Citation & Content Compliance Policy
Integrity, objectivity, and methodological rigour are the foundations of Elev8 Group's research practice. This policy defines how Elev8's intellectual property — including all published research, frameworks, branded assets, and evaluative content — may be cited, referenced, and used externally. It applies to all organisations, regardless of client status, and governs every format and channel through which Elev8's content might appear. All use of Elev8's IP is subject to this policy and, where applicable, to the terms of a separate written agreement with Elev8.
Who Can Cite Elev8 Research
External citation of Elev8 research is a privilege, not a default right. What you are permitted to cite depends on your relationship with Elev8 and the nature of the content involved.
What Does Not Require Approval
Internal use of limited citations does not require Elev8's prior approval, provided it complies with the attribution requirements set out in this policy.
Internal use — no approval needed
- An internal presentation that includes a single scorecard, product comparison, graphic, table, or a passage of text shorter than one paragraph — attributed correctly to Elev8 and the specific publication.
- An internal briefing note or planning document that references an Elev8 finding with full attribution, where it is not distributed outside the organisation.
- A limited excerpt shared with a small internal audience on an occasional, non-systematic basis — not as a substitute for purchasing additional licences.
These are not internal uses — approval is required
- Distributing Elev8 content — in any form — to external partners, prospects, clients, or media, even if framed as internal.
- Systematically or routinely circulating Elev8 excerpts across an organisation as a substitute for purchasing research access.
- Posting Elev8 content on internal intranets accessible to a large or unrestricted internal audience without approval.
Core Citation Rules
The following rules apply to all citations of Elev8 research, across all content types and channels. Specific content types and promotional channels may carry additional requirements, set out in the sections below.
What all citations must do
- Be limited in scope — citations must be specific and bounded, not broad reproductions of a publication's content or argument.
- Come directly from published research — paraphrased or reconstructed versions of Elev8's findings are not permitted without separate approval.
- Be cited verbatim where quoting directly — citations must reproduce the text exactly as published, without editing, abridging, or reordering.
- Be attributed in the following format: Publication Title, Elev8 Group, Month Year — including correct trademarks and punctuation where applicable.
- Come from research published within the past 18 months, unless no more recent research on the same topic exists or a longer period is expressly agreed with Elev8.
- Be submitted for re-review if translated into another language — translated citations require separate approval even where the original was approved.
Required attribution format
Publication Title, Elev8 Group, Month Year
Example: "AI and the HR Operating Model", Elev8 Group, March 2026
What no citation may do
- Reproduce any Elev8 research publication in full — full reproduction of syndicated research is prohibited in all circumstances.
- Create or attribute a quote to an Elev8 analyst — analysts do not provide verbal quotes for client materials, and fabricated analyst quotes are strictly prohibited.
- Cite research in a way that negatively portrays, directly compares, or disparages another company or its products.
- Use Elev8's boilerplate description in client press releases, white papers, or marketing campaigns.
- Imply that Elev8 endorses the citing organisation, its products, or its services — beyond what the cited research itself states.
- Use "Elev8," "Articul8 Hex-Model™," or other Elev8 trademarks in press release headers or subheaders, email subject lines, or company email signatures.
- Include Elev8 analyst names in email subject lines, press release headers, or signatures when citing Elev8 research — analyst names may appear only when clearly identified as event guests.
When describing Elev8 Group in any approved external citation, use the following description: "an independent workforce and HR technology research and advisory practice."
Articul8 Hex-Model™ Citations
The Articul8 Hex-Model™ is Elev8's proprietary vendor evaluation framework. Citations of Hex-Model evaluations — including scores, positions, tier designations, and graphics — carry specific requirements in addition to the core citation rules above.
The four tier designations used in the Articul8 Hex-Model™ are:
Vendors may only claim a tier designation that corresponds to their actual placement in a published Articul8 Hex-Model™ evaluation. Tier designations must be cited as an overall placement — not claimed within a specific criterion or sub-category.
