Joomla User Group/FAQs and Rules for Submission

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There are some basic rules that all who submit their User Group must comply with to qualify for inclusion in the Registered JUG Directory.

By submitting a User Group to the Joomla! User Group Directory, you agree to be bound by these rules and by the Terms of Service.

Your continued use of the Joomla! User Group Directory constitutes your agreement to be bound by the rules at the time of listing or update.

Basic Rules[edit]

1. A listing can only be submitted and listed in a single category. Multiple category listings will be removed.

2. The name of the User Group must be Joomla! User Group [city]. If there is another JUG in your city you can combine or use a different differentiator. See Group Names section of the FAQs.

3. Enter your City, State/Province/Region, Country and Postal Code into the Group Location area. The postal code is used for the map and radial searches so that interested people can find your JUG.

4. There must be two different contacts for your JUG. They must include the first and last name (surname/family name) of each individual and have unique email addresses.

5. JUGs are primarily to meet in person. Commit to at least two in person meetings per year.

6. By entering a Meeting Venue, people will know where you meet and it helps them decide if they want to become involved with your JUG.

7. You must have some form of website or social media “page” for your Joomla! User Group. It must be specific to your JUG and not be a commercial website. You may use the following medium for your main JUG website:

  • A Joomla! website with its own domain. (You may need Trademark approval if Joo/Joom/Joomla are in the domain name.)
  • A [subdomain].joomla.com website. (It does not need Trademark approval.)
  • Facebook page. (Preferably one where you can list/post Events.)
  • Meetup page.
  • Google+ Community page.

It is fine to have a main JUG website using one of the above options and also have a twitter URL. For example, you may have a joomla.com website and also use Meetup. There are fields for your website URL, Twitter URL, Facebook page, and Meetup URL.

If you choose to use a Joomla! website for your JUG (not joomla.com), consider your domain name carefully. Any domain with Joo/Joom/Joomla needs to pass Trademark policy and JUG rules in order to be approved.

Examples of what would not need to go through Trademark review:

  • jug[city].com
  • usergroup[city].com
  • jusers[city].com

Examples of what would need to go through Trademark review:

  • joomusergroup[city].com
  • joomla[city].com
  • joomlausergroup[city].com

8. Your Joomla or Joomla.com website must display the following disclaimer at the footer of the site:

“[YOUR JUG NAME] is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Joomla!® Project or Open Source Matters. The Joomla!® name and logo is used under a limited license granted by Open Source Matters, the trademark holder in the United States and other countries.”

If you are using a meetup.com page, please add this disclaimer to the “About This Group” page. If you are using Facebook or Google + Community pages, please add this disclaimer to the About the community or About page.

9. If you are using a Joomla or Joomla.com site or Meetup.com, the first use of the word Joomla! (by itself - not with Joomla! User Group [city]), must have a ® (®) symbol next to it like this: Joomla!®

10. Group Descriptions should describe the goals of your JUG, the people you want to reach/teach, and what your group is about. The description should give visitors that want to get involved in your JUG an idea of what they can expect at a typical meeting. Group descriptions must be in English, but you may have your own language translation in addition to English.

11. Group Images/Logo:

You don’t have to have a Group Image for your listing. You probably will want to have an image or logo on your website. The guidelines for your logo are as follows:

You may not use the Joomla! Brand Mark or logo.

You must have a unique logo for your JUG that uses the words Joomla! User Group [City]. The words do not have to all be on one line but they should be in that order. It’s best not to use JUG [city] in the logo since that can be confusing for some visitors.

Be creative. Use something that means something to your town or just use text, just don’t use the Joomla! clover or email.

You may not use the Registered Joomla! User Group logo that you receive when you get approved as a logo unless it links back to your Joomla! User Group Listing on the JUG Directory. This means it cannot be used on any social media sites since they do not allow you to link back to your listing. You may use it on your website or meetup site as long as it links back to your listing on the JUG Directory.

Ideal logo size for the JUG listing on the directory is 270x270 pixels. File type can be either .jpg or .png.

12. You may login and change many fields of your listing yourself. Once you login at community.joomla.org, go to User Groups -> My JUG Listing from the Main Menu. You may not change the following fields which need approval to edit via a ticket (https://community.joomla.org/helpdesk.html):

  • Name of Group
  • Category (country)
  • Logo/Avatar
  • Second Contact Name
  • Second Contact Email
  • Owner User ID
  • Website URL
  • Facebook URL
  • Twitter URL
  • Meetup URL
  • Other Social 1 URL
  • Other Social 2 URL

13. Commit to keeping your listing up to date.

14. Sites acting as umbrella sites must not describe themselves as, nor offer, registered Joomla User Group status.

15. Sites listed in the directory may display the Registered User Group logo and link back to their listing.

16. Country/continent-wide User Groups will only be accepted in special circumstances at this time.

17. Where possible, groups should be free to attend. User groups should only charge a nominal fee for membership where appropriate and be non-profit.

18. Assignment to a specific category is at the discretion of the JUG team editors.

Disclaimer[edit]

The JUG Team has the right, in its sole discretion, to set and revise rules concerning what benefits are offered to each level of participants. The Joomla User Group Team may modify these rules at any time without notice by posting revised rules.

Any trademark issues will be passed to OSM (Open Source Matters).

General Questions[edit]

How do I register a group?

