What is an affiliate?
An “affiliate” means any entity that is, directly or indirectly, controlled by, under common control of, or controls the subject party, as defined in the Bluetooth SIG Bylaws.
Control means direct or indirect ownership of or the right to exercise (a) greater than fifty (50%) percent of the outstanding shares or securities entitled to vote for the election of directors or similar managing authority of the subject entity, or (b) greater than fifty (50%) percent of the ownership interest representing the right to make decisions for the subject entity.
To sell, brand, or rebrand a product incorporating Bluetooth technology, your company must join the Bluetooth SIG and complete the Qualification process.
What is the benefit of being an affiliate?
There are two main benefits affiliates receive:
Upgraded benefits for Adopter members
Adopter members who are affiliated with an Associate or Promoter member may receive benefits at the Associate level. These benefits include discounts, eligibility to join working groups, early access to specifications, and more. Our complete list of benefits is outlined here.
Qualified Products
If you are an affiliate, a Product Qualification Fee is charged for the first Product submission from a Member Company that includes a specific Design whether that Design is an existing Design (identified by a Design Number) or a new Design (that will be issued a Design Number upon completion of the Qualification process). Subsequent Product submissions that include the same Design will not be charged a Product Qualification Fee.
How to see if your company is affiliated with other member companies:
- Go to My Membership page
- If your company is affiliated with any other member companies, you will see them listed on this page. If nothing is listed on this page, your company does not have any affiliates.
How to create a new affiliate:
To establish an affiliate link between membership accounts in our database, the member must provide official documentation of the affiliate relationship, and complete and submit Form 1100 (“Affiliate Acknowledgement and Agreement”) for verification.
An official document may include:
- A government business registration document, such as a securities filling
- A notice in a public Annual Report
Please submit your affiliate request with your required documentation.
What else should I know about being an affiliate?
We recommend that all companies carefully read the Membership Agreements regarding affiliates and consult their own legal counsel to determine which membership account option is best for their company.
If you have questions about applying for an account, please submit a support request.
This KBA is intended to provide Bluetooth SIG members with helpful information and address frequently asked questions. Governing documents, membership agreements, policies, and other Bluetooth SIG rules and guidelines can be found here.