Policies

Potential Licensees: The Trademarks & Licensing office strives to create a positive working relationship between the University, our licensees and the retail markets. We promote our licensees and affiliate retailers through the Dawg-Tail retail program, participation in the Seattle Gift Show and various other programs and events.

The University of Washington currently charges an 9% royalty rate on the sale of licensed commercial products bearing its name and logos. A percentage of that royalty supports both the academic and athletic programs at the University of Washington. All manufacturers of products bearing any of the University marks must have a license before offering those goods for sale. Companies interested in becoming a Licensee of the University of Washington must submit an application to the Collegiate Licensing Company. A downloadable packet is available on their website under the downloads page.

An electronic logo artpak is also available for our licensees and approved vendors. You can also obtain our artwork through the Logos on Demand program through CLC or if a hard copy is required please contact CLC directly at (770) 956-0520.

Departmental Use: For departments wishing to use the University of Washington marks and/or logos you must send a written request to the Trademarks & Licensing office explaining the intended use and period of the event.

If the marks are to be on products used for giveaways or for internal use, you will need to use a licensed vendor to produce the item(s). A Campus Use Permit will need to be filled out and a graphic of the item incorporating our marks must be submitted prior to approval. Once approved the normal royalties will be waived. If you choose to use your own source, the standard 9% royalty will be assessed to the cost. The vendor used to produce the items will need sign a Limited Use Permit and pay in advance the royalty due.

If the items are for sale you can go through one of our licensed vendors directly. We ask that you use one of our licensees to produce any such items since they are familiar with the procedures of this office and know what is and is not allowed in the use of our marks. These vendors are also affiliated with the Fair Labor Association (FLA) which checks on compliance with a code of conduct in reference to working conditions in the factories. If you have one of your own vendors in mind to produce the intended item, the Trademarks & Licensing office will evaluate them on a case by case basis, using the same criteria required of our licensees.

Guidelines

To ensure consistency in the use of the University's name and logos, departments are required to purchase emblematic merchandise from officially licensed vendors (licensees) of the University. Only officially licensed manufacturers carry appropriate product liability insurance naming Washington as an additional insure and abide by our Code of Conduct through their membership in the Fair Labor Association, (FLA).

Requests for approval usually fall into two categories:

• Requiring Royalties
• Royalty Exempt

Requiring Royalties

Items for resale: selling products (i.e. cups, apparel, pins, posters) bearing UW trademarks constitutes commercial use, including:

• Sales to individual customers
• Sales for fund-raising projects
• Sales of items carrying a commercial message, sponsor or endorsement
• Items used as a promotional marketing tool for an event
• Items given at conferences/workshops/clinics that require a registration fee and the price of the item has been included in the fee

Royalty Exempt

Items which are restricted to an internal audience and are used as a "uniform" or giveaway. Items must be bought with departmental funds.

Items such as banners and signs without endorsements, commercial message or sponsor unless a company is a corporate sponsor and trademark usage is specified in the "sponsorship" agreement.