Open Source Summit North America · Jun 23-25 · Denver, CO REGISTER TODAY

Search

    Join

    Accrediting Academic Computing Programs Terms & Conditions

    aaa_logo_062624a

    Last Updated: November 7, 2024

    This document sets forth the terms and conditions that apply to the Accreditation Program and use of the Conformance Marks.

    In this document, these terms have the following meanings:

    • “Conformance Marks” means (1) the mark “Linux Foundation Accrediting Academic Computer Programs” and (2) all other logos and marks described in the Branding Guide, as defined herein;
    • “LF Marks” means The Linux Foundation, CNCF and OpenSSF trademarks and the trademarks of the. Projects they host;
    • “Curriculum Accreditation Program” and “Accreditation Program” mean the conformance, testing and trademark usage program described in this document;
    • “Institution” means the academic institution that is permitted to use one or more of the Conformance Marks in association with the academic program described in its Application, pursuant to the Accreditation Program; and
    • “Approved Academic Programs” means an Institution’s academic programs described in its Application that are conformant pursuant to requirements set forth in the Application, where the completed Application has been accepted by The Linux Foundation as described below.

    Related Documents

    Together with these terms and conditions, the following documents are part of the Accreditation Program, each as updated from time to time:

    Introduction

    The Conformance Marks and the LF Marks are trademarks of The Linux Foundation. The Linux Foundation requires that third parties who use the Conformance Marks in association with their academic offerings may do so only with Approved Academic Programs pursuant to the Accreditation Program described in this document. By participating in the Accreditation Program and by using the Conformance Marks, an Institution acknowledges that third parties will be relying on the ongoing accuracy of the information it includes in the Application and on its compliance with the terms of the Accreditation Program.

    Institution Requirements

    In order to be an Institution in the Accreditation Program and to use the Conformance Marks, an Institution must do the following:

    1. Identify Degree Program: determine those of its degree programs with which it intends to use the Conformance Marks;
    2. Apply: Complete and submit a signed Application to The Linux Foundation;
    3. Successful Review: receive from the Accreditation Program confirmation that the degree program described in the Application meets the requirements and that it is approved as an Approved Academic Program; and
    4. Ongoing Compliance: continue to abide by the terms and conditions of the Accreditation Program throughout the period of the Institution’s use of the Conformance Marks, including without limitation the specific requirements described below.

    Identify Degree Program

    The Institution should complete the Application and provide the information requested therein. The Application contains the detailed requirements of the Accreditation Program. By submitting a signed Application, an Institution confirms that the information it provides is complete and accurate. Institutions should use specific details on each course described in the Application that will be part of an Approved Academic Program, if approved. 

    Eligible Versions. An Approved Academic Program may be initially qualified for the then-current requirements set forth in an Application. If there are new requirements set forth in an Application at the end of the approved term, the Institution should reapply with the new Application.

    Apply

    The Institution must submit a completed and signed Application pursuant to the instructions on the form. 

    Successful Review

    The Application will be reviewed by the applicable Program review committee, which may request corrections to the Application or ask for additional information.  The committee’s decision on whether to approve a submitted Application is final. 

    Ongoing Compliance

    Confirmation. The Program committee may request additional details about the Institution’s Approved Academic Program at any time to determine if the Approved Academic Program should continue to be designated an Approved Academic Program.  If the Program Committee determines that the Approved Academic Program does not meet the applicable requirements, then, upon written notice from the Program committee, the Institution must address any non-conformance concerns raised in the notice within 30 days. Otherwise, the Institution will be subject to the requirements to remove the Conformance Marks set forth herein.

    Changes to Approved Academic Programs. If an Institution subsequently modifies an Approved Academic Program, then the Institution must submit a new Application describing its then-current Academic Program. Otherwise, the Institution’s permitted usage time period will be deemed expired and will be subject to the requirements to remove the Conformance Marks set forth herein.

    Use of the Conformance Marks

    The Linux Foundation hereby grants each Institution a royalty-free, non-sublicensable (except as set forth below) license to use and display the Conformance Marks in connection with the Approved Academic Programs. Use of the Conformance Marks is only permitted for Institutions who have satisfied the requirements of the Accreditation Program; is only permitted in connection with its Approved Academic Programs; and is only permitted for the usage time periods specified above. No other rights to use the Conformance Marks or the LF Marks are permitted hereunder, except to the extent permitted under “fair use” or other applicable law.

    All use of the Conformance Marks is subject to the Trademark Usage Guidelines, which are incorporated herein.

    Additionally, the following specific rules also apply to use of the Conformance Marks:

    • Do follow the requirements set forth in the Branding Guide when using the Conformance Marks.
    • Do specify the version of Project for which a Approved Academic Program has been tested, in a location near the Institution’s use of the Conformance Marks.
    • Do include appropriate notices of The Linux Foundation’s ownership of the Conformance Marks and the LF Marks. For example, include a notice such as: “[CONFORMANCE MARKS] are trademarks of The Linux Foundation.”
    • Do grant permission to your students who have successfully completed an Approved Academic Program to use the applicable Conformance Mark to communicate in resumes and other professional profiles that they have completed it.
    • Do not use the Conformance Marks except as permitted pursuant to the Accreditation Program’s terms. For example, do not use the Conformance Marks in connection with an academic offering that is not itself an Approved Academic Program, or with a formerly Approved Academic Program whose period of use has expired.
    • Do not be misleading about the nature or scope of certification or conformance. Do not state or imply that the Institution’s participation in the Accreditation Program constitutes The Linux Foundation’s, CNCF’s or OpenSSF’s endorsement of an Institution or its academic programs. For example, do not say that an Institution or an Approved Academic Program has been “certified by” The Linux Foundation, CNCF or OpenSSF, or that The Linux Foundation, CNCF or OpenSSF “has certified Product XYZ”.
    • Do not state or imply that there are different degrees of certification or conformance. For example, do not say that an Approved Academic Program is “more certified” than another, or that it was “certified before” another Institution. 

