FAQ

Below is a list of the most common questions asked regarding the University of Delaware Licensing and Trademark Program.

What is the purpose of our licensing program?

What marks may be used to represent the University?

What type of products may be licensed?

What happens when a trademark is used without permission or without a license?

What are the laws pertaining to licensed trademarks and products?

How do I tell if merchandise is licensed?

What if I do not see the "officially licensed" label or find out a product is not licensed?

Are Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) or campus departments required to obtain permission to use the University names/marks/logos on items used as giveaways or for internal use (shirts for staff, plaques, etc.)?

Are any sales exempt from royalties?

May students, faculty, staff, alumni or fans use University of Delaware marks on personal Web sites and other personal items?

May public or private schools use any of University of Delaware's marks as their mascot on uniforms, buildings, stadiums or for booster club fundraisers?

What is the purpose of the licensing program?
A licensing and trademark program is necessary for the protection and enhancement of the University's image. This program establishes a formal process for approval of the products marketed with University of Delaware symbols. This helps strengthen the identity of the University and prevents inappropriate use of the University name and/or image.

What marks may be used to represent the University?
University of Delaware has designated that only officially licensed trademarks may be used to represent the University. These marks are represented throughout the various pages of this site. All marks of the University are state and federally registered.

What types of products may be licensed?
A wide variety of products are licensed for the University, including apparel, glassware, and decorative items, among others. The University will consider any product, but no product will be licensed by the University of Delaware until the University has approved it.

What happens when a trademark is used without permission or without a license?
Any promotion referencing the University requires the express written permission of the University and The Collegiate Licensing Company. The University legally protects its marks and the institution's image through the licensing program and unlicensed use of trademarks is subject to state and federal anti-counterfeiting laws.

What are the laws pertaining to licensed trademarks and products?
Delaware state laws and United States federal laws prohibit the use, reproduction and counterfeiting of licensed trademarks and infringement of these policies is punishable in varying degrees, depending on the type and severity of the infringement. For more information on possible penalties for trademark infringement please visit www.clc.com.

How do I tell if a product is officially-licensed?
The "Officially Licensed Collegiate Products" hologram appears on all licensed merchandise for the University and the other Consortium members of CLC. Any merchandise not bearing these labels for schools represented by The Collegiate Licensing Company, but using a University mark may represent an infringement of trademark punishable by law.

CLC Hologram

CLC Hangtag - not to scale

What if I do not see the “officially licensed” label or find a product is not licensed?
Please notify the University of Delaware Office of Communications & Marketing Trademark Licensing Manager at (302) 831-2791 of any suspect products to help protect the University's name and image. Companies who produce and sell unlicensed (counterfeit) products do not support the University of Delaware, unlike those who are licensed buy the University. If you would like to report counterfeit merchandise or have a questions regarding the authenticity or any product please contact The Collegiate Licensing Company at www.clc.com.

Are Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) or campus departments required to obtain permission to use the University names/marks/logos on items used as giveaways or for internal use (shirts for staff, plaques, etc.)?
Yes, in order for the University to maintain and protect its value, permission must be obtained from the Office of Communications & Marketing (OCM) and a licensed vendor must be used. Please contact OCM prior to production for approval or have your vendor submit the artwork for approval.

Are any sales exempt from royalties?
Licensed vendors do not pay royalties on products being sold to a campus department for internal use and paid for out of a department budget.
May students, faculty, staff, alumni or fans use University of Delaware marks on personal

Web sites and other personal items?
These requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Permission must first be obtained before using any University of Delaware mark.

May public or private schools use any of the University of Delaware's marks as their mascot on uniforms, buildings, stadiums or for booster club fundraisers?
We are always complimented when a school wishes to use one of our marks as their mascot but our policy does not allow our marks to be used by any other business or educational institution including public or private schools. In setting this policy, many factors were taken into consideration including product liability, control of how the marks are used and who manufactures the product, and the policies of our peer institutions throughout the United States.