We want to first thank everyone for being a dedicated member of a community focused on the transformative mission of BuyNothing, whether you are a member of your local BuyNothing Facebook Group or a member of the BuyNothing Platform. Your enthusiasm for giving, asking, and expressing gratitude is what makes this global movement so powerful. We deeply value everyone who participates.
Over the last few years we have seen a rise in non-registered BuyNothing Facebook Groups. We have systematically reported these groups to Meta, utilizing their Brand Protection Rights tools that allow for corporations to protect their trademarks. Unfortunately, some people may have thought they were participating in a BuyNothing community when they were not and have now found their group removed in violation of our trademark. We wanted to take the opportunity to explain why registration is so important.
Why Registration Matters
BuyNothing Facebook Groups are a global network of gifting communities, run by a volunteer team that has worked for years to build and protect the integrity of the mission. When we are contacted about starting a BuyNothing group on Facebook, we mandate registration as a way to protect our mission, the experience of our members, and the intellectual property we have built over the 13 years of growing this movement.
Registration ensures that:
We have worked to make registration as easy and transparent as possible. But for those groups who wish to use our name and the promise it implies, and not register, our only option is to report them to the Meta Brand Protection Rights Program in the interest of protecting the much larger BuyNothing community.
How To Make Sure You Belong to a Licensed BuyNothing group
All licensed BuyNothing groups link back to our website in their group description (their “About” page) and/or in their group rules.
We are proud to share that over 8,000 BuyNothing groups are officially registered and part of The Buy Nothing Project network.
We invite you to join our free, global digital BuyNothing gifting platform, custom built for gifting communities. It allows you to participate in Giving, Asking, and Gratitude from wherever you are. You can join the movement at: buynothingapp.com.
We sincerely hope you will continue your journey with us and join an official community soon. Thank you for caring about The Buy Nothing Project mission!
Over the last few years we have seen a rise in non-registered BuyNothing Facebook Groups. We have systematically reported these groups to Meta, utilizing their Brand Protection Rights tools that allow for corporations to protect their trademarks. Unfortunately, some people may have thought they were participating in a BuyNothing community when they were not and have now found their group removed in violation of our trademark. We wanted to take the opportunity to explain why registration is so important.
Why Registration Matters
BuyNothing Facebook Groups are a global network of gifting communities, run by a volunteer team that has worked for years to build and protect the integrity of the mission. When we are contacted about starting a BuyNothing group on Facebook, we mandate registration as a way to protect our mission, the experience of our members, and the intellectual property we have built over the 13 years of growing this movement.
Registration ensures that:
- You can trust the name: When a community is officially registered, it means it’s part of our verified network. This ensures we protect the BuyNothing name and mission for everyone.
- Your community is supported: Registered groups link directly to our official website for community support. Furthermore, your group's volunteer admins are part of our Buy Nothing Admin Hub, where they receive ongoing, direct support from The Buy Nothing Project volunteer team.
- Your group is easy to find: We maintain a public list of all registered BuyNothing groups, helping newcomers find and join the official BuyNothing community in their neighborhood.
- Protecting our brand, which we built over a dozen years of learning, means we’re able to offer a consistent and safe experience for the wider community.
We have worked to make registration as easy and transparent as possible. But for those groups who wish to use our name and the promise it implies, and not register, our only option is to report them to the Meta Brand Protection Rights Program in the interest of protecting the much larger BuyNothing community.
How To Make Sure You Belong to a Licensed BuyNothing group
All licensed BuyNothing groups link back to our website in their group description (their “About” page) and/or in their group rules.
We are proud to share that over 8,000 BuyNothing groups are officially registered and part of The Buy Nothing Project network.
We invite you to join our free, global digital BuyNothing gifting platform, custom built for gifting communities. It allows you to participate in Giving, Asking, and Gratitude from wherever you are. You can join the movement at: buynothingapp.com.
We sincerely hope you will continue your journey with us and join an official community soon. Thank you for caring about The Buy Nothing Project mission!