Let’s Encrypt is a nonprofit certificate authority operated by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG) that provides free TLS certificates to enable HTTPS encryption across the web.[1] The organization’s visual identity is managed under ISRG’s trademark policy, which designates the “Let’s Encrypt” word mark and the “Let’s Encrypt shining lock” design mark as official trademarks.[2]
Design and History
ISRG’s trademark policy identifies the Let’s Encrypt logo as a “shining lock” design mark, a term used in official documentation to describe the graphic element.[2] The policy also lists the “Let’s Encrypt®” word mark as a separate trademark, indicating that the lock symbol and the wordmark are distinct elements of the brand identity.[2]
ISRG provides several official versions of the Let’s Encrypt logo for approved use: a standard version combining logo and text, a wide version for contexts with limited vertical space, and a lock-only version intended for use only when the “Let’s Encrypt” word mark is clearly established elsewhere in the design.[3] The trademark policy requires that approved users not alter the color, font, proportions, or any other aspect of the logos and design marks.[3]
The design mark files are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) and are also subject to ISRG’s trademark policy.[3] The trademark policy was most recently updated on August 15, 2022.[3]
Meaning and Symbolism
ISRG’s trademark documentation describes the design mark as a “shining lock,” a name that directly references the lock symbol at the center of the logo.[2] The lock motif aligns with the organization’s core function of providing TLS certificates, which enable the padlock indicator that browsers display for secure HTTPS connections.[1]
In a 2023 community forum discussion, a Let’s Encrypt communications team member emphasized that the organization has “worked very hard over the years to build a unique identity in the Let’s Encrypt brand and to make that identity a reliable indicator of quality.”[4] This statement underscores that the logo functions as a quality indicator for the organization’s certificates, distinct from generic representations of TLS security.
Typography and Design
ISRG’s trademark policy specifies that the “Let’s Encrypt” word mark must be used in its exact, most up-to-date form and should not be abbreviated or combined with other words.[3] The policy also requires that the word mark be set apart from surrounding text through capitalization, italics, bold, or underlining on first or most prominent mention.[3]
Official logo files are made available at the bottom of ISRG’s trademark policy page, where users with permission can access the standard, wide, and lock-only versions of the Let’s Encrypt design marks.[3]
Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners.
