Proper Use of the CLNC® Service Mark of LegalNurse.com and
Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc.
This policy explains the rules for proper use of the Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc.’s (“MLCI”) and its division, LegalNurse.com’s, federally registered CLNC® (Certified Legal Nurse Consultant) certification mark for “Authorized Individuals,” who are registered nurses, certified by LegalNurse.com, who maintain an active CLNC® Certification status in good standing.
Authorized Individuals are required to properly use the Institute’s CLNC® Certification mark as described herein, which includes the use of the “®” after the term “CLNC” when it is used as a certification mark, which indicates that CLNC® is a federally registered certification mark.
When Authorized Individuals use the CLNC® Certification mark in their professional advertising and business-related materials including, but not limited to, brochures, advertisements, business cards, stationery, websites, phone directories and professional association listings, signs and other similar marketing materials, it is important that Authorized Individuals understand the difference between using “CLNC®” as a certification mark, and using “CLNC®” as the associated credential denoting the CLNC® Certification status. Therefore, use of the CLNC® Certification mark is subject to the following rules:
- Each Authorized Individual may use the CLNC® Certification mark in conjunction with his/her name and the services provided related to the certification.
- The CLNC® Certification mark may only be displayed in association with the Authorized Individual.
- The CLNC® Certification mark may not be positioned, displayed or used in a manner which may lead the public to believe that a company, business, organization or business entity itself is certified or otherwise endorsed by LegalNurse.com or MLCI.
- The CLNC® Certification mark may not be included in a company, business, organization, business entity or website domain name without the express written consent of LegalNurse.com or MLCI.
- The CLNC® Certification mark cannot be used as a noun but instead should be used as an adjective, i.e., “the CLNC® services provided by….”
- The CLNC® Certification mark cannot be used as, or incorporated into, a logo, watermark or other company-defining symbol, design or insignia, license plate or tattoo.
When an Authorized Individual uses the credential associated with the Authorized Individual’s CLNC® Certification status, the Authorized Individual does not have to use the ®. For example:
- Judy L. Smith, RN, BSN, CLNC
Additionally, Authorized Individuals can use the credential associated with that Authorized Individual’s CLNC® Certification status without the ® in an email address, so long as it is combined with another word, initials, term or name and does not contain any prohibited use of the CLNC® Certification marks, for example:
Improper uses of the CLNC® Certification mark in an email address include, but are not limited to the following examples:
When using the CLNC® Certification mark in relation to providing services or designating your certification other than as a credential, the CLNC® Certification mark must always appear with the superscript “®” designating its registered trademark status. Proper uses and appearances of the CLNC® Certification mark include, but are not limited to, the following examples:
- “after mastering the CLNC® course materials”
- “providing CLNC® consulting services and case review for attorneys”
- “providing CLNC® services”
- “what a CLNC® consultant can do for your law practice”
Improper use and appearance of the CLNC® Certification mark include, but are not limited to, uses of the CLNC® Certification mark as an entity name, website domain name or noun and include, but are not limited to, the following examples:
- Smith CLNC Services Company
- Smith CLNC® Services Company
- www.SmithCLNCServices.com
- “what a CLNC® can do for your law practice”
- “attorneys consulting with a CLNC® for case review”
LegalNurse.com is committed to meeting your needs. Questions concerning the proper use of the CLNC® Certification mark should be submitted in writing. If you have any questions, please use the Mentoring Request Form in the NACLNC® Association portion of the website, and we will respond within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. Questions related to use of the CLNC® Certification mark will not count as a mentoring request(s).
If you have a question about usage of the CLNC® Certification mark in your marketing materials, send a copy of those materials to LegalNurse.com with your request. We will review your materials for correct usage of the CLNC® Certification mark. This review will not count as a mentoring request so long as the request is limited to analysis of the CLNC® Certification mark usage.
Thank you for adhering to these guidelines when you use the CLNC® Certification mark.
