Skype Trademark & Brand Guidelines
The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines on how to
use the Skype brand assets, which include:• trademarks such as the Skype logo, the Skype icon, and theSkype product name• the sounds you hear when using Skype (for example, Skypecalling sound)• Skype user interfaces (how Skype appears on your desktop ormobile device screen)
These guidelines apply only to Skype, not Skype for Business.
If you have a Skype for Business brand question, contact
Skype brand help.

Usage requirements
Thank you for your interest in using the Skype brand assets. We createdFinally, if the use is not covered in any of the above or you are not sure,the Skype Trademark & Brand Guidelines to manage and protect theyou may directly request a separate license from Microsoft. Such licensevalue of the brand. By using any of the Skype brand assets, you expressly

must be initiated and approved by the Microsoft business owner who

consent to be bound by these guidelines.

you are working with. If you do not have a business owner, contact

If you have an existing agreement with Microsoft or Skype, check thatfirst to determine if your desired use of Skype brand assets is covered. If
there is any conflict between these guidelines and the terms of youragreement, then the terms of your agreement will govern, and you
should follow those.
If no agreement exists or if the proposed use doesn’t fall within thescope of your existing agreement, check if the use falls within theMicrosoft Trademark & Brand Guidelines.

2Skype brand help to get started.

Skype logo and icon usage
Do not use the full Skype logo under any circumstances.

Skype logo

The Skype icon may be used per the following requirements anduses described in this document:
Do not alter the Skype icon in any way, including changing thecolors, angle, or dimensions.
Ensure the Skype icon stands out from the surrounding text orbackground and is legible.
Do not add sounds to the Skype icon experience.
If, when using the Skype icon or other brand assets as permitted,
you include a trademark credit to give notice of your own
trademarks or other third-party trademarks, add the following: “Allother trademarks are the property of their respective owners.”

3

Skype icon

Skype logo

Prohibited uses of Skype brand assets
You must not incorporate any of the Skype brand assets, or variations ofYou must not use the Skype brand assets in relation to products orthem, into your own product features, product names, service names,

services or on websites that may be considered sexually explicit, vulgar,trademarks, logos, company names, domain names, or social media

profane, or offensive; obscene, defamatory, libelous, slanderous, oraccounts unless otherwise permitted by the Microsoft Trademark &otherwise unlawful; or religiously or racially offensive or otherwise

Brand Guidelines.

promoting hate towards individuals or groups; or that violates any

You must not adopt marks, logos, or any other features that areconfusingly similar to the Skype brand assets, and you must not market

applicable laws or is otherwise objectionable to Skype, as determined by
Skype in its sole discretion.

any product or service under a name that is confusingly similar toYou must not use any Skype brand assets in any way that expresses orSkype products.

implies affiliation, association, sponsorship, endorsement, certification, or

You must not copy or imitate the Skype trade dress, “look and feel,” orapproval with or by Skype or Microsoft.

other identifiable and unique visual elements of the Skype brand assets

Make sure that any references to Skype are truthful, accurate, fair, andor www.skype.com website, including (but not limited to) the color

not misleading or in any way objectionable (as determined by Skype).

combinations, graphics, sounds, imagery, presence icons, typefaces, orstylization used by Skype (or anything similar thereto).

4You must not use any Skype trademark as a keyword or search term in orfor search advertisements.

Permitted uses of Skype brand assets
Use of the name “Skype” in copy
Follow the Microsoft Trademark & Brand Guidelines. Avoid using anylogo, icon, tagline, or other features of the Skype brand assets in copy.
While the name Skype and the app icon are registered trademarks of the“Skype provides Internet communications products.”“I use the Skype software.”“Let’s talk with Skype.”

Microsoft group of companies, there is no need to use the trademark

Incorrect usebug ™ or the ® symbol when using them, unless Microsoft has expressly“I use theasked you to do so. When using “Skype” or any other Skype trademark intext, do one or more of the following:• Capitalize the first letter of the name, Skype• Put the whole name in capital letters, SKYPE• Put the whole name in italics, Skype• Put the whole name in quotation marks, “Skype”
Use the Skype name only as an adjective or proper noun, not as a verb.

5Correct usesoftware.”“I’m going to Skype my friend.”“Let’s Skype.”

