Trademark policy

Memecoins reference the wider world. They riff on brands, projects, public figures, internet culture, and each other. That's the point. But there is a line between commentary and impersonation, and Koal has to pay attention to the line.

This policy explains what we expect from creators and how trademark holders can flag tokens that go too far.

A trademark is a name, logo, slogan, or symbol used to identify the goods or services of a particular person or company. Trademarks can be registered (national or EU registration, USPTO, etc.) or unregistered (acquired through actual use). The owner of a trademark generally has the right to stop others from using it in a way that misleads the public about who is offering a product or service.

Creators can:

• Reference a brand or project in passing — "I love $XYZ", "inspired by $XYZ".
• Parody and satire — clearly labelled as such, and clearly not endorsed by the trademark owner. Examples that work: "DOGE Parody", "$BRAND Fan Coin", "Not Real $BRAND".
• Commentary and criticism — same rule. Make it obvious it's commentary, not the real thing.
• Tribute coins — "I built this because I love $X" tokens, where the description makes clear it's a fan project and not affiliated with the original.

If an ordinary person looking at the token page would understand it is a riff and not the official thing, you are most likely fine.

Creators may not:

• Launch a token that pretends to be the official token of a project, company, or person.
• Use a brand's logo or trade dress as the token image without permission.
• Imply endorsement, sponsorship, partnership, or affiliation that does not exist.
• Impersonate a public figure in the token name, image, or description in a way that suggests they created or endorse it.
• Combine someone else's trademark with claims about utility, treasury, airdrop, or future delivery in a way that a reasonable person would read as official.

The clearest test: would the average buyer be confused into thinking the trademark owner is behind this token? If yes, it crosses the line.

If you are a trademark owner — or an authorised agent — and believe a token on Koal infringes your mark, send an email to trademark@koal.fun with:

• Your details — name, postal address, telephone, email, and a statement that you are the trademark owner or are authorised to act on the owner's behalf.
• The trademark — the mark itself, registration or application number if any, the jurisdiction it covers, and the goods or services it covers.
• The token in question — token name, symbol, contract address, and the URL of the token page on koal.fun.
• The claimed infringement — which element of the token (name, symbol, image, description) you believe infringes, and why a reasonable person would be confused.

For complaints about copyrighted images, logos, or other works of authorship, use our Copyright policy instead — that's a different legal regime.

When we receive a complete report we will:

• Review the token against this policy and the report.
• Where the violation is clear, hide or delist the token from the Koal interface.
• Where the call is closer, give the creator an opportunity to respond before deciding.
• Notify the affected creator and forward the report where reasonably possible.

Koal is not a court. We make a reasonable judgement based on the information in front of us. If you and the creator dispute the call, that is a matter for you to resolve directly or through the courts.

Koal can remove a token from the koal.fun interface across the chains we support. Koal cannot remove the token's smart contract from the blockchain — once deployed, a contract is immutable and outside our control. A delisting from Koal does not mean the token disappears: it remains tradeable through any other interface or directly on-chain. Trademark holders pursuing global removal will need to coordinate separately with other interfaces and, where applicable, with legal counsel.

If your token has been flagged or delisted and you believe the report is mistaken, send a response to trademark@koal.fun with:

• Your contact details.
• The token in question and the action that was taken.
• Either evidence that you have permission to use the mark, or a clear explanation of why your use is parody, commentary, fair use, or otherwise outside the trademark owner's control.

We will review and respond. We may restore the token, request changes (a clearer parody disclaimer, a different image), or maintain the delisting depending on the circumstances.

Koal will restrict or terminate access for creators who repeatedly and intentionally violate trademark rights. As a guideline, three substantiated trademark complaints against the same wallet or creator account within twelve months will be treated as repeat violation. We reserve discretion to act sooner where the conduct involves clear bad faith — for example, sequential impersonation tokens designed to defraud buyers.

This policy may be updated as the Platform evolves and as legal practice on memecoin trademarks develops. The effective date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Trademark notices and creator responses go to trademark@koal.fun; general legal questions to legal@koal.fun.