IDC Permissions Guidelines for IDC.com

Interested in using IDC research in your external materials? IDC encourages the use of its data and market intelligence for both internal planning and external communications purposes. However, because IDC information is copyright protected, all external uses of IDC content must have IDC’s prior and express written permission from the IDC Permissions group.

All requests to use IDC name, data, graphics, quotes etc. Externally must be sent to IDC permissions at permissions@idc.com.

Who can use IDC research externally?

Current IDC clients of the research program or those who have purchased a single report or data cut are allowed a limited amount of quoting for external use with review and approval from IDC Permissions. Companies that have purchased webrights to an IDC document may quote from that document with review and approval from IDC Permissions.

Who can’t use IDC research externally?

Non-IDC clients. Companies that are not current IDC clients of the research program or that have not purchased the report, data cut etc. are not eligible to use IDC research externally.

What if I found the research in the public domain but our company is not a current IDC client?

IDC will allow usage of IDC data found in the public domain from IDC press releases and sponsored content like white papers and InfoBriefs if it has been published in the last 18 months; is our most recent data; and used in an appropriate context. IDC Permissions would still need to review usage.

How do I submit an IDC Permissions request?

Please send the IDC data, quote, research etc. that you want to use fully sourced in a footnote and in context (ie. in the press release, slide, banner ad etc.) to permissions@idc.com.

When will I receive a response regarding my request from IDC Permissions?

IDC Permissions’ standard response time is three (3) business days or 72 hours.

How often do IDC Permissions Content Usage Guidelines change?

All IDC Content Usage Guidelines are living documents. They are updated on an as-needed basis and can be amended at any time.

Research published to IDC.com, in IDC sponsored research (such as an IDC White Paper, InfoBrief, Spotlight etc.), a Multi-Client Study or an IDC data product like an IDC Tracker, Spending Guide or QView can be used externally with limitations.

The details:

• Data should be published within the last 18 months. Forecast/ market share/ tracker data must be the most recent published deliverable.
• Excerpts of IDC content must be taken verbatim from an IDC source and must be used in a context that does not alter or distort the excerpt’s original meaning. Excerpts longer than a few sentences may require separate licensing fees. No paraphrasing will be allowed.
• An IDC Permissions approval applies only to the content asset that was submitted for review. IDC does not issue “blanket approvals” for the use of IDC information in any content asset of a client’s choosing. Each content asset containing IDC information requires a separate review and approval from IDC. If there are any changes to the content asset after an approval is issued from IDC, the revised content asset must be re-submitted in its entirety for subsequent review and approval.
• IDC requires all IDC content be sourced properly in a footnote or within the text. Source formats are:
  • Standard format is: IDC, Title of Document, Doc #xxxxxx, month year.
    For IDC White Papers, InfoBriefs, Infographics and eBooks, the source must include the name of the sponsor, as follows: IDC White Paper (or IDC InfoBrief, IDC Infographic or IDC eBook) sponsored by Vendor X, Title of White Paper, Doc #xxxxxx, month year.
• For slides, sources must be footnoted on the slides themselves and not in the notes section.
• IDC reserves the right in its sole discretion to terminate or modify permission to use, display, or distribute IDC content and may request that third parties modify or delete any use of content that, in IDC’s sole judgment, does not comply with these guidelines, or might otherwise impair IDC’s rights. IDC further reserves the right to object to unfair uses or misuses of its trademarks or copyright.
• IDC prohibits clients from sharing IDC research documents with third parties unless web rights have been acquired.

