Trademark Notice

Automotive SPICE® is a registered trademark of Verband der Automobilindustrie e.V. (VDA).

Any organization will be provided the rights to use the trademark names on a fair and equal basis according to the hereby given trademark usage criteria.

The trademark names include Automotive SPICE and Auto SPICE.

License fees are applicable (from 1 January 2011) for the usage of trademarks in training services and personnel certification services. License fees are dependent upon the country in which the services are delivered and size of organization providing the services. For further information regarding license fees contact VDA QMC.

1 Trademark Disclaimer

The trademark disclaimer
Automotive SPICE® is a registered trademark of the Verband der Automobilindustrie e.V. (VDA)
shall be added and clearly visible at the first appearance of the trademark in any publication.

2 Training Services

No organization will be excluded from operating training services.

A license fee will be charged for any usage of the trademarks in promotion, advertising and marketing of commercial training services.

To ensure the adequate competence of assessors in terms of the guidance given in ISO/IEC 15504-3:2004, the usage of the trademarks in promotion, advertising and marketing of assessor trainings intended to enable participants to conduct Automotive SPICE® assessments shall be based on a published syllabus. The syllabus and the organization performing such trainings shall be conformant to the requirements of a corresponding assessor certification scheme (see 3).

A license contract is necessary for using the trademarks in promotion, advertising and marketing of commercial training services.

Licensees are entitled by VDA to put the trademark label

on published materials.

3 Personnel Certification Services

No organization will be excluded from operating personnel certification services.

A license fee will be charged for any usage of the trademarks in promotion, advertising, marketing and operating of personnel certification services.

To ensure the quality of certificate and the adequate competence of certified assessors in terms of the guidance given in ISO/IEC 15504-3:2004, organizations using the trademarks in promotion, advertising, marketing and operating personnel certification services (certification bodies) with regards to Automotive SPICE® need to provide:

- Conformance of certification body to ISO/IEC 17024:2003
- Conformance to a published certification scheme (as defined in clause 4.3 of ISO/IEC 17024:2003) including:
--- Published syllabi for assessor trainings which are prerequisite for certification
--- Published procedures on accreditation of training organizations
--- Published procedures on assessor certification

A license contract is necessary for any usage of the trademarks in promotion, advertising, marketing and operating of personnel certification services.

Licensees are entitled by VDA to put the trademark label

on published materials.

4 Consulting and Assessments Services

No organization will be excluded from operating consulting or assessment services.<

Assessment services consist of commercial activities regarding preparation, execution and reporting of Automotive SPICE® assessments.

There are no prerequisites for the usage of the trademarks in consulting or/and assessment services except for the Trademark Disclaimer (see 1).

No license contract is necessary for the usage of the trademarks in operating consulting or assessment services.

No fees will be charged for trademark references and usage in consulting or assessment services.

5 Assessment Tools

There are no prerequisites for the usage of the trademarks in assessment or other tools except for the Trademark Disclaimer (see 1).

No license contract is necessary for the usage of the trademarks in assessment or other tools.

No fees will be charged for trademark references and usage in assessment or other tools.

6 Books and Articles

There are no prerequisites for the usage of the trademarks in books, articles and other publications except for the Trademark Disclaimer (see 1) providing that the publication is not promoting, advertising and marketing any Training Services (see 2) or Personal Certification Services (see 3).

No fees will be charged for trademark references and usage in books, articles or other publications providing that the publication is not promoting, advertising and marketing any Training Services (see 2) or Personal Certification Services (see 3).

7 Events

Any event may use the trademark names subject to use of the Trademark Disclaimer (see 1) however only OFFICIAL events may use the trademark names in the title of an event and use the trademark label (logo).

OFFICIAL events may only be authorized by the VDA or a member of the Automotive Special Interest Group (Automotive SIG) to protect and provide a consistent message to the community.

Only OFFICIAL events shall carry the Automotive SPICE® trademark label (logo).

Any event that includes the trademarks in the event title (e.g. “The International Auto SPICE Forum”, “European Automotive SPICE Conference”…) shall be classed as an OFFICIAL event and require authorization.

No fees will be charged for trademark references and usage in events.