2008 G Mark Usage Guide

 

This guide defines any and all matters regarding the use of G Mark by winners of a Good Design Award.

Article 1: Definition of G Mark

  • Designed by Yusaku Kamekura, G Mark is a mark where the initial G of "Good Design" is arranged as a basic form whereby a side of a square inscribed in a precise circle is divided into eight. G Mark was defined as a mark for verifying an item that has won a Good Design Award in the year following the establishment of the program.
  • G Mark is a trademark and property of Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization, the organizer of the "Good Design Award" program (hereinafter referred to as "Organizer").
  • The winners of a Good Design Award or a Special Award (firms, designers, etc. that are stated as winners in the Commendation Certificates of the Good Design Awards; hereinafter referred to as "Winner") may use G Mark to develop Public Relations campaigns and sales promotional activities.

Article 2: Using G Mark

  • Winner may use G Mark for the item awarded in the then current year at no charge for one month, from the date of the announcement of the award.
  • For the use of the G Mark beyond this period, the winner must apply for the continued use of G Mark via Good Design Award website. The organizer will issue a "G Mark Usage Permission Certificate" after confirmation of the payment of the fee for its use.
  • The period during which the winner may use G Mark in accordance with such an application shall be one year from the usage starting date, described in the "G Mark Usage Permission Certificate." For use beyond this one-year period, the winner must reapply for its use.

* Please refer to the "G Mark Usage Guideline" on the Good Design Award website for the specific methods of using the "G Mark".
* Please refer to the "G Mark Usage Guide Supplement" on the Good Design Award website for details of the procedures for applying for the "G Mark".

Article 3: G Mark Usage Fee

G Mark usage fee is set below (including tax):
Retail priceTotal project costUsage fee
Less than 500,000 yenLess than 500 million yen200,000 yen
500,000 yen to
less than 5 million yen		500 million yen to
less than 5 billion yen		500,000 yen
5 million yen or more5 billion yen or more1 million yen

If the awarded item is a commodity, in principle, the above shall be applied in accordance with the retail price stated as screening information (current market price in the case of open pricing). Furthermore, in the event that there is a range in the retail price of the awarded item, the above shall apply to its average value.

When the awarded item is a non-commodity, in principle, the above shall be applied in accordance with the total project costs stated as screening information.

Article 4: Reduction of Usage Fee

In order to promote the use of G Mark, the promotional discounts shall be as follows:
 
  • If the winner is a public institution or association, including, but not limited to, a government organization, local government, educational corporation, medical corporation, religious corporation, incorporated foundation, incorporated association, and incorporated non-profit organization, the “G Mark Usage Fee” shall be waived.
  • If the winner is an individual or a small to medium-sized enterprise, the "G Mark Usage Fee" shall be reduced by 50%.
    Provided, however, that the definition of a small to medium-sized enterprise shall be subject to the definition set forth in the "Small and Medium Enterprise Basic Law".
  • The "G Mark Usage Fee" for an awarded item from the fifth year onward after its award shall be reduced by 50%.

Furthermore, the "G Mark Usage Fee" shall be waived for an awarded item from the tenth year onward after its award and for an item winning the "Long-life Design Prize".

Article 5: Changes to the specifications of the awarded item

In the event of any change in the specifications of the awarded item, including performance improvements, the winner must submit "Alternation Report" to the Organizer prior to the "Application to Use the G Mark". The Organizer will inform the winner of approval/disapproval of the usage of the G Mark after considering the contents of the change.

Article 6: Unauthorized Use of G Mark

The organizer may revoke or suspend the use of G Mark if the winner or related party use G Mark for non-awarded items without the approval of the organizer, or use it in a way that is misleadingly to the public.

Article 7: Report on the status of use

The Organizer may request the winner and related party using G Mark to report on the status of its use.

These regulations shall be effective from October 1, 2008.