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.
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.
