The Fiber Optic Association

  The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.
the non-profit professional association of fiber optics

Policy On Use Of FOA Intellectual Property


The FOA Knowledge Base For Fiber Optics & Cabling
Since it began in 1995, the FOA has been developing an extensive knowledge base for fiber optics. Until we began, most information on fiber optics was in the form of academic textbooks, not appropriate for installers and contractors, and application notes from manufacturers on their specific products. The FOA focus was on the practical side of fiber optics, the design, installation and operation of fiber optic communications networks.

By tapping the knowledge of dozens of technical experts worldwide who were working in the field and training other fiber techs, the FOA has created an extensive knowledge base on fiber optics and premises cabling that is probably the largest of its kind in the world. FOA has published this material online and printed in textbooks. With the advent of YouTube, we created an FOA channel (thefoainc) and began uploading instructional videos, now over 100, including more than 70 short lectures on fiber optic topics. This knowledge base also allowed FOA to create the Fiber U online learning website which now includes more than two dozen free online self study courses. And the FOA network of worldwide experts has also worked to create fiber optic curriculum resources which are made available at no cost to appropriate organizations.

The FOA knowledge base is widely used. About 1/2 million users download ~4 million pages from the FOA guide every year. The FOA YouTube videos have been viewed ~3 million times. And the FOA textbooks are used to train fiber optic techs around the world -  in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Fiber U's free online learning programs have over 20,000 sessions per month.

All the FOA material in our knowledge base - web pages, photos and diagrams, videos, textbooks and online learning programs, etc. - are intellectual property owned by the FOA - a nonprofit educational organization - and covered by copyright and other relevant laws covering intellectual property.


Usage Policy For FOA Copyrighted Materials:
The FOA Online Reference Guide, Textbooks, Videos on YouTube and Fiber U contain much information relevant to fiber optics and communications. The FOA has prepared this information as a technically correct, non-commercial reference guide to fiber optics and cabling for free use by everyone in the industry - the only costs are for the printed textbooks. However, all FOA materials, including text and graphics, are copyrighted and subject to legal restrictions on its use.

Here are some guidelines on the us of FOA copyrighted material:

  • You may link to any FOA material from other websites with no permission required.
  • The FOA is generally glad to grant permission on request to allow the material to be used for reference, education, etc. on a non-commercial basis as long as the source (FOA) is identified and no claims are made that FOA endorses the user, their products or services.
  • However, the online or printed FOA material may not be copied and posted on any other website without the permission of the FOA.
  • FOA does not allow the commercial use of its copyrighted material to promote any company or organization.


By non-commercial use with attribution, we mean:

  • Non-commercial use means the material is not reproduced in any media (print, electronic files, posted online, etc.) and sold or used in commercial activities which may include marketing or training for payment (except by FOA Approved Schools for FOA Certification classes.)
  • The material may be printed or copied in small quantities for non-commercial use in presentations, training handouts or other uses internal to an organization with no permission required as long as attribution such as this is included: "Reproduced from the Fiber Optic Association Online Reference Guide. www.foa.org".

Use of the copyrighted FOA material is prohibited for commercial use, which includes:

 
  • Use for any commercial purposes, including in activities which may include marketing, training for payment (except at FOA Approved schools), reproduction on other websites, advertisements, promotional brochures or in any materials promoting a company or organizations products or services is prohibited without specific permission for that use.
  • Reproduction in other websites or other publications such as magazines, books, newsletters, etc., in print or electronic, is forbidden without specific permission for each individual use.
  • Reproduction in any form that is sold or used in any other commercial manner is forbidden without specific permission for that use.
  • Use of the FOA or Fiber U logo or trademarks without permission is forbidden.
  • Implying FOA endorsement is strictly forbidden.


The Fiber Optic Association

Use of the FOA Logo
The FOA logo is a registered trademark of the FOA, as is the Fiber U logo. The FOA permits those with certain affiliations to the FOA to use the appropriate logo, always displaying the registered trademark symbol. The permissible uses include:

  • Schools, Certified Techs and Corporate Members who are currently in good standing with the FOA are permitted to use the FOA logo.
  • FOA Approved Schools may use the FOA logo that says they are approved by the FOA as long as their status is current. Should they no longer be approved, they must remove the logo from their website and all other relevant materials, online or printed.
  • FOA certified fiber techs (CFOT, CPCT, etc.) may display the appropriate FOA logo on their business cards, literature, website, or vehicles.
  • FOA Corporate Members may display the appropriate FOA logo on their business cards, literature, website, or vehicles.


Proper use of the logos is the responsibility of the school, certified individual or corporate member.   The FOA assumes no liability for the use of these logos or the actions of those displaying them. The FOA reserves the right to revoke permission to use the FOA logo at its discretion.

Contact the FOA for graphic files of the appropriate logo.


If you have questions regarding the use of this material, contact the FOA: info@foa.org or 1-760-451-3655


"Fiber U," the FOA and Fiber U logos and "CFOT" are registered trademarks of the FOA.


Table of Contents: The FOA Reference Guide To Fiber Optics


 


(C)1999-2022, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.