[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
The use of NC State’s trademarks can be extended to student organizations that have taken the proper steps in the use, the purchase, and the distribution of items that promote their club or organization. Prior to placing an order, a Trademark Use Request form must be filled out by an organization and approved by the trademark licensing office. The request requires a design of the item to show how the university’s name and/or trademarks are used in conjunction with the student group’s name or logo.
All merchandise purchased by student organizations bearing NC State’s marks must be purchased from licensed vendors, regardless if the product is given away or is sold for fund raising.
All merchandise purchased by student organizations bearing NC State’s marks must be purchased from licensed vendors, regardless if the product is given away or is sold for fund raising. Licensees are required by their contracts to pay the university a nominal royalty on each sale (Student organizations purchases are pro-rated to 5% of wholesale), comply with the university’s Code of Conduct regarding fair labor practices, carry insurance, and to be familiar with the university’s trademark approval process. The use of licensed vendors assists the university in protecting its trademarks and helps assure proper branding.
A list of licensed screen printers and embroiderers that have expressed a willingness to produce special order merchandise for campus organizations can be found on the trademark use request form. A complete list of licensees that produce promotional items can be found at NC State Promotional Licensees
Example of a proper trademark use request for a club activity:
Sample scenario: The Running Pack Club is new to NC State. Their goal is to promote exercise and healthy living on campus. Earlier this year they followed all the proper steps to become recognized by the university. In a few months they plan to host their first major event, the “Bell-2-Well Marathon”. The club wants to give t-shirts to all the participants who paid a fee for the race, and to sell tee shirts to the public. They created their tee shirt design with a graphic of a running wolf, and “NC State Running Pack Club” and submitted their Trademark Use Request form. The club’s tee shirt chairperson who submitted the request instantly received an auto-reply confirming the request and which asked her to reply with the tee shirt design as an attachment. The design is sent to the trademark licensing office’s email for review.
The club heard back from the office via email, who asked them to make a few changes to their design. In the original t-shirt design the club had “NC STATE Running Pack Club” with a sponsor’s name below it. The changes required were that the proper “Running Pack Club at NC State” naming convention was to be used to show that the sponsor was sponsoring the club and not the university, and that the club is an independent entity from the university. The t-shirt’s designer was easily able to make an adjustment and resubmit. After a new design was approved, the club received their approval with a copy to the licensee to inform them as well.
If no changes are required to the design most approvals can be processed in 3-4 days. However if several design changes and revisions are made, this can prolong the approval.
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent” position=”center” down=”100″][/vc_column][/vc_row]