Permitted uses of Skype brand assets
Business stationery and Skype contact details
Follow the Microsoft Trademark & Brand Guidelines. Use theSkype app icon next to your Skype username to show that you canbe contacted via Skype.
Only the app icon should be used to denote Skype contact details.
The app icon should be small and placed appropriately with yourother contact methods (and no more prominently than other contactmethods).
You may also create an official “contact me” button.

6Correct use[your Skype name]Permitted uses of Skype brand assets
Websites that offer lessons

School reports and projects

The Skype name may be used only to communicate that lessons can be

You may use images of Skype products in reports for school or college/

provided using the Skype app. No other uses are allowed unlessuniversity. If the images contain third-party content (e.g. third-party

permitted under these guidelines.

logos, photos, etc.) then you may need additional permission from theYou may mention “Skype” in copy, but be sure to follow Permitted uses

third party to use such content.

of Skype Brand Assets elsewhere in this section. Use of the name

If these projects may be published, you must get permission bycannot imply affiliation, association, sponsorship, endorsement,contacting Skype brand help before using any of the Skype brandcertification, or approval with or by Skype or Microsoft. Microsoft mayassets or images.

withdraw the right to use the Skype name where, in its sole discretion, itdeems that such use may have a detrimental effect on the Skype brand.

7Permitted uses of Skype brand assets
Publications, seminars, and conferences

Broadcasts, movies, and podcasts

Refer to the Microsoft Trademark & Brand Guidelines and theIf you want to use Skype in a broadcast, movie, or podcast, you may be

Publications, Seminars, & Conferences Guidelines.

required to use certain Skype brand assets to indicate this use. Unless

You must include the following notice in legible print:“[List the Skype brand assets being used] [is/are] [a] trademark or otherintellectual property of the Microsoft group of companies and [name ofpublication] is not affiliated, sponsored, authorized, or otherwise
associated with or by the Microsoft group of companies.”
Don’t use the Skype name as the leading word or most prominentelement in your publication, seminar, or conference title.

8you have a separate agreement with Microsoft or Skype that allows suchuse, you must follow the Broadcast Terms of Service.
For all broadcast requests, contact Skype brand help.

Permitted uses of Skype brand assets
Use by developers
Desktop API: Use of the Skype Desktop API is subject to yourYou must regularly monitor these websites to ensure that your use

agreement of the Skype Desktop API Terms of Use. Subject to those

conforms to any guidelines or terms.

terms and these rules, you are then permitted to refer to your product’s
compatibility with Skype.
Using URIs to build Skype actions: You may use the sample URIs
available at Skype URIs or create your own solely to enable people tolaunch a Skype application or a Skype action.
You must not call your application Skype, anything like Skype, or use
the Skype logo or icon, and you must comply with these guidelines.

9Your UI must not mimic the Skype UI or imply a Microsoft and/or Skype
partnership with or sponsorship of your product.

FAQs
Q: Can I use a screen shot of a Skype product boot-up screen, opening

reputation or take advantage of it. You must not establish a link in such ascreen, “splash screen,” screen from beta release products, or otherway as to suggest any form of association, approval, or endorsement byproducts that have not been commercially released?

Skype where none exists.

A: Please contact us to request permission. Even with permission, you

Q: Can I use the sounds you hear when using Skype?

must not:A: We do not allow people to use the Skype sounds unless they are to be• alter the screen shot except to resize itused when Skype is being shown in a broadcast scenario. If you wish to• use portions of screen shots

use the Skype sounds in this context, please see the Permitted uses of• include screen shots in your product user interface

Skype Brand Assets.

• use screen shots that contain third-party content (unless you havepermission from the relevant third party to use the content); nor
use screen shots that contain an image of an identifiable individual

Q: Can I add the Skype website to my website?
A: No, you may not frame the site on any other site.

Q: Can I link to the Skype.com website from my own site?

Q: Can I advertise on Skype?

A: You may link to the Skype.com website from another website owned

A: You may submit your request for rates and advertising on Skype toby you, provided you do so in a way that is fair and legal and does not orMicrosoft Advertising (choose the Oath Advertising option).

could not (to be determined in Skype’s sole discretion) damage our10

Still have a question about using a Skype brand asset? Contact us
at Skype brand help. We’re always happy to help.

© 2017 Microsoft Corporation.