Badge, Certificate and Rating Use Policy

Version 1.0 · Effective 31 July 2026 · The current online version controls.

1. Purpose

This policy protects the meaning and integrity of Reedleys badges, ratings, certificates, QR codes and verification references.

Use of Reedleys recognition marks is a limited permission, not a transfer of ownership.

2. Who may use a recognition mark

Only the organization or individual professional named on an active Reedleys recognition record may use the corresponding badge, certificate or rating. Use must relate to the assessed profile and approved scope.

A parent company, subsidiary, franchisee, employee, contractor, affiliate, product or location may not use another profile's recognition unless it is clearly included in the recognized scope or separately approved.

3. Permitted uses

Subject to active status and brand instructions, a recognized profile may display the approved mark on:

• its official website;
• controlled social or professional profiles;
• proposals, presentations and email signatures;
• marketing materials that accurately identify the recognized entity or person;
• a physical location within the approved scope;
• links that direct users to the official Reedleys verification page.

4. Required accuracy

Whenever a rating or badge is displayed, the profile holder must ensure that:

• the rating and status are current;
• the exact recognized name is clear;
• the mark is not used for an unrelated entity, service or qualification;
• any verification link or QR code is functional and unaltered;
• wording does not exaggerate the meaning of recognition;
• expiry, suspension or withdrawal is not concealed.

5. Prohibited claims

A Reedleys badge, certificate or rating must not be described as:

• government approval or official government accreditation;
• a professional licence or statutory authorization;
• a credit rating, investment grade or financial solvency guarantee;
• a guarantee of quality, safety, results or future conduct;
• proof that every service, employee, product or location was individually assessed;
• an endorsement by a regulator, government, university or trade body unless independently true and clearly separate.

6. Design and technical rules

The mark must not be materially altered, redrawn, recolored, stretched, animated, combined with another logo, cropped to remove the rating or status, or displayed in a way that creates a false impression.

Reasonable resizing is permitted if the mark remains clear. Reedleys may provide current digital files and brand guidance. Outdated badge files should be replaced when requested.

7. Recognition references in text

A profile holder may use wording such as:

"[Name] holds active Reedleys Recognized status, assessed on [Date]."

The statement should link to the verification page where practical. Claims such as "Reedleys approved," "guaranteed by Reedleys," "government recognized by Reedleys" or "the highest-rated company in the industry" are not permitted unless the exact claim is separately and objectively supportable.

8. Certificates and QR verification

A certificate is valid only when its reference or QR code corresponds to an active or accurately described historical record. A downloadable or printed certificate must not be edited except for permitted technical resizing.

A copied certificate without a valid Reedleys record does not establish recognition. Anyone can confirm a certificate or rating on the verification page.

9. Expiry, suspension and withdrawal

When recognition expires, is suspended or is withdrawn, the profile holder must stop presenting it as active and remove active-status badges from public materials within the period specified by Reedleys, normally no more than 10 business days. See the Recognition Status Policy.

Reedleys may allow an accurate historical statement that clearly includes the former status and dates, but not an outdated active badge.

10. Advertising and comparison

Recognition may be used in advertising only if the advertisement remains accurate and not misleading. A profile holder must not imply that Reedleys compared it with every competitor or ranked it first unless Reedleys has expressly published that comparison.

11. Reporting misuse

Anyone may report suspected misuse through the Reedleys complaints or verification route. Reports should include the relevant URL, screenshot, certificate reference or other evidence. See the Complaints Policy.

12. Enforcement

Reedleys may request correction or removal, disable a verification link, restrict platform features, publish an inactive status, suspend or withdraw recognition, notify relevant platforms, or take legal action where proportionate.

Failure to remove a mark after notice may be treated as trademark or passing-off misuse and as evidence relevant to future assessment.

13. Intellectual property

Reedleys names, logos, badges, certificate designs, rating graphics and verification systems are owned by or licensed to Reedleys. No use is permitted except as expressly allowed by this policy, written brand guidance or a separate agreement.