Last updated: 2026-08-27
The MerlinAU source code is free and open-source software distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.0.
The GPL grants broad rights to copy, modify, and redistribute the software.
Those copyright permissions are separate from rights associated with the names, logos, and branding that identify the official MerlinAU project.
This policy explains how the MerlinAU project trademarks may be used.
The following names and branding are referred to in this policy as the "MerlinAU Marks":
- MerlinAU™
- MerlinAutoUpdate™
- the official MerlinAU logo
- distinctive logos or branding used to identify official MerlinAU releases
The MerlinAU Marks are claimed and controlled by:
Joel Samson, publicly known as @ExtremeFiretop
The use of the ™ symbol identifies an asserted trademark. It does not represent that the mark is registered unless and until registration has actually been obtained.
The official and canonical MerlinAU project is:
https://github.com/ExtremeFiretop/MerlinAutoUpdate-Router
Official MerlinAU releases are releases authorized through that project or through another distribution channel expressly authorized by the trademark owner.
Merely forking, cloning, modifying, or redistributing MerlinAU does not make a derivative version an official MerlinAU release.
Martinski W. is an official co-author of MerlinAU and is authorized to use the MerlinAU Marks in connection with his development, documentation, support, promotion, and other authorized work on the official MerlinAU project.
Use of the MerlinAU Marks by Martinski W. in connection with the official MerlinAU project is licensed by the trademark owner.
The trademark owner retains direct or indirect control over the character and quality of software and services distributed under the MerlinAU Marks.
This authorization and licensed use do not transfer ownership of the MerlinAU Marks.
You may use the MerlinAU name reasonably and truthfully to identify the original project or explain the origin of another project.
Examples include:
FooUpdater is based on MerlinAU.
FooUpdater contains code derived from MerlinAU.
FooUpdater is an unofficial fork of MerlinAU.
Originally based on MerlinAU version 1.x.
Compatible with software originally developed by the MerlinAU project.
You may also reproduce factual copyright and attribution notices that identify MerlinAU, ExtremeFiretop, Martinski W., or the official project.
Nothing in this policy is intended to prohibit uses that applicable law permits independently of permission from the trademark owner.
You may exercise all rights granted to you under GPLv3, including the right to modify MerlinAU and distribute your modifications.
However, permission is not granted under this trademark policy to use the MerlinAU Marks as the primary identity or branding of an independently maintained derivative project.
A derivative should adopt a sufficiently distinct primary project name and may then truthfully describe its relationship to MerlinAU.
For example:
ZeroUpdater
An unofficial fork of MerlinAU.
RouterUpdateNG
Based on the MerlinAU project.
AUPlus
Derived from MerlinAU.
derivative
- MerlinAU Zero
- MerlinAU-Zero
- MerlinAutoUpdate Zero
- MerlinAU Pro
- MerlinAU Plus
- MerlinAU NG
- MerlinAU Next
- MerlinAU Community Edition
- MerlinAU Enhanced
- MerlinAU Extended
- MerlinAutoUpdate Pro
- MerlinAutoUpdate NG
The examples above are illustrative rather than exhaustive.
Adding a word, suffix, prefix, version designation, or edition name to a MerlinAU Mark does not by itself make the resulting branding authorized under this policy.
Without permission, an independent derivative project should not use the MerlinAU Marks in a manner that is likely to represent or imply that the derivative is:
- an official MerlinAU release;
- a new official edition of MerlinAU;
- the successor to the official MerlinAU project;
- sponsored by the MerlinAU project;
- maintained by the MerlinAU maintainers; or
- endorsed or approved by the MerlinAU project.
Examples of branding that is not authorized under this policy include:
MerlinAU Zero — The Next Generation of MerlinAU
MerlinAU Pro — Official Enhanced Edition
MerlinAutoUpdate NG
unless that use has been expressly authorized.
This policy does not prohibit use of normal source-control mechanisms for creating or maintaining forks.
A GitHub-generated fork that retains repository history or a repository name associated with its upstream source should clearly identify itself as a fork where appropriate and must not otherwise present itself as the official MerlinAU repository.
Permission is not granted to create an independently branded competing project that incorporates MerlinAU or MerlinAutoUpdate into its primary project, product, package, or repository identity in a manner that suggests an official MerlinAU edition or successor.
A distinct project name with a truthful statement such as:
Based on MerlinAU
is preferred.
The GPL license applicable to MerlinAU source code does not itself grant trademark rights in the official MerlinAU logo or other distinctive project branding.
Unless permission has been granted, a modified or independently maintained distribution should not use official MerlinAU logos or visual branding as its own primary identity in a way that suggests it is an official MerlinAU release.
Reasonable reproduction for purposes such as attribution, historical reference, commentary, screenshots, or explaining compatibility is not intended to be prohibited by this policy where otherwise permitted by law.
Permission is not granted under this policy to register or use the MerlinAU Marks in a domain name, social-media identity, service name, or other identifier in a manner that falsely implies that the resource is operated by or affiliated with the official MerlinAU project.
Examples that would require permission include names presented as:
- Official MerlinAU Support
- MerlinAU Official
- MerlinAU Pro
- MerlinAU Zero
- MerlinAutoUpdate Official
Truthful references to the project remain permitted as described above.
The requirement to preserve copyright notices or acknowledge that code originated from MerlinAU does not mean that the MerlinAU project, ExtremeFiretop, or Martinski W. endorses the derivative work.
Likewise, the ability to truthfully describe software as a "fork of MerlinAU" does not make that software an official MerlinAU release.
Uses of the MerlinAU Marks that are not authorized by this policy may be permitted with prior written authorization from the trademark owner.
Permission may be subject to reasonable conditions intended to prevent confusion regarding the source, quality, maintenance, or official status of the software.
This trademark policy does not modify the GNU GPLv3 copyright license applicable to MerlinAU source code.
Nothing in this policy is intended to prevent anyone from exercising their rights under GPLv3 to:
- copy MerlinAU;
- study MerlinAU;
- modify MerlinAU;
- create a fork;
- redistribute MerlinAU; or
- redistribute modified versions.
The purpose of this policy is to distinguish those copyright freedoms from use of the MerlinAU Marks as source-identifying branding.
MerlinAU™ / MerlinAutoUpdate™
Official project: https://github.com/ExtremeFiretop/MerlinAutoUpdate-Router