About This Policy
SpoonieFans is a peer support and content subscription platform operated by Pickii Group, LLC. The SpoonieFans name, logo, design elements, and other brand assets (collectively, the "Brand Assets") are valuable identifiers of our Platform and our community. This policy explains who can use our Brand Assets, how they can be used, and what is not permitted.
We welcome accurate, respectful references to SpoonieFans by journalists, bloggers, creators, subscribers, researchers, and the broader chronic illness community. At the same time, we must protect our Brand Assets from misuse that could confuse the public, damage our reputation, or harm our community.
💚 Our Goal: We are not trying to be restrictive — we want to make sure people can talk about SpoonieFans accurately while preventing impersonation, scams, and misleading uses that could hurt our community.
Our Brand Assets
The following are trademarks, service marks, or protected brand assets of Pickii Group, LLC:
- The name "SpoonieFans" (word mark)
- The SpoonieFans logo and any stylized variations
- The SpoonieFans spoon icon (🥄) when used in connection with our Platform branding
- The "Pickii Group" name and logo
- Any taglines, slogans, or marketing phrases we use to identify the Platform
- Distinctive visual elements such as our color palette, typography choices, and design system when used together as brand identifiers
📌 Trademark Status Note: Some of the above marks are subject to pending trademark registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and may currently be protected under common law trademark rights. The use of the ™ symbol indicates a claimed trademark; the ® symbol will be used only after federal registration is granted.
The Spoon Theory Reference
The "Spoon Theory" metaphor was created by Christine Miserandino in 2003 and is not owned by SpoonieFans. Our use of "Spoonie" and spoon-related branding is a tribute to her work and the chronic illness community she helped name. We claim no ownership over the Spoon Theory itself, the word "spoonie" as a community identifier, or the general use of spoon imagery in chronic illness contexts.
Our trademark rights apply only to the specific compound mark "SpoonieFans" and our distinctive logos and brand identity.
Permitted Uses (No Permission Required)
You may use our Brand Assets without prior written permission for the following purposes, provided you follow the rules in Section 6 below:
Editorial & News Use
- News articles, blog posts, podcasts, and journalism that accurately reference SpoonieFans
- Reviews, opinion pieces, criticism, and commentary about SpoonieFans
- Academic research, white papers, and educational materials that reference our Platform
- Documentary content about chronic illness, creator economy platforms, or similar topics
Factual References
- Stating that you are a creator on SpoonieFans (e.g., "I post on SpoonieFans" or "Find me on SpoonieFans")
- Stating that you are a subscriber to a SpoonieFans creator
- Linking to SpoonieFans pages, profiles, or content from your own website or social media
- Mentioning SpoonieFans in your professional bio, resume, or portfolio
Press & Media
Journalists, podcasters, and other media professionals may use our official logo and approved screenshots in coverage of SpoonieFans. An official press kit with high-resolution logos and brand assets is available upon request from press@spooniefans.com.
Prohibited Uses
You may NOT use our Brand Assets in any of the following ways:
Impersonation & Confusion
- Creating accounts, websites, social media handles, or apps that impersonate SpoonieFans or appear to be officially affiliated with us
- Using our name or logo in domain names (e.g., spooniefans-login.com, getspooniefans.com, real-spooniefans.com)
- Using our Brand Assets in a way that suggests endorsement, partnership, sponsorship, or affiliation that does not exist
- Combining our Brand Assets with your own brand in a way that creates a false sense of partnership ("SpoonieFans + [Your Brand]")
- Using our name or logo as your profile picture, avatar, or display name on any platform
Modification & Misrepresentation
- Altering, distorting, recoloring, animating, or otherwise modifying our official logo
- Combining our logo with other logos, images, or text in a single composite mark
- Using outdated versions of our logo after we publish updated brand assets
- Translating our name into other languages (it remains "SpoonieFans" globally)
- Misspelling our name in ways that could mislead users (e.g., "SpoonyFans," "SpoonieFan," "SpoonieFans+")
Commercial Misuse
- Selling merchandise, apparel, stickers, accessories, or any physical or digital products bearing our Brand Assets without a written license
- Using our Brand Assets in advertising for products or services we have not endorsed
- Using our name or logo in NFTs, cryptocurrency tokens, or related blockchain assets
- Using our Brand Assets as the primary identifier of any product, service, app, or business other than SpoonieFans itself
- Registering trademarks, business names, or DBAs that include "SpoonieFans" or confusingly similar variations
Harmful or Misleading Uses
- Using our Brand Assets in connection with content that violates our Community Guidelines
- Using our name or logo in scams, phishing attempts, or fraudulent fundraising
- Implying that SpoonieFans endorses any specific medical treatment, cure, supplement, or healthcare provider
- Using our Brand Assets in adult content, pornography, or content that sexualizes chronic illness
- Using our Brand Assets in political campaigns or in ways that suggest a political affiliation
- Using our Brand Assets in ways that disparage, defame, or harm the chronic illness community
Search & Advertising Misuse
- Bidding on "SpoonieFans" or confusingly similar terms in search engine advertising (Google Ads, Bing Ads, etc.) to redirect traffic to competing services
- Using our Brand Assets as metadata, hidden keywords, or SEO terms on competing platforms
- Creating fake review sites or comparison sites that misrepresent SpoonieFans
Rules for Permitted Use
When using our Brand Assets under the Permitted Uses section, you must follow these rules:
- Correct spelling — Always spell our name as "SpoonieFans" — one word, capital S and capital F, no spaces or hyphens
- Visual integrity — When using our logo, do not stretch, recolor, rotate, or alter it in any way. Use the official version from our press kit.
