Trademark Policy

1. PURPOSE

This Trademark Usage Policy (“Policy”) describes the permitted and prohibited uses of the trademarks, service marks, and trade names owned by Vterra, Inc. (“Vterra,” “we,” or “us”). It applies to all individuals, organizations, developers, consultants, educators, and other parties who wish to reference or use Vterra’s marks in any context.

Our goal is to protect the integrity and reputation of the Vterra platform and the Valorys system while enabling the open-source and educational community to reference and discuss our work accurately and fairly.

2. OUR TRADEMARKS

The following names and marks are trademarks or pending trademarks of Vterra, Inc. (collectively, the “Vterra Marks”):

VTERRA™ — The AI-enabled advisory platform
VALORYS™ — The value creation system
VERIX™ — The AI advisory capability within the Vterra platform

These marks may be registered or pending registration in the United States and other jurisdictions. Whether or not the ™ symbol appears alongside a mark in a given context does not waive any rights Vterra holds in that mark.

The underlying system described in Take Control By Giving Up Control: The Value-Centered Fast Track to Organizational Growth by Colin O’Neill is separately protected under copyright held by the author personally.

3. PERMITTED USES — NO PERMISSION REQUIRED

The following uses of the Vterra Marks are permitted without seeking prior written approval, provided they comply with Section 5 (General Requirements) of this Policy.

3.1 ACCURATE REFERENCE. You may use the Vterra Marks to accurately and truthfully refer to Vterra, Inc., the Vterra platform, the Valorys system, or the Verix AI advisory capability in editorial, journalistic, academic, or informational contexts.

3.2 OPEN-SOURCE ATTRIBUTION. Developers and organizations distributing or building upon the Vterra Platform under the Apache License 2.0 may use the Vterra Marks solely to fulfill the attribution requirements of that license — for example, stating that their product incorporates or is derived from the Vterra Platform.

3.3 EDUCATIONAL AND ACADEMIC USE. Educators, researchers, and students may use the Vterra Marks in course materials, academic papers, dissertations, conference presentations, and training curricula when accurately describing or analyzing the Vterra platform or Valorys system.

3.4 COMMENTARY, CRITICISM, AND REVIEW. The Vterra Marks may be used in commentary, criticism, comparison, or review of the Vterra platform or Valorys system, provided the use is factually accurate and does not mislead readers about the source or endorsement of the content.

3.5 COMMUNITY AND EVENTS. Community groups, meetups, and events may reference the Vterra Marks in describing their focus or subject matter, provided they do not imply official affiliation with or sponsorship by Vterra, Inc.

4. USES REQUIRING WRITTEN PERMISSION

The following uses require prior written authorization from Vterra, Inc. before proceeding. To request permission, contact: [email protected]

4.1 COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. Using any Vterra Mark as part of the name, branding, or marketing of a commercial product, software application, consulting service, or managed service offering.

4.2 DOMAIN NAMES AND SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES. Registering or using any domain name, subdomain, username, or social media handle that incorporates any Vterra Mark, in whole or in part, in a way that could suggest affiliation with or endorsement by Vterra, Inc.

4.3 COMBINED MARKS AND LOGOS. Creating any logo, icon, or visual mark that incorporates or imitates any Vterra Mark or the visual identity associated with the Vterra platform.

4.4 COMMERCIAL ADAPTATIONS OF THE BOOK. Publishing translations, adaptations, or derivative works of Take Control By Giving Up Control: The Value-Centered Fast Track to Organizational Growth for commercial distribution that incorporate the Valorys mark. See also the Book License at https://vterra.ai/creative-commons-by-nd/.

4.5 CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. Offering any certification, accreditation, or training program that claims to certify proficiency in or compliance with the Valorys system or Vterra platform.

4.6 CONSULTING SERVICES USING THE MARKS. Marketing or advertising consulting, advisory, or professional services using the Vterra Marks in a manner that implies those services are officially endorsed, certified, or provided by Vterra, Inc.

5. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL USES

All uses of the Vterra Marks — whether permitted under Section 3 or authorized under Section 4 — must comply with the following requirements.

5.1 ACCURACY. The Vterra Marks must always be used in a manner that accurately represents the Vterra platform and Valorys system. Misleading, false, or deceptive use is never permitted.

5.2 NO IMPLIED ENDORSEMENT OR AFFILIATION. Your use must not suggest, imply, or create the impression that Vterra, Inc. endorses, sponsors, certifies, or is affiliated with your organization, product, service, or content, unless you have received explicit written authorization to make such a claim.

5.3 DISTINGUISH YOUR MARKS FROM OURS. When using the Vterra Marks alongside your own branding, make clear that your marks and Vterra’s marks are distinct. Do not combine a Vterra Mark with your own mark in a way that creates a new composite mark.

5.4 PROPER FORM. Use the Vterra Marks exactly as they appear in this Policy. Do not abbreviate, alter, pluralize, possessivize, translate, or hyphenate any Vterra Mark in a way that changes its appearance or meaning. Correct: “the Valorys system.” Incorrect: “Valorys’s system,” “Valorys System™,” “valorys.”

5.5 TRADEMARK ATTRIBUTION NOTICE. In printed materials, websites, or documentation that prominently feature a Vterra Mark, include the following notice in a reasonably visible location: “Vterra, Valorys, and Verix are trademarks of Vterra, Inc.”

5.6 QUALITY STANDARDS. Any use of the Vterra Marks must maintain the quality, accuracy, and professional standards associated with the Vterra platform and Valorys system. Vterra, Inc. reserves the right to revoke permission for any use that, in its sole judgment, reflects poorly on the integrity of its marks.

6. PROHIBITED USES

The following uses of the Vterra Marks are never permitted under any circumstances.

6.1 Registering any Vterra Mark, or any mark confusingly similar to a Vterra Mark, as a trademark, service mark, trade name, domain name, or company name in any jurisdiction.

6.2 Using any Vterra Mark in connection with content that is unlawful, defamatory, deceptive, obscene, or harmful.

6.3 Using any Vterra Mark in a manner that misrepresents, distorts, or mischaracterizes the Valorys system or the Vterra platform.

6.4 Using any Vterra Mark to imply that a product or service is “official,” “certified,” or “approved” by Vterra, Inc. without written authorization.

6.5 Incorporating any Vterra Mark into the name or branding of an artificial intelligence product, model, agent, or service.

7. OPEN-SOURCE DEVELOPERS — SPECIFIC GUIDANCE

If you are building on, forking, or distributing software derived from the Vterra Platform under the Apache License 2.0, the following guidance applies.

You MAY state that your software is “based on the Vterra Platform” or “derived from Vterra” for attribution purposes. You MAY use the Vterra name in your source code comments, documentation, and README files to accurately describe the origin of the code.

You MAY NOT name your derived product “Vterra,” “Valorys,” “Verix,” or any name that is confusingly similar to these marks. You MAY NOT use the Vterra Marks in your product’s name, logo, website, or marketing materials in a way that implies it is the official Vterra platform or an officially endorsed distribution.

You SHOULD clearly distinguish your product from the original Vterra Platform by using a distinct product name and clearly stating that your product is an independent derivative.

8. REPORTING MISUSE

If you believe the Vterra Marks are being used in a manner that violates this Policy or that infringes Vterra’s trademark rights, please notify us at [email protected] with the subject line “Trademark Misuse Report.” Please include the URL or a description of the alleged misuse, and we will investigate and respond promptly.

9. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

Vterra, Inc. reserves the right to modify this Policy at any time. Changes will be posted at https://vterra.ai/trademark-policy with an updated effective date. Continued use of the Vterra Marks following any modification constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

10. CONTACT

For trademark licensing inquiries, permission requests, or questions about this Policy, contact Vterra, Inc. at [email protected] or visit https://vterra.ai/trademark-policy.

© 2026 Vterra, Inc. All rights reserved.