Licence Information

Background

The predecessor to Digital UK, the Digital TV Project, worked extensively with industry and key stakeholders (representing consumer groups, manufacturers, broadcasters, retailers, aerial installers and cable and satellite providers) to develop a digital switchover certification mark, which would help consumers identify products and services designed to work through switchover. In order to afford the certification mark the maximum protection, it was decided that it can only be used by organisations that are licensed by a central licensing organisation, and in association with products or services that meet specified standards. The certification mark scheme includes compliance monitoring to ensure that these specified standards are met.

The certification mark licence is a legal agreement between your company and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, who own the certification mark. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has licensed Digital UK to administer and coordinate key elements of the scheme. Digital UK has in turn contracted Momenta to provide the administration function for the scheme on its behalf.

Available licences

Several categories of licence are available:

1. Digital switchover certification mark licences for
   
   Digital television equipment that meets the scheme criteria (currently digital receivers, digital recorders, aerials and coaxial cable). As agreed at the Usability Action Plan meeting in July 2008 all new equipment registered for the first time from 1st January 2009 must be accompanied by the appropriate manual. A PDF of the manual should be emailed to digital.logo@aeat.co.uk following registration. In addition, all new equipment registered after 1st January 2010 must be accompanied by test reports showing that the product meets the required standards of BIS recognised industry test suites and processes and supply a working representative sample to a BIS recognised testing facility.
   
   Approved Digital Advisers ('Ask Digital') Scheme where retailers have undertaken an approved training programme on digital switchover. An online system is available on this website for retail staff whose companies belong to the Digital Logo Scheme. Alternatively, you may wish to incorporate this training material into your own in-house training programme. To discuss this further, please contact the Digital Logo Helpdesk on 0870 190 2851.
   
   Digital television service packages that provide access to all the digital replacement services for the analogue services being withdrawn at switchover (not individual channels or broadcast content).
   
   'homes set for digital' scheme to certify housing providers and/or property managers that can guarantee delivery of digital television to all their homes at least three months before switchover in their region. To find out more about this licence, or to apply, go to the Property Managers section of the Digital UK website.
   
   Licensees have access to artwork of the digital switchover certification marks that are used to identify certified equipment and services, as well as guidelines on how this artwork must be used.
2. Digital switchover certification mark scheme promotional licence
   
   A single promotional licence is issued to organisations that wish to:
   
   1. Promote the digital switchover certification mark scheme by using appropriate artwork (the 'get set for digital' strapline) on promotional materials
   2. Inform consumers about products and services that have already been registered as fully complying with the standards set by the scheme
   3. Educate consumers on what to look for when considering options to prepare for digital switchover
   
   The promotional licence is available for no fee to a wide range of organisations, including retailers, broadcasters and those aerial installers accredited under the Registered Digital Installer scheme (further details for which are available from the Registered Digital Installer-Licensing Body at www.rdi-lb.tv).
   
   Licensees have access to artwork that can be used to promote the scheme and guidelines on how this artwork must be used. Branded point-of-sale material is also available (for more information, see the POS material section).

All of these licences only permit licensees to use the 'digital tick' logo as detailed specifically in their licence documentation, each licence will have different requirements for using the 'digital tick' logo so please ensure that you read the licence carefully. The licensee is also required to comply with the scheme regulations that have been filed with the Registrar of Trade Marks.

If you would like to use the 'digital tick' logo but you do not fit into any of the existing categories outlined here, please contact us directly.

What do I need to do as a licensee?

As a licensee you need to declare that the products or services you are licensing meet the criteria stated in the relevant licence agreements.

Once you are licensed, you can use the certification mark in a variety of ways, subject to the terms of the licence agreement and the brand guidelines, including in:

• Advertising
• Brochures
• Point of sale materials
• Product catalogues
• Product packaging
• Websites (produced or maintained by the licensee)

If you are a licensee of the certification mark scheme, only products listed on the equipment database should be associated with the digital switchover certification mark in-store or in any printed materials that you may produce.

When you are licensed, you will be provided with the relevant brand guidelines and artwork to ensure that you use the certification mark correctly.

To apply for a licence, go to the Register and login section. A series of forms will collect the information needed about your company, retail outlets and products and guide you through the application process.

Licence Downloads

To view copies of the promotional and equipment licences and the annex that summarises the current licensing arrangement, click on the appropriate link below.

Please note that these copies are not valid for licence applications.