Visit the Joomla! Community Helpdesk. Login and fill out the information in a new ticket. The JUG Team will then go through and review the information you've given. If there are issues, the JUG Team will reply to the ticket and let you know what needs to be resolved. If it's perfect, you will be notified by ticket of the group's approval.

What are the requirements for becoming a registered group?

See above Rules for Submissions for requirements for becoming a registered Joomla! User Group.

How will people know if a group is registered?

Once approved, registered groups will receive an approval email with additional information to assist them including a download link for a badge to be used on their websites. This badge must link back to the JUG listing on the directory so cannot be used on social media sites. The registered user group will also be listed in the directory.

So, once approved, are we an official Joomla! User Group?

No, you are a recognised Joomla! User Group. There is no such thing as an "official Joomla! User Group." Joomla! user groups are independent entities not authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Joomla.

There is already a group in my area, can I still start a group?

Multiple JUGs will be allowed per city or region since we will now have a directory and comments as well as radial searches. Smaller groups in one city or region will be encouraged to combine but that is not required.

The only thing we ask is that if there is a group in your area, you choose a different name. For example, if Joomla! User Group Mars already exists, please change the word Group to one of the other available group structure descriptions: club, organisation, society, or network.

Can I have a virtual group?

Non-registered virtual groups can be a great way to meet other like-minded people, but they cannot be listed in the JUG directory at this time.

There are currently no plans to list virtual groups in the User Group directory, which exists to promote in-person meetings.

Can my group listing be suspended?

Yes, on rare occasions. Lack of communication or noncompliance with JUG Team requests may cause the listing to be unpublished. Standard times allowed for communication is 14 days. If we attempt to communicate with you and we do not hear back from you in 14 days, we may unpublish the listing temporarily until communication is established.

My question isn't answered in this FAQ?

Contact the JUG Team at jugs@community.joomla.org and one of our team mates will be happy to help.

Are there any Rules for Submission?

Yes. Please see the Rules for Submission above before submitting a listing.

Group Names[edit]

How does naming my group work?

Registered groups will all have names with this structure: Joomla! User X Y.

X is an appropriate word describing the group's structure, such as: group, club, organisation, society, or network.

Y is an appropriate geographic description, which would be the name of your city. State, province, and country names will no longer be allowed as part of the name.

For example there might be:

  • Joomla! User Group Mars
  • Joomla! User Network Pluto.

You can use your local language version of the Joomla! User Group [city] but that must follow the English version in the group title box.

Does the group have to be called a “group”?

No. When you complete the registration form you will be given the option of selecting another term, such as organisation, network, club, meet up or local term, subject to approval of Open Source Matters. Make a choice that makes sense in your culture and what you plan to do.

Can "Joomla! User Group" be an unofficial name for an organisation?

Yes, as long as the organisation's legal name does not include Joomla! or Open Source Matters and no confusion is created.

Can unregistered groups use the name Joomla! or Joomla! User Group?

No, these terms may only be used by registered groups.

Can groups or organisations translate the words "user group" in their names?

Yes, you can translate the term 'user group' into your own language.

Can the Joomla! name be presented in non-Roman characters?

No, the Joomla name is a trademark and a brand, as such it may not be changed.

Domain Names, Joomla! Logo & Trademark[edit]

Can I add my own URL to my listing?

Yes, it will be added to your listing once all Trademark and logo requirements are completed and approved by OSM.

  • Commercial links are not allowed, for example, www.hostingco.com
  • Community links such as Meetup.com, Facebook groups/pages, LinkedIn groups, Google+ Community etc. are allowed.
  • Joomla Communities like http://www.joomgroupe.fr are also allowed (but may require Trademark approval).

If your domain name includes the word Joomla, Joo, or Joom Trademark approval is required and the URL will not be listed on the site until it is in compliance. The compliance check is done as part of your registration process. Please note that all links submitted must be accessible at the time of registration - if your site is in offline mode, please provide a username & password for the team to review in the notes section.

How do I get Trademark approval?

The Joomla! name and logo are registered trademarks in the United States and elsewhere held by Open Source Matters. Permission, from OSM, to use these trademarks is usually required and is only granted subject to specific rules. There are a few specific circumstances, though, when the use of a Joomla! trademark (name or logo) does not require permission. The JUG Team can help you get through the Trademark approval process. All rules for submissions must be adhered to in order to consider getting Trademark approval on your domain including the word Joo/Joom/Joomla.

There are two ways to get help with Trademark approval on your JUG domain which includes the words Joo/Joom/Joomla:

  1. Before you purchase the domain, email jugs@community.joomla.org with the domain you are considering. This can alleviate frustration if you happen to choose a domain that will not be approved under any circumstances. (Country level domain, creates confusion, or anything else we have concerns about.)
  2. Purchase the domain and then get the site ready for your JUG according to the Rules for Submission (above). Then submit your listing with the website URL as your domain. It will go through all reviews and if approved, you will be notified.

Can registered groups use the Joomla! logo on their sites?

Registered groups, once approved, may use logos in accordance with the Joomla! Brand Manual, provided that they include a link back to the Joomla.org. The Joomla! logo cannot be used as the main JUG logo. Can I use the official Joomla! logo on my site?

Yes and No.

No, not in your JUG logo (which must be unique - see Basic Rules for more on this). Yes, in the content of your website. You must first apply for conditional use which can be done at https://tm.joomla.org/contact

Trademark FAQs[edit]

Trademark Policy[edit]

Where can I find the Brand Manual for the Trademark?