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Do I Need to Qualify?

Bluetooth Support
  • Updated

Introduction

To brand (or re-brand) and sell a Bluetooth® product, your company must join the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) and complete the Qualification process. To learn more about joining the Bluetooth SIG, see the Join the Bluetooth SIG page.

The Bluetooth Qualification Process exists to ensure global product interoperability, improve quality, and provide the best user experience.

All Bluetooth products must be qualified

  • Your supplier or other Member companies cannot qualify your products on your behalf; you must complete the Bluetooth Qualification Process for your product yourself.
  • You can only qualify your products under your Member company's account and only by completing the Bluetooth Qualification Process.

Warning: Products that appear to have not completed the Bluetooth Qualification Process may be impounded by customs authorities and will be subject to Bluetooth SIG enforcement actions.

Products must be qualified on or before the date that you begin to sell or distribute the product. The details you provide for each product must exactly match the product, its packaging markings, and marketing materials.

If you are a retailer or supplier selling or distributing another organization's qualified Bluetooth product, and you are not adding any logos, branding, or representing the product as your own, you do not need to complete the Qualification Process for the product. However, you should ensure that the product has been properly qualified. To check whether a product is properly qualified, refer to the Qualified Product Database.

A Member choosing not to use the Bluetooth trademarks must still be compliant with the Bluetooth Patent & Copyright License Agreement. Members are encouraged to review the conditions of the license agreements and consult their legal counsel with any questions regarding the applicable requirements. We are unable to provide any legal advice, including the ramifications resulting from a Member's failure to adhere to the procedures set out in the Bluetooth SIG's operative, governing documents. For these reasons, we advise that each Member company completes the defined processes to ensure they demonstrate and declare compliance to both license agreements.

Download the Membership Agreements from the Bluetooth SIG governing documents page.

Enforcement and reporting

Warning: If you do not qualify your product, you become subject to enforcement action, potentially leading to suspension or revocation of your Bluetooth SIG membership if no corrective actions are taken.

Our Trademark License Enforcement Program protects all Bluetooth SIG members by ensuring Bluetooth products are properly qualified. To learn more about the program, see the Trademark License Enforcement Program page.

If you suspect a product is in violation, you may report it to the Bluetooth SIG. The Bluetooth SIG does not track, analyze, or enforce patents, member-owned or otherwise. In those cases, you should consult your own legal counsel.

Still need help

Contact Bluetooth SIG Support for further assistance.

This KBA is intended to provide Bluetooth SIG members with helpful information and address frequently asked questions. Governing documents, membership agreements, policies, and other Bluetooth SIG rules and guidelines can be found on the Bluetooth SIG governing documents page.

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