Throughout the world, thousands of customers recognize and select SAP based on the company’s trademarks, which signify high-quality products and related services. Without these trademarks, consumers would not be able to distinguish SAP offerings from those of other companies, nor would they be able to immediately recognize the professional quality of offerings that SAP trademarks represent. Therefore, it is critically important to protect trademarks of SAP and affiliate companies by following these usage guidelines.
A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination thereof that identifies unique ownership. Unregistered or pending trademarks bear the ™ symbol. Registered trademarks carry the ® symbol. A list of current SAP trademarks, both registered and pending, are available on SAP Brand Tools and externally on SAP.com. Use these names and their symbols according to the guidelines that follow.
In general, trademarks are required for communications that you can expect to be printed (including PDFs). Web applications, mobile sites, or other on-screen presentations where the low resolution of the medium renders the symbol illegible, do not require trademark usage. However, a link to the copyright site on SAP.com must be included in the masthead (Impressum), template, or About statement. This is the case with the corporate Microsoft PowerPoint template, which has its own copyright boilerplate at the end and takes the place of using trademarks on individual slides. Do not delete the copyright boilerplate slide(s) in the PPT template; you can simply hide them.
To ensure correct use of SAP trademarks, follow these guidelines. For correct spelling and capitalization, see the current Trademark List.
X |
Sap® software; sap® software |
√ |
SAP® software |
X |
SAP Hana®; |
√ |
SAP HANA® |
X |
You can use SAP® to manage your enterprise. |
√ |
You can use SAP® solutions to manage your enterprise. |
Examples of common-noun descriptors are “software,” “solution,” “application,” and “platform.” Examples of correct use are “SAP® software” and “SAP HANA® platform.” Always use an appropriate descriptor. See the current trademark list for SAP trademarks and their applicable descriptors.
If repeated inclusion of the ™ or ® symbol is awkward or impractical, at a minimum you must include the symbol and the common-noun descriptor upon the first use of the trademark in the title (if the name appears in the title) and in the text. Subsequent to this initial use, the symbol and descriptor need not appear with the name.
Note: In high-level marketing materials for events, advertising, invitations, or in online banners and social media posts, for example, it may not be practical or standard to include the trademark in a call to action or headline. If this is the case, apply trademark attribution at the first opportunity in body copy. In standard marketing and communications, such as solution brief or success story, apply trademarks at first mention in title and text.
√ |
SAP HANA® helps companies align IT with their business in real time. SAP HANA allows companies to … |
In this context, you communicate SAP® software, SAP® service, SAP® offering, SAP® package, SAP® application, SAP® solution, SAP® component, SAP® technology, SAP® tool, and so on. The trademark symbol is only required at first mention in title and text. In some cases, for event or advertising materials, the trademark is sufficient on first mention in body text only.
Do not add the trademark symbol ® in statements such as “SAP announced today,” “SAP provides solutions to customers,” and “the SAP development team.” Similarly, you can use the possessive form “SAP’s” when referring to the company, not to the brand. For example, you can communicate “SAP’s vision,” “SAP’s market share,” and “SAP’s years of experience.” In many cases, the possessive is not necessary: “SAP employees work extremely hard.”
Self-test: Ask yourself, “Am I referring to the corporation/company, or to an SAP-brand offering or service?” If you are referring to an SAP branded offering or service, use the ® symbol.
X |
The company has three |
√ |
SAP® software; |
X |
SAP’s HANA®; SAP HANA®’s |
√ |
SAP HANA® |
X |
The company has three active |
√ |
The company has three systems running the SAP® Business ByDesign® solution. |
X |
The company has three systems running the SAP® Business ByDesign.® |
√ |
The company has three systems running the SAP® Business ByDesign®. |
For these offerings, you do not need to add the ® symbol after “SAP,” since the entire name is a registered trademark. With these names, use the ® symbol after the entire name at first mention: SAP Fiori®, SAP HANA®, SAP Business One®.
√ |
SAP offers a comprehensive set of solutions for oil and gas companies of all sizes operating in various business segments. SAP for Oil & Gas solutions address needs from wellhead to retail outlet and allow companies to be globally integrated while regionally focused. SAP® solutions help companies build strong relationships with supply chain partners, improve decision making, and enhance organizational flexibility. |
√ |
SAP® for Automotive Conference |