- Clear space — Maintain reasonable space around our logo so it remains legible and visually distinct
- Grammar — When referring to us in writing, use "SpoonieFans" as a proper noun (not "the SpoonieFans") and as an adjective only when describing official products or services ("SpoonieFans creators," "SpoonieFans community")
- No false endorsement — Make it clear in context that your use is editorial, factual, or personal — not official or endorsed
- Disclaimer when needed — When in doubt, include a brief disclaimer such as "Not affiliated with or endorsed by SpoonieFans"
Fan Content & Creator Promotion
We love when our community celebrates SpoonieFans. Creators and subscribers are encouraged to:
- Mention SpoonieFans in their social media posts, bios, and promotional content
- Share screenshots of their own profile or content with the SpoonieFans interface visible
- Use phrases like "Find me on SpoonieFans," "Subscribe to me on SpoonieFans," or "I'm a SpoonieFans creator"
- Create "I support SpoonieFans" or "I'm a Spoonie" style personal content (without using our official logo as the primary visual)
However, fans and creators may NOT:
- Sell or distribute merchandise featuring the SpoonieFans logo without a written license
- Create unofficial SpoonieFans accounts on other platforms (TikTok, Instagram, etc.) — only the official SpoonieFans social accounts may use our name and logo
- Build third-party tools, apps, browser extensions, or services that use our Brand Assets in their name or branding without written permission
Official Partnerships & Licensing
If you would like to use our Brand Assets in a way that is not covered by the Permitted Uses section — including merchandise, co-branded marketing, integration partnerships, business development, or commercial collaborations — please contact us at partnerships@spooniefans.com to discuss licensing terms.
All commercial use of our Brand Assets requires a written agreement.
Reporting Misuse & Enforcement
How to Report
If you become aware of someone misusing the SpoonieFans brand, please report it to us:
Please include:
- A description of the misuse
- URLs, screenshots, or other evidence
- Your contact information (so we can follow up if needed)
Our Enforcement Approach
We take brand misuse seriously and will pursue enforcement when necessary. Our typical approach:
- Step 1 — Friendly outreach: Most misuse is unintentional. We will reach out, explain the issue, and ask the user to make changes.
- Step 2 — Formal notice: If the misuse continues, we will send a formal cease-and-desist letter through our legal team.
- Step 3 — Platform takedowns: For phishing sites, fake apps, and impersonation accounts, we will file takedown requests with hosting providers, app stores, social media platforms, and domain registrars.
- Step 4 — Legal action: For serious or commercial misuse, we will pursue trademark infringement claims under the Lanham Act and applicable state laws, including damages and attorneys' fees where available.
International Use
Our Brand Assets are protected under United States trademark law and may also be protected in other jurisdictions where we do business or have filed registrations. If you are outside the United States and wish to use our Brand Assets, the same rules in this policy apply, and additional local trademark laws may also apply.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Brand & Trademark Use Policy from time to time as our brand evolves and as our trademark registrations are granted. The "Last Updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be announced on our website.
Relationship to Other Policies
This policy works alongside our other documents: