Trademark Licensing

Policy Number: 
I.01.04
Reason for Policy: 

It is the policy of the University of Oregon to regulate and control the use of the university's identifying marks including the university's name and seal and its various trademarks, collective membership, and service marks. The university permits the use of its trademarks on products or services only after the university and manufacturer of a product or provider of a service have entered into a trademark licensing agreement. The reason for that is because UO’s trademarks are not simply a marketing or communications tool. They are iconic symbols that have evolved over the UO’s history that help tell our story. In addition improper use of UO’s trademarks and logos can “dilute” the UO’s ownership interests and the value of its marks. Improper use of UO’s marks is also unlawful and may subject such users to signification civil liability.

Entities Affected by this Policy: 

Any person or organization manufacturing a product or providing a service bearing or containing trademarks belonging to the University of Oregon.

Anyone using or wishing to use the University of Oregon's trademarks.

Responsible Office: 

For questions about this policy, please contact the Office of Brand Management and Trademark Licensing at 541-346-6083.

Enactment & Revision History: 

10 May 2018 - Revisions approved by the university president. Policy renumbered from 07.00.03 to I.01.04.

03 November 2010 - Reviewed; changed name of policy.

08 February 2010 - Policy number revised from 6.100 to 07.00.03.

21 July 1999 - Issued by the university president.

Policy: 

It is the policy of the University of Oregon to regulate and control the use of the university's identifying marks including the university's name and seal and its various trademarks, collective membership, and service marks. The university permits the use of its trademarks on products or services only after the university and potential user, producer, manufacturer or service provider have entered into a trademark licensing agreement.

The intent of this policy is to ensure that the university retains the ownership, benefit and control of its trademarks. The university's trademarks may be used only with the express approval and consent of the university through a trademark licensing agreement, and only under circumstances benefiting the university, its students and personnel, or its educational mission.

All products or services that feature university trademarks must be produced by licensed vendors.

Requirement of Licensing Agreement

Any person, organization or entity manufacturing a product or providing a service bearing or containing university trademarks must, prior to use of the mark, enter into a trademark licensing agreement with the University of Oregon to obtain permission to use such mark.

No use of any mark belonging to the university shall be authorized for use in products or services, either offered for sale or in promotional activities, without such an agreement.

Each licensing agreement shall provide for a reasonable royalty to be paid to the university, or other consideration the university deems appropriate, in exchange for the university’s permission to use its mark.

University Sales

No university department shall offer for sale, use in promotional activities, or giveaway any product or service bearing or containing trademarks belonging to the university unless a trademark licensing agreement with the manufacturer for that product or provider of service is in effect.

Any university department currently offering for sale, use in promotional activities, or giveaway of any product or service bearing or containing a mark belonging to the university shall not reorder such product or service, nor offer for sale any new products or services bearing or containing a university mark, until such a licensing agreement has been entered into with the manufacturer of the product or provider of the service, unless the department involved and the university’s Office of Brand Management jointly determine that it is in the best interest of the university to temporarily waive the requirement of a licensing agreement.

An item produced bearing a university trademark provided as a gift, sold as a fund-raiser, or used as a promotional tool, beyond the scope of an official university group (an academic or auxiliary service department) or university team (uniforms for the athletic department, club sports, or intramurals) is a commercial use. Products bearing university trademarks produced for use as giveaways to attendees of conferences, special events, booster activities, or for use as fund-raisers are commercial products. If an item bearing university trademarks is purchased by the university for internal use only by the university, and is not used as a giveaway or promotional item, the university’s Office of Brand Management may waive the requirement that the manufacture of the product or provider of a service to enter into a commercial royalty bearing license agreement for the production of those items or services.

Administration

The Office of Brand Management shall be responsible for the implementation and interpretation of this section and for negotiating the required trademark licensing agreements.

Chapter/Volume: 
  • Volume I: Governance
  • Chapter 1: Governance and board affairs
Original Source: 
UO Policy Statement