarks are:
  • SWIFTNet
  • SWIFTAlliance
  • SWIFTStandards
  • SWIFTReady
  • Accord
  • Sibos

2.3 Registered signs

SWIFT has registered the following signs as trademarks on an extensive basis worldwide:
  • the SWIFT logo

The only permitted use of the SWIFT logo by a third party is under one of the licence programs listed below (Section 5).

SWIFT DOES NOT AUTHORISE ANY USE OF THIS SIGN BY THIRD PARTIES.

2.4 Other product and service names

Other SWIFT product and service names are protected as trade names only and, in countries where this is available, also as non-registered trademarks.

Examples are:

  • SWIFTSolutions
  • SWIFTSupport
  • SWIFTWatch

3 Restricted Uses

Except as indicated in these guidelines or as permitted by licence, third parties may not use names or signs identical or similar to SWIFT trademarks in a manner which creates confusion as to the origin of the products and services offered under those names or signs, nor in a manner which affects or takes unfair advantage of the distinctive nature or reputation of SWIFT trademarks.

In particular, SWIFT does not authorise any use of its trademarks that might induce SWIFT customers to erroneously believe that:

  • such third party is part of the SWIFT group or constitutes a SWIFT representative office
  • there is a partnership, joint venture or any other commercial connection between such third party and SWIFT
  • the third-party products and services are developed or supplied by SWIFT, under its control, or jointly with that third party
  • the third party was authorised, by licence or otherwise, to use the SWIFT trademarks
  • SWIFT is responsible for the quality of the third-party products and services.

To illustrate these principles, SWIFT trademarks cannot, without prior permission, either in whole, in part or in combination with other names or signs:

  • be used to designate a third-party product or service, including software
  • be registered as trademarks by a third party
  • be used as a third-party company name
  • be registered or used as domain names by a third party.
SWIFT reserves the right to take all necessary action against any use of its trademarks which does not comply with the present guidelines.

4 Authorised Referencing

4.1 General

As a general rule, SWIFT trademarks may be used by a third-party where it is necessary to indicate the intended purpose of a third-party product or service.

To illustrate this principle, third parties may refer to SWIFT trademarks:
  • when such reference is needed to indicate the compatibility of their products or services with SWIFT products and services, for example in their technical documentation, advertising materials or website, and
  • when such reference is in practice the only means to provide the public with comprehensible and complete information on the intended purposes of their products and services, for example by adding ‘for SWIFTNet’ or ‘over SWIFTNet’ to the name of their interface or business solution.
To be authorised, such referencing must:
  • be made in a neutral and objective manner and in accordance with honest business practices,
  • not create any risk or confusion regarding the origin of the third-party and the SWIFT product or service or regarding the independence between the third-party and SWIFT,
  • not emphasize the SWIFT trademark in any way or manner (colour, font or size) presenting it as the prevailing element in the product or service name, and
  • be made in a descriptive manner, i.e. by referring to the SWIFT products and services as being offered by SWIFT. When the reference is made in documentation, advertising materials or on a website, it should be accompanied with the acknowledgment: 

"[referenced SWIFT trademark] is a trademark of S.W.I.F.T. SCRL".

Such authorised referencing does not entail any warranty or certification by SWIFT regarding the quality of the third-party product or service, and SWIFT waives any liability in that respect, nor does it entitle the third party to any other rights, title, or licence to the SWIFT trademarks.

4.2 SWIFTStandards

SWIFTStandards is the overarching name for standards products, tools and services that SWIFT delivers to the SWIFT community.

In particular, the term SWIFTStandards covers any message-based standard or component thereof, developed by or for SWIFT, including the related business model, messages, message flows and documentation, whether in draft or final form.

The trademark SWIFTStandards may be used when referring to FIN messages and to XML messages developed in accordance with the approach defined in UNIFI (ISO 20022).

Messages developed by or for other organisations than SWIFT in accordance with the approach defined in ISO 15022 or UNIFI (ISO 20022) are not SWIFTStandards, but may be selected for use on SWIFTNet and, as such, be included in the SWIFTStandards documentation. The trademark SWIFTStandards may not be used in relation to those messages.