    Removal of the Conformance Marks at End of Participation. After the expiration of the permitted usage time period (if the Institution does not continue to ensure that it meets the then-current requirements) or other termination of participation in the Accreditation Program, an Institution may no longer use the Conformance Marks in new materials, and must remove the Conformance Marks from existing marketing materials and websites within 30 days.

    Institution Marks

    Each Institution hereby grants to The Linux Foundation a royalty-free, license to use and display the names and logos of Institution and its Approved Academic Programs (the “Institution Marks”) in connection with The Linux Foundation’s operation of the Accreditation Program and its marketing and promotion of Institution’s participation in the Accreditation Program. Each Institution represents and warrants that it possesses all rights necessary to make this license grant. The Linux Foundation will comply with any reasonable requirements regarding use of the Institution Marks about which the Institution notifies The Linux Foundation, and will correct any identified misuse within a reasonable time following Institution’s notification. Nothing in this section shall require The Linux Foundation to make any use of the Institution Marks. As between The Linux Foundation and Institution, any goodwill associated with the foregoing use of the Institution Marks shall inure to the benefit of the Institution.

    Term and Termination

    Term. The term of an Institution’s participation in the Accreditation Program shall begin upon The Linux Foundation’s approval of an Application, and shall terminate after 3 years.

    Termination. Either The Linux Foundation or the Institution may terminate Institution’s participation in the Accreditation Program upon written notice to the other. Additionally, Institution’s participation in the Accreditation Program shall automatically terminate (unless otherwise agreed by The Linux Foundation in writing) upon the occurrence of: (1) the Institution’s breach of the terms of the Accreditation Program, if such breach is incurable or, if curable, is not cured within 30 days thereafter; or (2) the expiration of the usage time period for all of the Institution’s Approved Academic Programs.

    Effect of Termination; Survival. Upon the termination of Institution’s participation in the Accreditation Program, the Institution may no longer use the Conformance Marks and must remove them from existing marketing materials and websites. The sections of this agreement entitled “Institution Marks,” “Disclaimer of Warranties,” “Limitation of Liability,”  and “Miscellaneous” shall survive any such termination.

    Disclaimer of Warranties

    THE LINUX FOUNDATION MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM, THE CONFORMANCE MARKS, EITHER TO INSTITUTION OR TO ANY THIRD PARTY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT OF ANY THIRD PARTY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. ANY DISCLAIMERS SET FORTH IN THE TRADEMARK USAGE GUIDELINES ARE ALSO DEEMED TO BE INCORPORATED HEREIN. AN INSTITUTION’S PARTICIPATION IN THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ANY FORM OF ENDORSEMENT BY THE LINUX FOUNDATION OF ANY INSTITUTION OR ITS APPROVED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, AND THE LINUX FOUNDATION MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT THERETO. THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM IS OFFERED “AS-IS”, “AS-AVAILABLE” AND “WITH ALL FAULTS.”

    Limitation of Liability

    TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE LINUX FOUNDATION SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM OR ANY INSTITUTION’S PARTICIPATION THEREIN. IF ANY DAMAGES ARE NOT EXCLUDED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW PURSUANT TO THE PRECEDING SENTENCE, THEN IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LINUX FOUNDATION’S LIABILITY FOR ANY SUCH DAMAGES EXCEED ANY FEES PAID TO THE LINUX FOUNDATION BY THE INSTITUTION SOLELY FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY ARE AN ESSENTIAL BASIS OF THE DECISION TO OFFER THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM AND THE INSTITUTION’S PARTICIPATION THEREIN, AND SHALL APPLY REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL THEORY UPON WHICH DAMAGES MAY BE CLAIMED; REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A PARTY KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES; AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY CAUSE ANY REMEDY TO FAIL IN ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

    Entire Agreement; Modifications

    These Terms and Conditions, together with the other documents referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between any Institution and The Linux Foundation regarding Institution’s participation in the Accreditation Program. These Terms and Conditions and the other documents referenced herein may be modified from time to time by The Linux Foundation, and updated versions will be placed on the Accreditation Program website. Institution’s continued participation in the Accreditation Program or continued use of the Conformance Marks constitutes Institution’s acceptance of all such modifications.

    Miscellaneous

    All notices to be sent to The Linux Foundation hereunder should be sent to legal@linuxfoundation.org, unless otherwise specified herein. The Accreditation Program Terms and Conditions are governed by the law of the State of California, without regard to its choice of law provisions, and any action arising hereunder shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in California. The Institution and The Linux Foundation agree that the Accreditation Program does not create a partnership or joint venture between them or any other Institution.

    Stay Connected with the Linux Foundation