On the Use of ICD Marks
The Council does not manufacture. It does not sell. It does not advertise. What it produces, in the course of its work, are marks — and marks, once in circulation, require governance.
This page exists because someone used one incorrectly. It now exists for everyone.
The ICD Mark
The ICD mark — including the Council's name, initials, seal, and any certification badge issued under Form 1-A — is the property of the International Council of Drinkware.
It means one thing: the Council has reviewed something and found it consistent with the Framework. It does not mean the Council endorses the product, the producer, the price, or the decision to purchase. It means the vessel is what it claims to be.
Using the mark to imply anything beyond that is misuse. The Council will note it.
Authorised Use
The ICD mark may be displayed on any vessel that has received ICD Advisory Certification under Form 1-A. Display is at the discretion of the applicant. It is not required.
The mark must appear in connection with the certified vessel. It may not appear on vessels whose certification has been revoked. Revocation is public and permanent.
Unauthorised Use
The following constitutes misuse of the ICD mark:
- Displaying the mark on a vessel that has not received Form 1-A certification
- Implying ICD endorsement of a product, service, or producer not listed in the Register
- Modifying the mark in any way that alters its meaning or origin
- Using the mark to suggest a classification that the Council has not issued
- Using the Council's name or initials in a manner that could mislead a reasonable person into believing an affiliation exists where none does
The Council does not fine. It does not litigate. What it does is maintain a public record — and a public record of misuse is, in the Council's experience, sufficient.
On Confusion
The Council is aware that its marks carry weight precisely because they are rare. That weight is not accidental. It is the product of rigorous, consistent, unhurried work.
A mark that appears everywhere means nothing. A mark that appears only where it has been earned means something.
The Council protects its marks not out of commercial interest — it has none — but out of obligation to the people who rely on them to mean what they say.
If you are unsure whether your use is authorised, it is probably not. You may write to the Council. The Council will respond in the order received, with the thoroughness the subject deserves.