Live Connect Implementation and Branding guidelines

This document provides guidance on the use of Live Connect branding marks. Before you use these icons your application has to comply with all of the quality requirements in this SDK and the Live Connect - Terms of Use. Note that Microsoft may update these guidelines from time to time.

Naming your app

The name of your app shouldn’t include the words SkyDrive, Hotmail, or Messenger or be similar to these terms in either sound or spelling. (For example, don’t prefix your app name with “Sky”, or “Hot”). This restriction applies to both the naming of apps and their naming in any online store.

The only exception is if your application works exclusively with SkyDrive, Hotmail or Messenger. In this case, your application can post-fix “for SkyDrive” or “for Hotmail” in your app name. For example, “Contoso Photo Fixer for SkyDrive”.

Any additional use of Microsoft trademarks would require permission or a license from Microsoft.

Your app’s logo

The SkyDrive, Hotmail or Messenger icons cannot be combined with other elements, graphics or logos—visual separation from any other graphical or textual elements is required. For instance, do not combine the Hotmail icon with another company’s logo in one button or application icon.

Using the Live Connect names and logos

When you refer to SkyDrive, be sure to use the proper form - a capital S and capital D. For Hotmail, use a capital H and lowercase m. You can use the SkyDrive, Hotmail and Messenger logos in the user interface to identify the network of origin for data in your application and on buttons to initiate the process of connecting your user to Windows Live services.

Also, never modify our logos and always be sure to use each to refer only to the service that it corresponds to.

Additional guidance

• To describe your app’s connection via Live Connect, say “Connected to Hotmail,” or “Connected to SkyDrive.” Do not use other terms or phrases to describe how your app relates to Live services.
• On first reference, use the full product names: Microsoft SkyDrive, Microsoft Hotmail, and Windows Live Messenger.
• Applications that do not adhere to these Microsoft brand guidelines are subject to audit
• Applications that suggest or imply that Microsoft is the publisher are not permitted
• Applications that use protected 3^rd party assets like trademarks, copyrights or proprietary content without permission are not permitted.

You may use the icons in this zip file in the user interface of your application to connect your application users to our services, provided that your use complies with these guidelines.  By using these icons, you agree to be bound by these guidelines:

• The icons may only be used as a button or similar user interface mechanism for your application users to connect to our services.  For instance, if you add the SkyDrive icon as a button on your application, clicking on that button must connect users to their SkyDrive account or to the main page of the SkyDrive website located at www.skydrive.com.
• Do not crop, recolor, animate, reorient, distort or otherwise modify the icons—they should look exactly as they do in these guidelines.
• You will provide Microsoft with samples of your use of the icons upon request.  You will promptly correct any improper use of the icons with reasonable notice from Microsoft.
• These guidelines do not grant in any way whatsoever any other right or license to any Microsoft or third party technology or proprietary rights, and you agree that Microsoft owns all rights to the icons, including any goodwill generated from the icons as they appear in your application.
• Do not use these icons on your product packaging, in marketing or advertising on your website, or in any other scenario apart from use as an icon in the user interface of your Live SDK application.

Microsoft makes no warranties regarding the icons, and hereby disclaims all warranties that might otherwise be implied by law, including warranties against infringement.

How to use SkyDrive, Messenger or Hotmail brands in your application

Your first choice and first use should be the full logo showing the branded icon with the text:

Your second choice, for devices with limited screen size (for example, with a mobile device), you should use only the branded icon:

Your third choice, for devices with no graphics support, you should use only the text:

It is not necessary to include the trademark symbol or the registered symbol for on screen branding:

The placement of the Live Connect brand icon must be separate from competing brands.

Pursuant to these guidelines, here are some visual examples related to improper use of the Live icons.