PairPusher Trademark Policy

Overview

PairPusher and all product names are trademarks of Valinor Whisperwind.

The Apache License 2.0 grants you rights to use the code, but not the trademark. This is standard practice in open source software—you're free to use and modify the code, but the product names remain protected.

Key Point

Apache License Section 6: "This License does not grant permission to use the trade names, trademarks, service marks, or product names of the Licensor."

Protected Trademarks

Primary Mark

• PairPusher™

Product Names

• PairPusher Lite™
• PairPusher Flow™
• PairPusher Pro™
• PairPusher Keep™
• PairPusher Look™
• PairPusher Paint™
• PairPusher Toast™
• PairPusher Lens™

Phonetic Variants (Also Protected)

• Pare, Pear, Pere, Paire, Payre
• Any phonetic equivalent that sounds like "Pair"

What You Can Do

✅ Permitted Uses

Bundle with Your Furniture

You can include the PairPusher plugin with furniture you sell.

Example: "This cuddle chair includes the PairPusher plugin for easy pose adjustment."

Offer Services

You can offer setup or support services (mark as "unofficial").

Example: "Unofficial PairPusher setup service available."

Make Small Modifications

Personal use modifications don't require renaming.

State Compatibility

You can say your product works with PairPusher.

Example: "Compatible with PairPusher" or "Works with PairPusher Pro"

Describe Derivations

You can say your work is based on PairPusher with proper attribution.

Example: "Based on PairPusher by Valinor Whisperwind"

What You Cannot Do

❌ Prohibited Uses

Don't Use in Product Names

You cannot use "PairPusher" or sound-alikes in your product names.

❌ "PairPusher Plus"
❌ "SuperPairPusher"
❌ "ParePoser" (phonetic variant)
❌ "PearPusher" (phonetic variant)

Don't Use Product Variant Names

You cannot create derivative product names using our variants.

❌ "PairPusher Pro+"
❌ "PairPusher Lite Max"
❌ "PairPusher Flow Extended"

Don't Imply Official Status

You cannot claim your derivative is "official PairPusher."

Don't Imply Endorsement

You cannot suggest Valinor Whisperwind endorses your work.

Don't Register Confusing Marks

You cannot register "PairPusher" or confusingly similar trademarks.

Creating Derivative Works

Small Modifications

If you make minor changes for personal use or small improvements:

✅ You can keep the "PairPusher" name
✅ Add "Modified by [YourName]" to give credit
✅ State what you changed in the documentation

Major Forks

If you create a substantial rewrite or significantly different version:

❌ You must use a new name (not "PairPusher")
✅ You must include proper attribution

Example - Correct Attribution:
Product name: "PoserMaster" (your new name)
Attribution: "Derived from PairPusher by Valinor Whisperwind. This is an independent work with no official endorsement."

Why This Matters

Trademark protection ensures:

Quality control - Users know what to expect from genuine PairPusher products
Clear origin - No confusion about who created what
Brand integrity - The PairPusher name maintains its meaning
User trust - People can find authentic support and updates

This doesn't restrict your freedom to use the code (that's what the Apache License guarantees). It just ensures the PairPusher name stays associated with the original project.

Questions?

If you're unsure whether your use is permitted, feel free to ask:

In-world: Valinor Whisperwind (IM or notecard)
GitHub: github.com/PairPusher
SL Group: PairPusher

Most questions are answered quickly, and we're happy to clarify permitted uses!