QR Code trademark and usage
QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED. Generating or scanning a code symbol and using the name QR Code involve different considerations.
Symbols and names
The following summarizes DENSO WAVE's official FAQ.
What to check
- The FAQ states that creating or reading QR symbols based on JIS/ISO standards is free and requires no licensing procedure, including commercial use.
- This does not make a particular app, generator service or library free. Its fees and software license are separate.
- When using the name, follow the company's guidance on trademark notices.
Add notices to screens and printed material using the name
The FAQ asks for a notice on each screen or printed item using the name. Placement can suit the design; a single first-use notice does not automatically cover every medium.
What to check
- English notice: QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.
- Choose legible typography and placement.
- For a smartphone app without space, the FAQ points to places using the name in in-app help, the manual or the app's official website.
Check product and service naming
DENSO WAVE's FAQ asks businesses to refrain from including QR Code in their own product or service names. Do not assume that adding descriptive wording makes such naming acceptable.
What to check
- Distinguish describing a supported feature from incorporating the mark into the product or service name itself.
- Free symbol use and a trademark notice do not by themselves grant permission to use corporate logos or brand assets. Check the conditions for the particular material.
Consult the official guidance
QR Code FAQ / Using the name (Japanese) / Product and service names (Japanese) / Notice placement (Japanese) / Smartphone apps (Japanese) / QR Code basics