All materials citing Hex-Model rankings, scores, tier designations, graphics, or badges must include the following objectivity statement in full:
Required objectivity statement — Articul8 Hex-Model™
Elev8 does not endorse any company, product, brand, or service included in its research publications and does not advise any person to select the products or services of any company or brand based on the ratings included in such publications. Information is based on the best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. For more information, read about Elev8's objectivity at elev8group.io/policies.
If character or space constraints prevent the full objectivity statement from appearing in the material, a link to an approved asset containing the statement must be included instead.
Up to three non-comparative statements, for example
- The vendor's overall tier placement: "[Company] is a [Tier Designation] in the Articul8 Hex-Model™ for [market], published by Elev8 Group, [date]."
- Up to three specific criteria where the vendor received the highest score: "[Company] received the highest score in the [criterion] criterion."
- One verbatim sentence quoted directly from the vendor's own profile in the evaluation.
With a Hex-Model™ Reprints licence
- The Articul8 Hex-Model™ graphic — with a link to the authorised reprint and the objectivity statement.
- Any applicable Elev8-provided badge — linked to the authorised reprint and accompanied by a research citation.
- More than three non-comparative statements based on the report, including a full list of criteria where the highest score was received and up to five verbatim sentences from the vendor's profile.
- The badge in an email signature banner — linked to the authorised reprint landing page.
What no organisation may do
- Claim a tier designation within a specific criterion or category — for example, a company cannot claim to be a Visionary Architect in the current-offering category.
- Use the Hex-Model™ graphic without an active Reprints licence.
- Distribute, reproduce, or share the full evaluation matrix.
- Cite or reference other vendors' scores, positions, or profiles from the evaluation.
- Make direct product comparisons using Hex-Model™ data.
- Publicly cite or display custom scores from Hex-Model™ scorecards.
- Use wording such as "highest score" or "top ranked" outside the context of specific, cited criterion results from their own evaluation.
Commissioned Research Citations
Commissioned research is produced by Elev8 on behalf of a specific client organisation. It carries different citation rules from syndicated research.
Required attribution — commissioned research
A commissioned study conducted by Elev8 Group on behalf of [Client Name], [Month, Year]
Permitted
- Cite from the commissioned research deliverables approved by Elev8 for external use, using the attribution format above.
- Cite from research commissioned by another organisation — provided that organisation has given Elev8 written permission for the requested use, or has authorised Elev8 to grant such permission on their behalf.
- Reference Elev8's independence clearly in all materials — it must be evident that Elev8 is an independent research practice.
Not permitted
- Attribute commissioned research to a specific Elev8 analyst by name — Elev8 Group is the author of all commissioned research.
- Cite commissioned research about specific companies or products externally — this category of commissioned research is for internal use only.
- Cite commissioned research older than 18 months.
- Position commissioned research as jointly released, co-authored, or co-branded with the commissioning client.
- Imply that Elev8 endorses the commissioning client's organisation, products, or brand.
- Cite, transcribe, or translate statements made by Elev8 analysts during client webinars, podcasts, or recorded events associated with commissioned research — except for accessibility transcription presented alongside the full recording.
Analyst Engagements
This section covers the use of Elev8 branding and content in connection with events, webinars, podcasts, videos, and other recorded or live engagements where an Elev8 analyst is a guest or featured speaker.
Permitted
- Use the Elev8 logo to promote analyst speaking engagements — provided it is smaller than, less prominently displayed than, and not horizontally aligned with the client's logo. The Elev8 logo must be accompanied by "Featuring" or "Guest Speaker" above it.
- Mention analyst names in email subject lines and press release headlines or subheadings — provided it is clear the analyst is a guest at the event, not a co-host or co-sponsor.
- Replay recordings in full — provided audio and visual elements are presented together and the appropriate replay rights have been purchased.
- Create short clips from recordings to market the full recording — provided clips give access to the full recording and have been reviewed and approved by Elev8.
