For Campus Departments
Campus units have the ability to utilize certain UW–Madison trademarks on merchandise for promotional purposes. Before beginning a project in which licensed marks are to be used, it is important to understand which marks are protected, how to utilize UW–Madison marks, how to secure proper approvals, what licensed vendors are available to campus units, and how royalties may apply to the project.
Our protected marks
UW–Madison has secured federal and state trademark protection for a range of logos, graphics, wordmarks, and phrases.
Licensed products and merchandise
To protect the university’s intellectual property and ensure consistency with UW–Madison’s brand standards, campus units planning to use university trademarks for merchandising or promotional purposes must use a licensed vendor. Licensed vendors submit artwork and designs for final approval from the Office of Trademark Licensing before production. Campus units may also submit designs to the office for questions or initial feedback before engaging a licensed vendor.
Frequently asked questions
- University campus departments, camps, registered student organizations, and official sport clubs (as recognized by RecWell) may use certain university marks, but the Office of Trademark Licensing must approve all usage.
- All uses of university indicia, whether for internal use, club shirts, camps, departmental use, etc., should be reviewed by the director of trademark licensing. This will ensure quality and consistency of product and the application and proper use of trademarked materials.
- Promotional programs developed by departments, clubs, or organizations must conform to university promotional and/or sponsorship licensing policies and procedures.
Licensed vendors are required to submit artwork to the Office of Trademark Licensing for final approval before production begins. Approvals, requests for edits, or denials of submitted artwork are usually provided within 3-5 business days. Once approved, production can begin.
Campus units are welcome to ask questions or submit draft artwork and concepts for feedback to the Office of Trademark Licensing before engaging with a licensed vendor, if desired.
University departments, divisions, schools, or colleges interested in ordering a product for their unit that includes UW–Madison indicia, including internal promotional products, must purchase it through a licensed vendor.
Campus units do not directly or separately pay royalties. Royalties are generally included and reflected in the price of the goods or merchandise purchased. The licensed vendor who produces the goods or merchandise is responsible for paying royalties to the university for any item they produce bearing UW–Madison trademarks and intellectual property.
UW–Madison generally requires royalties to be paid whenever UW–Madison trademarks are used. This would include instances when university campus departments, camps, clubs, or organizations are producing items that are intended for direct resale or when an item is built into a fee (e.g., a tote bag included with a conference registration).
There are limited exemptions to paying royalties. University campus departments, camps, clubs, and organizations can be exempt from paying royalties in certain conditions. The most notable exemption is when merchandise is purchased for internal use only, will not be sold and is paid for out of an internal department budget.