Trademark and Licensing
Over the years, symbols, icons, traditions and trademarks have come to represent the pride of ETSU alumni, fans, students, faculty and staff. The Office of the President established a trademarks and licensing function whose mission ensures that these marks and images are used properly. Through the protection and promotion of the University’s brand, revenue is generated for the general fund.
About Licensing
Licensing Agency
What is a Trademark?
How is a Trademark protected?
Ordering Items
Obtaining a License
Vendors
Policy and Guidelines
Students, Faculty, and Staff
About Licensing
The three primary functions of the Office of University Trademarks and Licensing are:
- Protection: Protect the reputation of the University by ensuring that only approved representations of the University’s brand appears before the public and that goods bearing these marks are of approved quality.
- Promotion: Promote the University’s brand in a consistent manner through the use of officially licensed vendors and quality products. Licensed products bearing logos and graphics that suggest quality and excellence play a major role in recruiting students and faculty, garnering alumni support, and establishing a distinction among schools.
- Profit: Generate revenue through the sale of officially licensed merchandise. All revenue goes to the general fund.
Licensing Agency
East Tennessee State University has contracted with the Learfield Licensing Partners (LLP) to help manage the University’s trademark and licensing program. LLP helps to administer the application process, collect royalties, process insurance and factory disclosures, assist with marketing, and provide legal guidance.Any commercial or internal use (goods and apparel) of ETSU’s name or trademarks requires advanced permission from the university via a contract or trademark license agreement. Once approved, the business or person requesting permission becomes a “licensee” and the individual products become “licensed products.”
What is a trademark?
A trademark is any word, slogan, symbol, design, or combination of these elements which identifies and distinguishes the goods or services of one party from others. A design that could create a likelihood of customer confusion due to similarity to the university’s trademarks may be an infringement on the university’s trademark rights. The university has delegated the responsibility for maintaining, managing, licensing and protecting the university trademarks to the Manager of University Trademarks and Licensing under the direction of the Office of University Relations.
How is a trademark protected?
Federal and state registration: A trademark does not need to be registered for the owner to prevent others from using a trademark or from using a confusingly similar mark. Federal registration provides legal advantages to the owner when pursuing infringers. One advantage is that it provides notice to the public, which prevents anyone from claiming that they did not know the mark existed. Federal law preempts state law so any state registration performed in addition to federal is for purposes of notice only. A trademark can be federally registered if it is used in interstate commerce. The trademark is registered in the class of goods or services for which it is used. It is possible to have multiple owners for similar trademarks as long as: 1) the goods and services are not related, 2) there is no consumer confusion as to the source of the goods and services, and 3) there is no dilution of a strong mark.
Use of ™ or ®: Using the ™ provides notice to the general public. A registered mark may display the words Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.or ®. These displays may only be used with the registered trademarks and on the goods actually stated in the Certificate of Registration. It is illegal to use the registration notice on unregistered trademarks or on unregistered goods and services. Recovery of profits and damages in an infringement suit may not be available to the owner if a proper notice of registration is not given. Proper notice is either the use of one of the registered notices or actual notice as would be the case in a letter sent to the infringer stating that the mark is a registered trademark.™ can be used with a non-infringing trademark without any formalities and can be used on any goods for which the owner wants associated with the trademark.
Ordering items
- Campus entities can buy items for promotional giveaways, however giveaways cannot be resold.
- Campus entities cannot buy tangible items e.g., t-shirts, mugs, sweatshirts, etc. for resale. ETSU does not hold a resale certificate.
- The University mission of instruction, research and public service qualifies ETSU for tax exemption status. The university is not set up as a for-profit organization.
- Products, including apparel, may be purchased with foundation funds for students, faculty, and staff with limits by the IRS of a $50 value per person, per year.
- State funds cannot be used to purchase apparel for state employees unless the apparel is required in order to perform the duties of the position and would not be worn outside of the employee performing their respective duties, such as in law enforcement.
For additional information, please email [email protected] or contact Barbara Mason at 423-439-4766.
Obtaining a License
Items for sale using the University Trademarks must be licensed.
Learfield Licensing Partners is the licensing agent for ETSU. As such, Learfield Licensing Partners is responsible for administering the licenses (third party permissions for vendors and manufacturers), including processing of vendor applications, collecting and distributing royalties, and enforcing proper trademark usage.
