Domestic Mail
DMM REVISION
Placement of Postage
Effective September 28, 2006, we are revising 604.4.3.3
of the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM). This revision clarifies the boundaries and placement of indicia, explains exceptions in clear zones, and defines ad plates and the
language that must be included when using them.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
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604 Postage Payment Methods
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4.0 Postage Meters and PC Postage Products
("Postage Evidencing Systems")
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4.3 Postage Payment
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4.3.3 Placement of Postage
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[Reletter current items b through e as new items f through i.
Add new items b through e to read as follows:]
b. Position indicia within the required boundaries. The
boundaries of indicia are defined by the right edge of
the envelope, the top edge of the envelope, and the
bottom edge and the left edge of any USPS-required
indicium element printed by the postage evidencing
system.
c. Maintain the required 1/2-inch clear zone to the left of
and below all elements of the indicium, within which
nothing must be printed or placed, except as follows:
1. Indicia containing images obtained from a USPS-
approved licensed vendor of customized PC
Postage.
2. For letterpress indicia only, advertising matter or
slogans may be printed with the indicia within
space limitations. These advertising messages
and slogans are known as ad plates. Customers
must obtain the ad plates for printing this matter
from their authorized postage meter provider. Ad
plate messages must be distinguished by the inclusion of the name of the mailer or words such as
"Mailer's Message."
d. For postage evidencing systems that print digital indicia, an approved indicium must include within its
boundaries only postal markings and text required or
recommended by USPS regulation, except that the
indicium may identify the provider. Other matter may
be printed only outside the boundaries of the clear
zone identified in 4.3.3.c.
e. Any additional matter printed by a postage evidencing system in accordance with 4.3.3.c and 4.3.3.d
must comply with the following requirements:
1. Must be consistent with the Postal Service's intent
to maintain neutrality on religious, social, political,
legal, moral, or other public issues.
2. Must not be obscene, deceptive, or defamatory of
any person, entity, or group, nor advocate unlawful action.
3. Must not emulate any form of valid postage, government, or other official indicia or payment of
postage.
4. Must not harm the public image, reputation, or
goodwill of the Postal Service, nor be otherwise
derogatory or detrimental to the Postal Service's
interest.
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We will incorporate this revision into the monthly update
of the online DMM on Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.com
and into the next printed edition.
— Postage Technology Management,
Product Development, 9-28-06
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