Protecting the Integrity of BuyNothing Communities
Updated November 5, 2025, to provide additional context on how we support and protect BuyNothing communities on Facebook and beyond. You can find the original blog post below.
Thank you for being part of BuyNothing
Whether you participate on the BuyNothing platform or you’re part of a local BuyNothing Facebook group, your generosity and care for your community are what make this global movement thrive. Since our founding in 2013, more than 14 million people in over 8,000 communities have come together to share freely, with the help of more than 11,000 volunteers worldwide.
BuyNothing began with a simple idea: that giving, asking, and gratitude can build community and reduce waste. As the movement has grown into the millions, we’ve learned that keeping that experience safe and consistent takes time, care, and coordination.
Why we trademarked the BuyNothing name
To protect this growing movement and the spirit of generosity behind it, we registered and trademarked the BuyNothing name several years ago. This helps ensure that when people join a group called “Buy Nothing,” they can trust they’re entering a real BuyNothing community, focused on giving freely - not buying, selling, or trading - and guided by safety, inclusion and respect. Trademarking the name helps prevent misuse and protects the BuyNothing experience across all communities.
What registering with BuyNothing means for members
Facebook groups hoping to share the BuyNothing name and spirit need to register to become part of our community. Registration links each individual community to our verified network, ensuring that every group upholds the same values and safety standards. It also provides our members and admins with:
Registration is how we make sure the name “BuyNothing” means the same thing everywhere: a safe, inclusive space for sharing abundance.
Why we act on misuse of the name
From time to time, groups appear on Facebook using the BuyNothing name without being registered. These unofficial groups can cause confusion for both members and admins, whether they belong to registered or unregistered communities. For instance, a member might join an unregistered group expecting the familiar local BuyNothing experience, only to find themselves in a public group, a buy/sell/trade group or a group that links back to a website that is impersonating BuyNothing. Unregistered groups frequently contact our help desk for assistance, and our volunteers do their best to support them, despite being outside our purview. Unfortunately, unregistered groups also have involved scams, phishing attempts, and other unsafe activity that becomes wrongly associated with the BuyNothing name.
Our process is the same everywhere and we've been transparent about it for years on our website and blog (see original post below). Meta reviews groups that are reported and removes those that use our name in ways that violate trademark law. By removing infringing content, Meta adheres to intellectual property laws and avoids potential legal liability. We don’t control the timing of those removals.
Less than 1% of BuyNothing Facebook groups have been affected by these actions. The vast majority of communities continue to grow and thrive, supported by thousands of volunteers around the world. Our goal is to protect the trust that makes the generosity of these communities possible.
Recent closures of unregistered BuyNothing Facebook Groups
Reviews of unregistered or non-compliant BuyNothing Facebook groups are ongoing and not linked to any specific event or outside policy change. We understand that some removals have coincided with the rollback to federal SNAP benefits. Timing of group removals is outside of our control, and no unregistered groups have been reported since the rollback began.
We continue to support neighbors facing hardship through the broader BuyNothing community, and we remain committed to ensuring everyone has safe, trusted ways to share what they have with each other. You can find more about how we’re empowering our BuyNothing communities to support those impacted by SNAP changes here.
Looking ahead
BuyNothing has always been about generosity, connection, and care for people and the planet. Safeguarding the name helps preserve that spirit, so when you see “BuyNothing,” you know it represents a space where giving is free, trust is valued, and members come together to make life a little easier and more enjoyable for one another.
We’re grateful to everyone who keeps this movement strong and true to its purpose.
Updated November 5, 2025, to provide additional context on how we support and protect BuyNothing communities on Facebook and beyond. You can find the original blog post below.
Thank you for being part of BuyNothing
Whether you participate on the BuyNothing platform or you’re part of a local BuyNothing Facebook group, your generosity and care for your community are what make this global movement thrive. Since our founding in 2013, more than 14 million people in over 8,000 communities have come together to share freely, with the help of more than 11,000 volunteers worldwide.
BuyNothing began with a simple idea: that giving, asking, and gratitude can build community and reduce waste. As the movement has grown into the millions, we’ve learned that keeping that experience safe and consistent takes time, care, and coordination.
Why we trademarked the BuyNothing name
To protect this growing movement and the spirit of generosity behind it, we registered and trademarked the BuyNothing name several years ago. This helps ensure that when people join a group called “Buy Nothing,” they can trust they’re entering a real BuyNothing community, focused on giving freely - not buying, selling, or trading - and guided by safety, inclusion and respect. Trademarking the name helps prevent misuse and protects the BuyNothing experience across all communities.
What registering with BuyNothing means for members
Facebook groups hoping to share the BuyNothing name and spirit need to register to become part of our community. Registration links each individual community to our verified network, ensuring that every group upholds the same values and safety standards. It also provides our members and admins with:
- Trust: Members know that when they join a registered BuyNothing group, they’re part of a network guided by shared principles of generosity and respect.
- Support: Group admins are connected to our volunteer-run BuyNothing Admin Hub for ongoing guidance and access to resources.
- Accessibility: We maintain a public list of registered BuyNothing groups so anyone can find their neighborhood community easily.
Registration is how we make sure the name “BuyNothing” means the same thing everywhere: a safe, inclusive space for sharing abundance.
Why we act on misuse of the name
From time to time, groups appear on Facebook using the BuyNothing name without being registered. These unofficial groups can cause confusion for both members and admins, whether they belong to registered or unregistered communities. For instance, a member might join an unregistered group expecting the familiar local BuyNothing experience, only to find themselves in a public group, a buy/sell/trade group or a group that links back to a website that is impersonating BuyNothing. Unregistered groups frequently contact our help desk for assistance, and our volunteers do their best to support them, despite being outside our purview. Unfortunately, unregistered groups also have involved scams, phishing attempts, and other unsafe activity that becomes wrongly associated with the BuyNothing name.
Our process is the same everywhere and we've been transparent about it for years on our website and blog (see original post below). Meta reviews groups that are reported and removes those that use our name in ways that violate trademark law. By removing infringing content, Meta adheres to intellectual property laws and avoids potential legal liability. We don’t control the timing of those removals.
Less than 1% of BuyNothing Facebook groups have been affected by these actions. The vast majority of communities continue to grow and thrive, supported by thousands of volunteers around the world. Our goal is to protect the trust that makes the generosity of these communities possible.
Recent closures of unregistered BuyNothing Facebook Groups
Reviews of unregistered or non-compliant BuyNothing Facebook groups are ongoing and not linked to any specific event or outside policy change. We understand that some removals have coincided with the rollback to federal SNAP benefits. Timing of group removals is outside of our control, and no unregistered groups have been reported since the rollback began.
We continue to support neighbors facing hardship through the broader BuyNothing community, and we remain committed to ensuring everyone has safe, trusted ways to share what they have with each other. You can find more about how we’re empowering our BuyNothing communities to support those impacted by SNAP changes here.
Looking ahead
BuyNothing has always been about generosity, connection, and care for people and the planet. Safeguarding the name helps preserve that spirit, so when you see “BuyNothing,” you know it represents a space where giving is free, trust is valued, and members come together to make life a little easier and more enjoyable for one another.
We’re grateful to everyone who keeps this movement strong and true to its purpose.
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Original Blog Post, Dated 30.10.2025
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!