- Include Elev8's copyright notice on all Elev8-authored slides: © Elev8 Group. All Rights Reserved.
Not permitted
- Replay, distribute, or host recordings without the appropriate replay rights licence.
- Cite, translate, or transcribe statements made by Elev8 analysts during client engagements — except for accessibility transcription presented alongside the full recording.
- Present Elev8 as a co-host, co-sponsor, or co-producer of any client event.
Reprint Licence Usage
After purchasing a reprint licence, clients may promote Elev8 research as set out below. All marketing materials using licensed reprint content must be reviewed and approved by Elev8 before use. For full details on reprint options, visit the Articul8 Reprints page.
Permitted with a reprint licence
- Promote the licensed publication — clearly described as an independent research report — via approved marketing channels.
- Provide direct access to the unique reprint link, or place the reprint behind a registration or gated landing page.
- Reference the reprint as "complimentary" — without any monetary value assigned to it.
- Display the Articul8 Hex-Model™ graphic in licensed materials — linked to the authorised reprint and accompanied by the objectivity statement.
- Use an Elev8-provided badge in an email signature banner — linked to the reprint landing page or direct reprint link.
Required reprints statement — include in all reprint marketing materials
Information in Elev8 publications is based on Elev8's efforts to compile and analyse the best resources reasonably available at the time of publication. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change.
Not permitted
- Host or distribute the PDF of a reprint directly — reprint access must be provided via an authorised reprint link.
- Assign a monetary value to a reprint in any marketing material.
- Translate a reprint independently — contact Elev8 to discuss translation options.
- Use Elev8 blog content under a reprint licence — blogs are not available for reprint licensing.
Logo & Badge Usage
Use of the Elev8 Group logo is a client privilege. Use of Elev8-branded research badges requires an active Reprints licence for the specific publication. All logo and badge use is subject to the core citation rules above.
Permitted logo and badge use
- Use the Elev8 logo in client materials — provided it is smaller than, and less prominently displayed than, the client's own logo.
- Use an Elev8-provided badge in client materials — provided an active Reprints licence is in place for the relevant report, and the badge links to the authorised reprint.
- Use the Elev8 logo to promote analyst speaking engagements — with "Featuring" or "Guest Speaker" above it, and not horizontally aligned with the client's logo.
- Use Elev8 badges in email signature banners — as part of a company-branded banner marketing a reprint licence, linked to the reprint landing page.
Not permitted
- Align the Elev8 logo horizontally with the client's logo.
- Use the Elev8 logo or badges in client press releases.
- Use the Elev8 logo in email signatures — badges from active Reprints licences are the only exception.
- Use Elev8's social media profile icons or handles in any client material.
- Use a badge beyond the duration of the active Reprints licence.
Channel-Specific Rules
In addition to the core rules, the following channel-specific requirements apply. All channel uses must also comply with the core citation rules and any content-type-specific rules set out above.
Objectivity Statement Reference
The following is the full Elev8 objectivity statement, required in all materials that cite Articul8 Hex-Model™ evaluations, scores, or graphics. This version is reproduced here for reference. Where character constraints apply, a link to an approved asset containing this statement must be included instead.
Full objectivity statement
Elev8 does not endorse any company, product, brand, or service included in its research publications and does not advise any person to select the products or services of any company or brand based on the ratings included in such publications. Information is based on the best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. For more information, read about Elev8's objectivity at elev8group.io/policies.
Elev8 reserves the right to update this statement at any time. Always verify you are using the current version before submitting materials for approval.
Research Independence Statement
Elev8's research and evaluative content are produced independently of all commercial relationships. The citation rules in this policy exist to protect that independence in how Elev8's work is used externally. Any citation that would misrepresent Elev8's findings, imply endorsement, or undermine the objectivity of published research will not be approved — regardless of the citing organisation's commercial relationship with Elev8. Elev8 reserves the right to change these guidelines at any time without notice, and reserves all rights to its intellectual property and syndicated research.