Trademark Protection
Marketing and Brand Management oversees University of Illinois Chicago’s licensing program for its institutional marks. The office protects and promotes the university’s registered trademarks, as well as other names, seals, logos, school colors and other indicia (“University Trademarks”) that are representative of the university. UIC trademarks may be used solely with permission of UIC.
UIC’s licensing program regulates trademarks from being used by unauthorized parties to protect the university’s reputation. The program ensures that vendors producing UIC merchandise are licensed and follow the university’s Code of Conduct.
UIC has partnered with Learfield Licensing Partners for the administration and marketing of the university’s licensing program.
Items for Sale Using University Trademarks Must be Licensed Heading link
Only an officially licensed vendor may produce merchandise bearing the University Trademarks. Items offered for sale to the public will include a royalty fee charged at the wholesale level, which will be reflected in the vendor’s price. UIC’s royalty rate, the fee to use the university’s trademarks, is 10% on products sold commercially.
Promotional items manufactured for internal use by students, staff or affiliates will not bear a royalty fee. These giveaway and premium items may not be resold and must be manufactured by a licensed vendor.
Students, staff or affiliates who are ordering promotional items should inform the vendor that the product is not for resale and is exempt from royalty fees.
Information for Licensees
UIC has partnered with Learfield Licensing Partners to streamline the licensing application and artwork approval process for licensees. To become a licensee, apply on Learfield’s website.
Information for UIC Campus Units
UIC campus units are required to work with vendors that are licensed to use UIC’s institutional and athletic marks. Here is a list of licensed vendors.
If the vendor you want to work with is not licensed, they can become licensed by completing this application on Learfield Licensing Partner’s website. All artwork is automatically routed to Marketing and Brand Management for review and approval through Learfield’s website.
Most campus units already have an existing logo or wordmark, which should be used on merchandise. Don’t see your unit on the logo website? Request a logo.
Campus units are exempt from paying royalties except for those reselling merchandise. If a campus unit is producing products for resale, UIC’s standard 10% royalty fee will be added to the price of the merchandise ordered through the vendor. The vendor will undertake all the royalty reporting obligations.
If staff members are ordering promotional items to be given away free of charge, they should inform the vendor that the product is not for resale and is exempt from royalty fees.
Rules for Using UIC Logo Heading link
Only official UIC student organizations that are a part of the Center of Student Involvement are allowed to use the official UIC logos. Unofficial student organizations may use the university name but only in the following matter: “[Name of unofficial student organization]” followed by “University of Illinois Chicago”.
Student groups are exempt from paying royalties except for those reselling merchandise (i.e., for fundraising purposes). If the student group is producing products for resale, UIC’s standard 10% royalty fee will be added to the price of the merchandise ordered through the vendor. The vendor will undertake all the royalty reporting obligations.
If a student group is ordering promotional items to be given away free of charge, they should inform the vendor that the product is not for resale and is exempt from royalty fees.