Learfield Licensing Partners consists of more than 560 colleges and universities, athletic conferences, and special properties nationwide. Based in Indianapolis, Learfield Licensing Partners provides its member institutions the resources and expertise necessary to maximize licensing revenue potential.
Standard License – If you are a business interested in producing items using ETSU trademarks, you can apply for a license with Learfield Licensing Partners, our licensing agent.
Internal Usage License – If you are a business interested in producing products intended to be sold directly to the university that are for internal/non-resale use, you can apply for a license with Learfield Licensing Partners, our licensing agent. All sales must be exempt from royalties (as determined by University Licensing Policy). Many internal suppliers chose to hold a standard license.
Crafters License- If you are interested in hand-making items using ETSU trademarks, and you do not intend to sell these items wholesale to retail stores, but instead sell your hand-crafted items at fairs, farmers markets, and online, you are eligible to apply for a Crafters license. Detailed information is located on the Crafters License page.
Inquiries regarding the University Licensing Program should be directed to [email protected] .
Vendors
If you are a vendor who is interested in obtaining a license, below are the University’s license types:
Standard License: The standard license allows the vendor to produce products for retail sale – both wholesale and direct to the consumer. Learfield Licensing Partners (LLP) is responsible for processing standard license applications. LLP can be contacted by email at [email protected] or phone at 317-669-0808. The application can be found here.
Internal Usage License: The internal license allows the vendor to produce products intended to be sold directly to the University that are not for resale. All sales must be exempt from royalties (as determined by University Licensing Policy). LLP is responsible for processing Internal Usage License applications. If you have questions for LLP’s application processing team, please contact them at [email protected] or 317-669-0808.The application can be found here.
Crafters License: The crafter license is available to individuals who hand make items in their home and do not intend to sell these items wholesale to retail stores. The University is responsible for administering the Crafter Program. For more information about the Crafter program please contact Barbara Mason at [email protected]. Additional information can be found on the Crafter’s License informational sheet.
Inquiries regarding the University Trademark Licensing Program should be directed to [email protected].
Policy and Guidelines
The Standard Administrative Procedure Licensing and Trademark usage policy provides guidelines for maintaining, managing, licensing and protecting university trademarks. The university has delegated the responsibility for this function to the Manager of Trademark Licensing within the Office of University Relations. Please contact Barbara Mason, Manager of Trademark Licensing, if you have any question regarding university licensing and trademarks.
The ordering of promotional items policy overview:
- Campus entities can buy items for promotional giveaways, however giveaways cannot be resold.
- Campus entities cannot buy tangible items e.g., t-shirts, mugs, sweatshirts, etc. for resale. ETSU does not hold a certificate for resale.
- The University mission of instruction, research and public service qualifies ETSU for tax exemption status.
- The university is not set up as a for-profit organization.
- Products, including apparel, may be purchased with foundation funds for students, faculty, and staff with limits by the IRS of a $50 value per person, per year.
- State funds cannot be used to purchase apparel for state employees unless the apparel is required in order to perform the duties of the position and would not be worn outside of the employee performing their respective duties, such as in law enforcement.
Students, Faculty, and Staff
Campus departments, officially recognized student organizations and club sports-teams frequently purchase merchandise that use university symbols, logos, and marks. These items range from lapel pins, backpacks, and mugs, to types of clothing and even high-end merchandise for special occasions. Since each of these is an extension of the university’s image, and just as there are standards for print material, there are standards for promotional items including apparel.
All campus entities, including student groups, must use a licensed vendor to produce any merchandise with the ETSU name and/or logo.All licensed vendors have gone through an approval process ensuring:
- High quality
- Correctly branded
- Artwork approval
- Product liability insurance
- Ethical production (Items not made in sweatshops)
Below are the steps to order a promotional product:
- Select a licensed vendor to produce the product(s)
- After signing in to your Creative Services account, go to “Place an Order” and select “Promotional Items” from the product listing.
- Browse the University approved licensed vendors and shop for desired product(s) you wish to purchase.
- When ready to place your order, complete the order form provided and click submit.
- Creative Services will work with the vendor in developing artwork and will submit a proof for your approval.
- Begin Production!
- You can check the status bar for your promotional product by signing into your Creative Services Dashboard.
- You will receive a delivery reminder on your Creative Services Dashboard.
- After your product has been delivered, you will receive an invoice on your Creative Services Dashboard.