Traditional IDC Research

• IDC Market Share reports
• IDC Market Forecast reports
• IDC Trackers/Qviews
• IDC Spending Guides
• IDC Vendor Profiles
• IDC Market Glance
• IDC ProductScape/IDC ServiceScape
• IDC MarketScape
• IDC Innovators
• IDC FutureScape
• IDC PlanScape
• IDC TechScape
• IDC MaturityScape
• IDC Market Perspective
• IDC Market Note
• IDC Link
• IDC Survey Spotlight
• IDC Market Analysis Perspective (MAP)
• IDC Multi-Client Studies

Awards

• IDC SaaS CSAT Award
• IDC FinTech Award

IDC Custom Solutions Sponsored Research (with published deliverable)

• IDC White Paper/IDC InfoBrief
• IDC Spotlights
• IDC Analyst Connection
• IDC Analyst Briefs
• IDC Thought Leadership White Papers/InfoBrief
• IDC Business Value White Papers
• IDC InfoSnapshots
• IDC Infographic

Custom market share/forecast data or other modeling data and raw survey results without a published deliverable are internal use only and will not be approved for external use.

The following will also not be permitted for external use:

1. Custom Market Definitions
   • Market data not published in IDC’s syndicated research (CIS, Trackers, Spending Guides, Black Book), including but not limited to newly defined markets based on product functionality, revenue, spend, shipment, or other unit data, cannot be used externally. This applies to:
   • Market sizing
   • Market forecasts
   • Vendor share and revenue

2. Vendor Comparisons
   Sponsored research containing direct or indirect comparisons of two or more named vendors (or, implied in highly consolidated markets with a small set of well-known leaders) cannot be used externally. This includes but is not limited to:
   • Vendor share and revenue
   • Return on Investment (ROI), Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), or other financial measures
   • Product or service comparisons
   • Primary research results

   Results of primary research claiming market dominance or differentiation, compared to other vendors

   Results of primary research claiming market dominance or differentiation, compared to the remaining dominant vendors that make up the majority of the remaining market

3. Unpublished IDC research

When promoting a client webinar or speaking engagement that involves IDC analyst participation please abide by the following:

• Identify IDC analyst or IDC as a guest speaker only
• Do not make it appear as if IDC is a co-sponsor of the webinar or event in any way
• Do not use IDC in the title of the webinar/event
• You can use “with IDC guest speaker” in the subtitle of the webinar/event
• IDC logo can only be used at the speaker level ie. with the IDC analyst’s name/photo and or bio.
• No “in partnership” references

IDC allows clients to use IDC research in Securities-related filings and earnings calls/announcements (with review and approval by IDC Permissions) if the following guidelines are followed:

• Data must be our most recent published data available
• Data can’t be older than 18 months
• IDC Taxonomy must be followed. Market data must be represented within IDC’s market segmentation. Markets and sub-markets that are not recognized in IDC’s market taxonomy will not be approved. No special or custom market segmentations are permitted.
• Any calculations done to the data can’t be sourced directly to IDC. Required sourcing would be Company X analysis based on IDC data.
• Straight IDC data should be sourced in a footnote in this format – IDC, doc name, doc # and pub date
• Forecast data can only show first and last year’s totals and the total five-year CAGR
• Market shares can only show top three or top five vendors

IDC does allow the use of IDC data in litigation under certain circumstances if the following can be provided:

• A copy of the Complaint and any Protective Order (PO) in place. If there is no PO then proof of Confidentiality Ring or protection for the IDC data must be provided.
• Company requesting usage must either be a client of the research or have purchased the data to be used in litigation
• Company or Law Firm for the requesting company must sign a Content Use Agreement with IDC for usage

These guidelines must be followed for all use of the IDC Corporate Logo by third parties:

• The IDC Corporate Logo may not be used in any manner that might imply that any non-IDC materials (including but not limited to goods, services, websites, or publications) are sponsored, endorsed, licensed by, or affiliated with IDC.
• The IDC Corporate Logo may not be displayed as a primary or prominent feature on any non-IDC materials.
• The IDC Corporate Logo may not be imitated or used as a design feature in any manner.
• IDC Corporate Logo may not be used directly next to another company’s logo.
• The IDC Corporate Logo may not be used in a manner that would, in IDC’s sole opinion, risk disparaging IDC or its products or services.
  • The IDC Corporate Logo must be used as provided by IDC with no changes, including but not limited to changes in the color, proportion, or design, or removal of any words, artwork, or trademark symbols. The IDC Corporate Logo may not be animated, morphed, or otherwise changed in perspective or appearance.
  • The IDC Corporate Logo may only appear in black or reversed out to white, or in IDC’s corporate colors.
  • Please do not add anything such as products, groups, events, countries, or regions so that they look like a part of the IDC Corporate Logo.
• To properly stage the IDC Corporate Logo, it should appear in the bottom right-hand corner of client materials. Client logos should be the upper left-hand side of the materials. IDC logo should be 50-75 percent smaller than client logo.
  • The IDC Corporate Logo must only appear in a horizontal position.
  • The IDC Corporate Logo must stand alone or in direct connection with other IDC approved objects (e.g., words, graphics, photos, etc) but may not be combined in any way (e.g., boxed in or other visual grouping) with any other third party object (including but not limited to other logos, words, graphics, photos, slogans, numbers, design features, or symbols).
  • The IDC Corporate Logo must never be used to represent the word “IDC” in third party text, including in a headline, product-name logotype, or body copy.

Companies are allowed to request a custom analyst quote for their marketing materials. Custom quotes are at the analyst’s discretion. They will be reviewed by IDC Permissions and the IDC analyst in context. If the quoted analyst is unavailable for review within the client’s timeframe, the quote itself will not be approved.

Draft quotes should abide by the following:

• Analyst quotes must be accurate, objective, complete, and relevant to IDC’s most recent data, analysis, and opinion.
• In situations when the quote is derived from an IDC research document, the quote attributed to an IDC analyst should be used in full context so that the meaning is not misconstrued.
• The quote should address market needs, customer requirements, or technology developments in the analyst’s area of expertise.
• The quote will not promote a company or a product, as this is the role of the client spokesperson. Similarly, negative or cautionary comments regarding a particular vendor cannot be leveraged by a competitor in any form.
• An IDC analyst’s official title must accompany his or her name.
• Quote can’t be any kind of endorsement

Published IDC research, quotes and graphics may be used in client social media posts on platforms such as LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube etc. Blogs are considered social media.

• “IDC” may not be used in the names of Facebook pages, LinkedIn Groups, or Twitter handles or hashtags without prior approval by IDC. These uses are always reserved for IDC-led initiatives.
• Please do not use #IDC as that means I Do Not Care on social media
• Companies are allowed to tag IDC (@IDC) or IDC analysts in their posts if they approve.
• IDC research should be sourced. See applicable format under the specific research tab you are quoting.

IDC allows companies to issue press releases focused on the following IDC products only:

• IDC MarketScapes
• IDC Innovators
• IDC Tracker results
• IDC Market Share results
• Some award programs like IDC FinTech Rankings and IDC SaaS CSAT Awards
• Thought Leadership vendor neutral IDC White Papers and IDC InfoBriefs

Other IDC research can be quoted from in a client’s press release about something else focused on their company (ie. New product announcement). The IDC research can be used to support the message of the press release but can’t be the focus of the press release. The IDC data should make up no more than 20 percent of the press release.

IDC does not allow “IDC” in the headline or subhead of client PR. The only exception to this rule are those focused on IDC MarketScapes, IDC Innovators and some awards.

IDC does not allow the “IDC boilerplate” to be used in client press releases.

What can you do a press release on?

R = Required | P = Permitted | NP = Not Permitted | A = Applicable | NA = Not Applicable

Please submit your request to use IDC research externally (outside of your company) to permissions@idc.com or using this online form. Turnaround time is three business days or 72 hours in most cases.

What to include in your submission:

• The data/research/quote you are requesting to use with full footnoted sourcing in this format – IDC, doc name, doc # and pub date
• Your draft materials – where and how you plan to use the IDC research. Please submit them in a Word document that can be edited.