For more information, please consult our SWIFTStandards End-User License Agreement

5 Licence Programmes

Under various programmes, SWIFT grants contracting parties the right to use SWIFT trademarks.

Only parties that satisfy the eligibility criteria of these programmes may benefit from these trademark licences. For the eligibility criteria of a particular programme, please refer to the applicable SWIFT documentation.The licence programmes are listed below.

5.1 Qualification Programme

Under the SWIFTNet Interface Qualification Programme, SWIFT verifies whether third-party interfaces meet certain technical and other requirements.

When an interface is successfully qualified, SWIFT grants its vendor the right to use the SWIFTNet trademark, together with the indication of the type of qualified interface and applicable SWIFTNet release.

For example, a FIN interface qualified for the SWIFTNet 6 release may refer to its qualified status as:

“SWIFTNet FIN Interface qualified for SWIFTNet 6”.

The eligibility criteria for this programme and the conditions for use of the trademark are defined in the SWIFTNet Interface Qualification Programme Subscription Agreement.

For more information about this programme, please consult the Interface Qualification section.

5.2 Label Programme

The SWIFT label programme applies to third-party applications that support SWIFT functionality and messages, or integrate into SWIFTAlliance interfaces.When a third-party application meets the conditions of the label programme, SWIFT grants that vendor the right to use a specific title and logo for its application.

There are two types of labels granted:

SWIFTReady applications:

SWIFTReady services:

The eligibility criteria to use these SWIFTReady labels are defined in the SWIFT Label Agreement.

The conditions for use of these trademarks are defined in the Guidelines for use of the SWIFTReady and/or SWIFTNet Ready titles and logos.

For more information, please visit the Partner section.

5.3 Registered Vendors Framework

5.3.1 SWIFT registered vendors

The Partner Programme is open to vendors wishing to provide SWIFT-related solutions, products or services, which require co-operation with SWIFT.

The eligibility criteria and conditions for use of the partner title are defined in the SWIFT Solution Partners Programme – Terms and Conditions.

For more information, please consult the Partner section .

5.3.2 SWIFTReady service provider

The SWIFTReady services programme is open to vendors wishing to deliver onsite technical services with experts certified by SWIFT.

SWIFT grants accredited service providers the right to use the ‘SWIFTReady service provider’ title and logo:

The criteria for eligibility are defined in the SWIFT Partner Programme – Terms and Conditions.

The conditions for use of the title and logo are defined in the Guidelines for use of the SWIFT Service Partner title and logo.

For more information, please consult the Partner section.

5.3.3 SWIFT Regional and Global Partner

SWIFT regional partners are responsible for the promotion and remarketing of SWIFT products and services to SWIFT Customers. They also provide product installation services and integration works. Some regional partners hold SWIFT training courses within their territory or offer local Helpdesk services to SWIFT Customers.

SWIFT grants regional partners the right to use the ‘SWIFT regional partner’ title and logo:

The criteria for eligibility are defined in the agreement with the SWIFT Business Partner.

For more information, please consult the Partner section.

Global partners are selected based on mutual need and fit, strategic importance of jointly delivered value, close
commercial working relationship with joint target initiatives.

SWIFT grants global partners the right to use the ‘SWIFT global partner’ title and logo:

5.4 National Member Groups and National User Groups

SWIFT grants National Member and User Goups the right to use the National Member, Group or National User Group title and logo.

The conditions for use of the title and logo are defined in the Guidelines for the use of the SWIFT National Member and User Group logo, available on request from the Legal Department.

5.5 Sibos Exhibitors

The ‘Sibos’ trademark designates SWIFT’s annual conference for the worldwide financial community. It originally stood for SWIFT International Banking Operations Seminar. It has since grown to include the entire financial industry, including securities, trade and treasury.

Sibos is entirely written in lower case (sibos) when used in combination with the logo, and as a proper noun (Sibos) when used without the logo. Sibos is not written in capital letters (SIBOS). SWIFT grants companies who register as exhibitor to Sibos the right to use the Sibos official exhibitor logo:

 

The conditions to register as Sibos exhibitor and to use the Official exhibitor logo are defined in the Sibos Exhibition Booking Form.