Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 26, 2024

Title 36 - Parks, Forests, and Public Property last revised: Nov 18, 2024
§ 264.1 - Definitions.

(a) The term Insignia means the Official Forest Service Insignia as shown here

or any likeness thereof, in total or in part, which is used in such a manner as to suggest the insignia.

(b) The term Chief means the Chief of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, or a person designated to act for the Chief.

§ 264.2 - Use of insignia.

The Forest Service insignia is reserved for the official use of the Forest Service. Such use will be primarily for identification purposes. The Chief may authorize other uses of the insignia as follows:

(a) Public service use. The Chief may authorize the use of the insignia for non-commercial educational purposes, without charge when such use is essentially a public service and will contribute to public knowledge and understanding of the Forest Service, its mission, and objectives. An example of this would be the use of the insignia on a printed program for a dedication ceremony where the Forest Service participates but is not the sponsor of the event.

(b) Commercial use. Through the issuance of licenses, the Chief may authorize commercial use of the insignia to (1) contribute to the public recognition of the Forest Service, such as a likeness of the insignia on a toy forest ranger's truck or (2) promote employee esprit de corps or pride in the organization, such as a likeness of the insignia on belt buckles. Such use must be consistent with the status of a national insignia. Business or calling cards commercially prepared for employees, at employee expense, may display the insignia without special license.

§ 264.3 - Licensing for commercial use.

(a) Each commercial license granted for the use of the insignia or likeness thereof shall contain the following terms and conditions:

(1) A use charge, royalty payment, or payment in kind which is reasonably related to the commercial value of the license must be established. This is to be paid by the licensee.

(2) A definite expiration date shall be specified.

(3) The license shall be nonexclusive.

(4) Licensees are not authorized to grant sublicenses, or transfer or reassign licenses to another person or company, in connection with the manufacture and/or sale of an item, unless and except as approved in writing by the Chief.

The Chief may incorporate additional terms and requirements into any commercial license issued under this subpart.
§ 264.4 - Unauthorized use.

Whoever manufactures, sells, or possesses the insignia, except as provided under § 264.2, is subject to criminal penalty under 18 U.S.C. 701.

§ 264.5 - Power to revoke.

All authorities and licenses granted under this subpart shall be subject to cancellation by the Chief at any time the Chief finds that the use involved is offensive to decency and good taste or injurious to the image of the Forest Service. The Chief may also revoke any license or authorization when there is a failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the license or authorization.

authority: 5 U.S.C. 301.
cite as: 36 CFR 264.5