CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research. The name is derived from the acronym for the French Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, a provisional body founded in 1952 with the mandate of establishing a world-class fundamental physics research organization in Europe. At that time, pure physics research concentrated on understanding the inside of the atom, hence the word "nuclear".

When the Organization officially came into being in 1954, the Council was dissolved, and the new organization was given the title European Organization for Nuclear Research, although the name CERN was retained. Today, our understanding of matter goes much deeper than the nucleus, and CERN’s main area of research is particle physics — the study of the fundamental constituents of matter and the forces acting between them. Because of this, the laboratory operated by CERN is commonly referred to as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics.

The rules for using the logo are laid down in this document. CERN's logo is protected by international law (Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, article 6 ter) and by the law of its Host State Switzerland (Federal Law of 15 December 1961 on the protection of names and emblems of the United Nations Organisation and other inter-governmental organisations). It was registered with WIPO on 23 September 1976 under the following reference: “CERN - 6ter Number : QO159 - 6ter Category : Emblem - Circular Date : 29.9.12976 - Circular Number : 2606”. This registration enables the Laboratory to protect the use of its logo in its best interests.