BCG currently uses several service and certification marks. Our name, Board for Certification of Genealogists, and certification marks, Certified Genealogist and CG, are trademarks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Our credentials Certified Genealogical Lecturer, its acronym, CGL, Certified Genetic Genealogist, and its acronym, CGG, are service marks. If a mark is not registered with the USPTO, the trademark owner may not legally use the ® symbol in connection with the mark.
The following provides guidance about acceptable practices and uses—the methods of using and displaying all marks other than the newly registered certification marks remain the same as previously suggested; see, e.g., Michael S. Ramage, “A Primer on the Use of BCG Trademarks,” OnBoard 17 (May 2011): 1; and latest version of The BCG Application Guide (Washington, D.C.: Board for Certification of Genealogists).
Use by Editors
Where a single publication may contain references to credentials conferred by a number of organizations, BCG suggests a notice like the following be included in the front matter, acknowledging intellectual property rights in credential designations of each body:
Genealogical Credentials: CG and Certified Genealogist are registered service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. CGL, Certified Genealogical Lecturer, CGG and Certified Genetic Genealogist are common law service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Accredited Genealogist and AG are registered service marks of the International Commission for Accreditation of Professional Genealogists. Individuals are licensed to use the credential designations after meeting the competency standards of those organizations. FASG identifies fellows of the American Society of Genealogists, an honorary society limited to fifty living members chosen for the quality of their published genealogical scholarship. Fellowship in other societies awarded based on scholarship, rather than service or support to the society, may also be recognized by a postnominal designation incorporating the society’s initials.
In cases where only BCG-credentialed individuals are cited the notice may be shortened as:
CG, Certified Genealogist are registered service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation. CGL, Certified Genealogical Lecturer, CGG and Certified Genetic Genealogist are common law service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation.
The proper use of BCG’s credentials by board certificants will strengthen its marks and reduce the workload of BCG’s Intellectual Property Committee that polices the proper use by BCG’s certificants and third parties.
Use by BCG Associates
Use in Text or Speech
It is not proper usage to state, “I am a Certified Genealogist,” as that is a generic usage. On the other hand, it is proper usage to state, “I am Certified Genealogist John Doe,” “I am Jane Doe, Certified Genealogist,” or “I hold a Certified Genealogist credential.”
Use in Stationery
Examples of proper listing of this credential in letterhead:
John Doe
Certified Genealogist, CG®, CGGSM
Jane Doe, CG®, CGLSM
When we use the superscript ®, it is not necessary to provide any further notice of who owns the marks. If an associate prefers to not use the superscript abbreviations, they may be omitted if an appropriate notice is placed in a footer on the page when the postnominal first appears. The following notices are examples of acceptable usage:
“Certified Genealogist” is a registered service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, used under license by authorized associates following peer-reviewed competency evaluations. Certificate No. XX, renewed, expires 3 January 2029.
CG and Certified Genealogist are registered service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation, and the board name is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. CGL and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are common law service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluation.
Note that when the ® symbol is used, the phrase “and the board name is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office” is not required as this would be redundant.
Use in Email and Websites
When your e-mail program and website support superscript and symbols, the same rules apply as with stationery. However, when your e-mail program and website do not support superscript and symbols, the following practices are acceptable:
Instead of superscripting the registration symbol, place it in parentheses, as in (R). Instead of superscripting the unregistered service mark symbol, place it in parentheses, as in (SM).
Instead of placing the symbol ® after BCG’s name, substitute (R) or the phrase “and the board name is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.”