Trademark & Copyrights

Trademark and Copyrights Notices

GIA does not permit anyone outside of the Institute to make trademark use of its trademarks and logos.

GIA does not object to your making descriptive, non-trademark use of its name (but not logos), provided that the use is not likely to cause confusion, mistake, deception, or create the false impression that you or any other non-GIA entity or its product is affiliated with, connected to, associated with, approved by, or sponsored by GIA.

Names, Trademarks and Copyrights

GIA's names and logos, like those of most organizations, are valid trademarks and service marks and as such may not be used in your advertising except as described here. The same is true for all of our intellectual property (including all GIA publications, our educational course materials and certain reports and other materials created and/or owned by GIA, the GIA Laboratory, and GIA Instruments) which may be used only by obtaining prior written consent from GIA and by giving copyright credit to GIA.

Copyrighted works of GIA authorship are owned or licensed by GIA, and may not be copied, reproduced, transmitted, displayed, performed, distributed, rented, sublicensed, altered, stored for subsequent use or otherwise used in whole or in part in any manner without GIA's prior express written consent.

Some specific examples of our trademarks include, but are not limited to: GIA, Gemological Institute of America, the GIA seal, Diamond Dossier, the GIA Trio logo, Gems & Gemology, Gem Trade Laboratory, the Gem Trade Laboratory Trio logo, the Gem Trade Laboratory seal, "The Hallmark of Integrity Since 1949," GTL, GEM, the Gem Instruments Trio logo, the Gem Instruments seal, "Quality, Precision and Innovation Since 1934", "The World's Foremost Authority in Gemology," and "The Nonprofit Educational Institution of the Jewelry Industry Since 1931."

Some specific examples of our copyrighted works include, but are not limited to: GIA Education Materials, Publications, Design, Text and Visual Images, Audio and Video Recordings], Gems & Gemology journal, The Loupe GIA World News, GIA Insider, GIA's Diamond Grading Report, Colored Diamond Grading Report, Colored Diamond Identification and Origin Report, and Gem Identification Report.

FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY USAGE REQUESTS, please write or e-mail: guidelines@gia.edu

Using the GIA Name in Advertising

Acceptable Usage

Anyone is free to make truthful and factual textual references to GIA and its education, research, laboratory services, academic credentials, and grading and identification reports, provided such references are not likely to cause confusion, mistake, or deception, or imply an affiliation with, connection to, or association between GIA and the organization making the references or its products.

Unacceptable Usage

The following are examples of unacceptable usage which have appeared, either in newspapers, in telephone yellow pages advertising text, on stationery letterhead, or on business cards:

GIA Appraiser
GIA Certified
GIA Certified Diamond Appraiser
GIA Certified Diamonds
GIA Diamond
Certified GIA Appraisals
Certified GIA Appraiser
Certified Graduate Gemologist
Member, Gemological Institute of America
Member, GIA Gem Trade Laboratory

Each of the above examples implies some form of GIA approval of or GIA involvement in the business of the individual or firm using the statements or falsely and/or erroneously describes the services offered by GIA.

Certification

We have identified the following incorrect practices1) references to GIA Reports as "certificates"; and 2) the statement that students, graduates, their businesses, or particular gemstones are "certified" by GIA.

The Gemological Institute of America does not certify anyone or anything. Neither a student nor a graduate who has been awarded a certificate or diploma, nor a gem which has been graded or identified by GIA has been "certified" by GIA.

Former GIA instructors, technical staff or administrators may not advertise their previous GIA employment status or years of service (past or present) in any type of advertising and/or other printed materials.

Usage Guidelines for GIA Laboratory Reports

Clients of the GIA Laboratory and end users who may sell products with such reports may reproduce an actual report for a product the client/seller owns. It must represent the composition and content of the actual report. It may not be edited or altered in any manner.

You may electronically scan and mount on your website or transmit via e-mail an actual report for a product the client/seller owns. The image must represent the composition and content of the actual report. It may not be edited or altered in any manner.

Usage Guidelines for Academic Credentials and Other Uses

GIA's Usage Guidelines for Academic Credentials and Other Uses - printable version

Applicability

These usage guidelines apply to all current and former students of the Gemological Institute of America, Inc. and its related entities (collectively referred to as GIA).

