University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Licensing at Pitt
A University of Pittsburgh licensed vendor is a business or corporation that is approved to print and produce merchandise that bears the University's name and trademarks. Being a licensed vendor means that you abide by the University's Labor Code of Conduct, have a royalty reporting structure in place, are part of a select group of vendors that produce quality merchandise that is associated with the PITT brand. The Office of Trademark Licensing manages this ever evolving list of licensed vendors and has partnered with the CLC to assist in enforcing all licensing agreements and policing the national marketplace.
The Collegiate Licensing Company is the nation's leading collegiate trademark licensing and marketing company, assisting collegiate institutions in protecting, managing and developing their brands.
The mission of CLC is to be the guiding force in collegiate trademark licensing and one of the top sports licensing firms in the country. As such, CLC is dedicated to being a center of excellence in providing licensing services of the highest quality to its member institutions, licensees, retailers, and consumers.
CLC is a full-service licensing and marketing company, which employs a staff of more than 90 licensing professionals with the capability to establish and manage every aspect of a collegiate licensing program.
For more information visit www.clc.com.
Retail – Allows a company to produce products bearing the trademarks of collegiate institutions for sale at retail in approved retail channels and direct to consumer, as well as university departments and related entities.
Internal – Allows a company to produce product bearing the trademarks of collegiate institutions for university departments and related entities for internal consumption only; cannot provide product at retailer direct to consumer.
To download a quick reference guide to CLC license types, click here.
NCAA/Bowls/Conference Licensing – CLC has a separate licensing process for “hot market” events, including NCAA tournaments, the College Football Playoff, bowl games, and athletic conferences. Existing CLC licensees may apply for these programs via the Brand Manager 360 system. For companies not currently licensed through CLC, contact CLC’s NCAA & Bowl Properties Division at 770-956-0520, or email Laura Howell (Laura.howell@clc.com) or JuJuan Odom (jujuan.odom@clc.com).
- Oakland Zoo - Participation in this program requires a specific license thru CLC.
- College Vault - Marks in this program are historic/retired logos that may be used for vintage inspired merchandise. Participation in this program requires a specific license thru CLC.
Please contact lburens@athletics.pitt.edu for more information on these special programs.
The licensing process takes approximately 8-12 weeks. For more information please contact the The Collegiate Licensing Company.
- Complete and submit a CLC licensing application.
- Pitt and CLC will review the application in detail.
- Once conceptually approved, CLC will release camera-ready artwork of Pitt's trademarks.
- Submit artwork to CLC for review.
- CLC will review the artwork initially and then forward the artwork to Pitt for approval.
- Once final approval is granted, CLC will send a License Agreement for execution signature.
- Once the Agreement is signed and returned to CLC, an officer of CLC will sign the Agreement and fully executed copies are returned to the licensee with royalty reporting forms. Until the licensee receives the fully executed copies copy of the Agreement, it remains unauthorized to produce and/or distribute any merchandise incorporating the trademarks of the institution.
- The University will actively enforce its intellectual property rights against unauthorized uses of the Marks that infringe upon its legal rights and/or interfere with the business of authorized licensees and/or sponsors. The University will also act to prevent unauthorized uses of the Marks that misappropriate or leverage the University's goodwill and reputation, including in any manner that is likely to cause confusion as to University's affiliation, endorsement, sponsorship, approval, or otherwise.
- Unauthorized and unlicensed use of Pitt's trademarks may subject the user to disciplinary action and enforcement through available legal remedies, including seizure of the merchandise.
- Trademarks and logos are to be accurately reproduced and must appear in the exact form as registered, including the appropriate trademark designation, and may not be altered without the express consent of the Licensing Department. The names and marks of the University of Pittsburgh cannot be used in the promotion of alcohol, tobacco, "recreational" drug products, gambling products, religious programs or unauthorized promotion of goods or services.
Pitt trademarks should not be incorporated as a part of the name of an independent business enterprise in any manner to imply an official relationship between Pitt and a third party.
Pitt trademarks should not be used to endorse a private group or business unless authorized by the University, pursuant to a formal contract or sponsorship agreement with the approval of the University.
All commercial use of the Pitt trademarks must be approved by the Trademarks and Licensing Department.
The University will actively enforce its intellectual property rights against unauthorized uses of the Marks that infringe upon its legal rights and/or interfere with the business of authorized licensees and/or sponsors. The University will also act to prevent unauthorized uses of the Marks that misappropriate or leverage the University's goodwill and reputation, including in any manner that is likely to cause confusion as to University's affiliation, endorsement, sponsorship, approval, or otherwise.
Unauthorized and unlicensed use of Pitt's trademarks may subject the user to disciplinary action and enforcement through available legal remedies, including seizure of the merchandise.
Trademarks and logos are to be accurately reproduced and must appear in the exact form as registered, including the appropriate trademark designation, and may not be altered without the express consent of the Licensing Department.
The names and marks of the University of Pittsburgh cannot be used in the promotion of alcohol, tobacco, "recreational" drug products, gambling products, religious programs or unauthorized promotion of goods or services.