Badge terms of use
How you may use the Hostlyzer badge on your site. The badge is free; these terms exist to keep it meaningful.
The badge is free
The badge itself, the verification record and verifying your prices by e-mail are ALWAYS free. A Premium subscription does not SELL the badge; it sells only the badge’s impression report, automatic daily refresh, and an early warning before a badge would lapse.
The badge is live, not an image
The badge is an SVG served from Hostlyzer’s own servers. It may not be copied and hosted on your server, and it may not be screenshotted and published as a static image. The reason is simple: when the underlying fact changes the badge updates itself, whereas a static copy becomes a falsehood left hanging on your site.
It may not be altered
The badge’s colour, text, ratio and date may not be changed; nothing may be written over it, and it may not be cropped or rotated. It may not be used in any form other than the sizes and themes provided.
It must link to the verification record
The badge is always placed as a link to its own verification record (/dogrula/{provider}). A badge without that link stops the reader from checking the number and breaches these terms. The embed-code generator already produces the correct link.
Endorsement may not be implied
The badge may not be presented as meaning that Hostlyzer recommends or endorses the provider. Phrases such as “Hostlyzer approved” or “hosting recommended by Hostlyzer” may not be used. The badge states on its face what it verifies; no further meaning may be attached to it. That is why the badge family carries two separate renewal badges: “renewal price disclosed” is an attestation of TRANSPARENCY, earned by every provider that reports its renewal with evidence whatever the multiplier, while “no renewal increase” is a separate and rare tier. Displaying the first does not mean the price is low or the renewal is cheap; the multiplier itself is written on the verification record.
Only on verified domains
The badge may be displayed on domains verified during the claim process. Called from any other site, the badge switches to its “not authorised for this address” version. You can update your domain list from the provider portal.
Date stamp and validity
Category badges carry a month stamp and are recalculated at the start of each month. If a verification is not refreshed within 90 days the badge moves to the “verification out of date” state — it does not disappear, it starts telling the truth. Using a badge whose stamp has expired in advertising is a breach.
Appeals
Either the provider or a user may dispute any data a badge rests on. A review concludes within 5 business days; if it takes longer, the reason is published on the verification record. While a review is open the badge is NOT removed, it moves to the “under appeal” state — removing it would turn an appeal into a censorship tool. The outcome, upheld or not, is published permanently in the verification history.
Breach
In the event of a breach, access to the badge is withdrawn and the fact is noted on the provider’s listing. The provider is notified before withdrawal and given a reasonable period to correct the breach.