Usage Guidelines for Academic Credentials

The academic credentials earned at GIA are respected by gem and jewelry professionals around the world. They are the internationally understood symbol for the highest standard of education in the fields of gemology, jewelry manufacturing arts, and jewelry business.

It is both appropriate and customary for recipients of GIA certificates and diplomas to signal their achievement by appending the relevant academic designation to the end of their name. It should be noted, however, that GIA alumni are required to abide by specific standards of usage.

While the following examples do not reference every certificate and diploma offered by the Institute, they should help you determine how GIA’s Usage Guidelines for Academic Credentials apply to you.

General Usage

You may reproduce your GIA diploma, certificate, or letter of completion in its entirety for inclusion in promotional material and business cards. Note that when a credential is advertised it must be used in association with the recipient’s name, and the advertisement must not in any way state or imply an affiliation with, or endorsement by GIA.

Diplomas

The following examples refer to the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree and the Jewelry Business Management (JBM) diploma:

John Doe, Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Jane Doe, Jewelry Business Management (GIA) or JBM (GIA)

The following examples refer to the Accredited Jewelry Professional (A.J.P.), Gemologist, Graduate Gemologist (G.G.), Applied Jewelry Arts (A.J.A.), and Graduate Jeweler (G.J.) diplomas:

John Doe, Accredited Jewelry Professional (GIA), or John Doe, A.J.P. (GIA)
Jane Doe, Gemologist (GIA)
John Doe, Graduate Gemologist (GIA), or John Doe, G.G. (GIA)
Jane Doe, Applied Jewelry Arts (GIA), or Jane Doe, A.J.A. (GIA)
John Doe, Graduate Jeweler (GIA), or John Doe, G.J. (GIA)
Jane Doe, A.J.P., G.G. (GIA)
John Doe, G.G., G.J. (GIA)

The following examples refer to the Graduate Diamonds, Graduate Colored Stones, and Graduate Pearls diplomas:

Jane Doe, GIA Diamonds Graduate
John Doe, GIA Colored Stones Graduate
John Doe, GIA Pearls Graduate

Names, Trademarks, and Copyrights

GIA’s names and logos, like those of most organizations, are valid trademarks and as such may not be used in your advertising except as described herein. The same is true for GIA’s copyrighted materials (including all GIA publications, course materials, certain printed forms used by GIA, the GIA Laboratory, and GIA Instruments) which may be used only by obtaining prior written consent from GIA. Some specific examples of GIA’s trademarks and copyrighted material that may NOT be used in your advertising without prior consent are:

Gemological Institute of America its logo: GIA
GIA Laboratory and its logo
GIA Laboratory Grading and Identification Reports, including but not limited to GIA Diamond
Grading Report, GIA Diamond Dossier®, GIA Identification Report, and GIA Colored Diamond
Identification and Origin Report
GIA Instruments and its logo
GIA Education materials and publications in any medium including but not limited to print, web, video, or audio.
Gems & Gemology quarterly journal and its logo

Unauthorized Usage

It is an unauthorized use of GIA’s name to imply that GIA and/or its subsidiaries directly or indirectly certify, sponsor, or approve any individual or private business including its employees, products, services, or prices. Our policy is clear: GIA does not certify any person, business, or thing. Therefore, GIA does not authorize use of the word "certify" or any derivative in conjunction with the GIA name and products in advertising.

Examples of unacceptable usage include: GIA Certified; GIA Certified Diamond Appraiser; GIA Certified Diamonds; GIA Diamond; Certified GIA Appraisals; Certified Graduate Gemologist; Member, Gemological Institute of America; Member, GIA Laboratory.

Because GIA is an educational and research institution, it is not allowed to participate in, or endorse, private business. GIA must also avoid the appearance of doing so, or its standing with the regulating and accrediting authorities could be jeopardized.

Finally, former GIA staff, including instructors, technical staff, and administrators, may not advertise their former GIA employment status or years of service (past or present) in any type of advertising and/or other printed or electronic materials.

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