legal: add dual MIT+Apache 2.0 license, trademark policy, and CLA (#941 )

- LICENSE: add trademark notice and dual-license reference to MIT file
- LICENSE-APACHE: add full Apache 2.0 license text with ZeroClaw
  trademark clause in section 6
- TRADEMARK.md: define permitted/prohibited uses of the ZeroClaw name,
  list known unauthorized forks (openagen/zeroclaw), and document
  contributor trademark protections
- CLA.md: add Contributor License Agreement granting rights under both
  MIT and Apache 2.0, with explicit patent grant and attribution
  guarantees; contributors retain copyright ownership
- NOTICE: add official repository notice, dual-license summary, and
  contributor protection statement
- README.md: add impersonation warning section with official repo link,
  replace single MIT badge with dual-license table, add trademark and
  contributor protection summary, link CLA.md from Contributing section

2026-02-19 09:20:03 -05:00

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ZeroClaw Trademark Policy

Effective date: February 2026
Maintained by: ZeroClaw Labs

Our Trademarks

The following are trademarks of ZeroClaw Labs:

ZeroClaw (word mark)
zeroclaw-labs (organization name)
The ZeroClaw logo and associated visual identity

These marks identify the official ZeroClaw project and distinguish it from unauthorized forks, derivatives, or impersonators.

Official Repository

The only official ZeroClaw repository is:

https://github.com/zeroclaw-labs/zeroclaw

Any other repository, organization, domain, or product claiming to be "ZeroClaw" or implying affiliation with ZeroClaw Labs is unauthorized and may constitute trademark infringement.

Known unauthorized forks:

openagen/zeroclaw — not affiliated with ZeroClaw Labs

If you encounter an unauthorized use, please report it by opening an issue at https://github.com/zeroclaw-labs/zeroclaw/issues.

Permitted Uses

You may use the ZeroClaw name and marks in the following ways without prior written permission:

Attribution — stating that your software is based on or derived from ZeroClaw, provided it is clear your project is not the official ZeroClaw.
Descriptive reference — referring to ZeroClaw in documentation, articles, blog posts, or presentations to accurately describe the software.
Community discussion — using the name in forums, issues, or social media to discuss the project.
Fork identification — identifying your fork as "a fork of ZeroClaw" with a clear link to the official repository.

Prohibited Uses

You may not use the ZeroClaw name or marks in ways that:

Imply official endorsement — suggest your project, product, or organization is officially affiliated with or endorsed by ZeroClaw Labs.
Cause brand confusion — use "ZeroClaw" as the primary name of a competing or derivative product in a way that could confuse users about the source.
Impersonate the project — create repositories, domains, packages, or accounts that could be mistaken for the official ZeroClaw project.
Misrepresent origin — remove or obscure attribution to ZeroClaw Labs while distributing the software or derivatives.
Commercial trademark use — use the marks in commercial products, services, or marketing without prior written permission from ZeroClaw Labs.

Fork Guidelines

Forks are welcome under the terms of the MIT and Apache 2.0 licenses. If you fork ZeroClaw, you must:

Clearly state your project is a fork of ZeroClaw
Link back to the official repository
Not use "ZeroClaw" as the primary name of your fork
Not imply your fork is the official or original project
Retain all copyright, license, and attribution notices

Contributor Protections

Contributors to the official ZeroClaw repository are protected under the dual MIT + Apache 2.0 license model:

Patent grant (Apache 2.0) — your contributions are protected from patent claims by other contributors.
Attribution — your contributions are permanently recorded in the repository history and NOTICE file.
No trademark transfer — contributing code does not transfer any trademark rights to third parties.

Reporting Infringement

If you believe someone is infringing ZeroClaw trademarks:

Open an issue at https://github.com/zeroclaw-labs/zeroclaw/issues
Include the URL of the infringing content
Describe how it violates this policy

For serious or commercial infringement, contact the maintainers directly through the repository.

Changes to This Policy

ZeroClaw Labs reserves the right to update this policy at any time. Changes will be committed to the official repository with a clear commit message.

This trademark policy is separate from and in addition to the MIT and Apache 2.0 software licenses. The licenses govern use of the source code; this policy governs use of the ZeroClaw name and brand.

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