Trademark and Licensing

A trademark or service mark is a name, design, seal, insignia, or other symbol that an entity uses to identify and distinguish itself and its goods and services from those of another entity, or to indicate to the public its authorization, sponsorship, or affiliation with the provider of goods or services.

The University claims trademark rights in the name University of Maryland and the University globe mark (“Institutional Marks”); in the words “Terrapins,” “Terps,” “Maryland,” and “Maryland Terrapins” (in the singular and plural); the name and image of Testudo, “UM,” “M”; and in the slogans “Fear The Turtle”, “Hell In A Shell”, “The Shell”, and “Overtime Is Our Time”, in connection with University athletics, merchandise, and other goods and services. Collectively, these are referred to as “University Marks.”

The University is entitled to claim trademark rights in University Marks based on its continuous use of the marks. The University holds federal registration in the Institutional and selected Athletic Marks, and is pending for some additional Athletic Marks. University Marks also are registered with the State. Registration at the federal and/or State level is not required in order for the University to claim rights in its trademarks; however, registration notifies the public of the University’s ownership and, in the case of federal registration, provides benefits that are otherwise not available.

The University must approve all commercial and noncommercial uses, including Internet uses, of University Marks. In most circumstances, the University will require payment of a royalty on income-producing uses of University Marks.

The University must control and monitor the use of its Marks or risk losing its right to use them as unique University identifiers. The University has a strong interest in controlling use of its Marks for other reasons: ensuring that any products or services that bear University Marks are of high quality and are used only in connection with products and services with which the University has chosen to be identified and which, as a result, it has assumed some level of responsibility; preventing misleading or inaccurate portrayals of the University’s relationship to others or to activities and preventing others from taking advantage of the good will the University has developed and which is symbolized by its Marks; and ensuring that products and services bearing University Marks protect the integrity and reputation of the University, maintain and build upon the good will of the University, and promote support and increase awareness of the University.

Commercial Uses:
Any university departments, students, employees, registered student organizations, non-university persons or other entities that want to use university marks in connection with the commercial sale or resale of goods or services must obtain products from a university licensed vendor or obtain a license themselves before offering products for sale.

Advance approval from the university is required whether the commercial use will be ongoing or associated with a one-time event, such as using a mark on a poster announcing an event or on an item to be sold as a fundraiser.

• If you are a company interested in becoming a licensed vendor, please see Vendor Information.

• If you are a university department, college or student organization, please see Campus Groups.

• If you are a retailer, please email licensing@umd.edu to request a list of licensed vendors.

• If you are a student, faculty, staff member or alum, please email licensing@umd.edu with a description of how you would like to use university marks and why.

Most uses of university marks by university-affiliated departments and groups do not require prior approval, including:

• The use of university marks by university departments in the ordinary course of conducting university business, provided they make no changes or alterations to university marks. Examples include the use of unmodified university marks on signs, flags, uniforms, official university websites, official university catalogs, publications, reports and similar materials, materials used in university courses, and on stationery and business cards by university departments as directed in the University Visual Identity Guidelines.

• Use of the name of the university or university marks in connection with news reporting and other fair uses that do not undermine the university’s rights of its marks.

Noncommercial Uses That Require University Approval:

All proposed modifications of university marks require prior university approval. All uses of university marks by non-university commercial entities require prior approval even if the proposed use does not involve the sale of a product, e.g., exhortatory announcements in newspapers or athletic programs.

• Groups or persons outside the university community must email licensing@umd.edu for permission.

• Registered student organizations must email licensing@umd.edu for permission. Student organizations registered with the Office of Campus Programs will generally be granted approval for appropriate noncommercial uses of university marks as long as the marks are not modified and are used in accordance with the Trademark Use Standards and University Design Standards. Requests to modify a university mark will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• University groups and departments other than registered student organizations should submit the request form to the academic department or the director of the nonacademic department with which they are affiliated to obtain approval for noncommercial uses.

Student Athletes:
Any and all uses of the name and/or images of University student athletes must comply with NCAA rules. Questions should be directed to the Compliance Office in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

All authorized uses of University Marks must meet the following standards.

1. All uses of University Marks must comply with University Design Standards.
2. University Marks may not be modified in any way without prior University approval.
3. University Marks may not be used in conjunction with the name or mark(s) of any other entity without the prior written permission of the University and that entity. If permission is granted to use both the University Mark and another party’s mark, the marks must be distinct and separate from one another and neither mark may dominate the other in order to protect the integrity of both marks.
4. No University Mark may be used in any manner that suggests or implies University endorsement of products, services, political parties or views, or religious organizations or beliefs.
5. No one other than the University may claim copyright or trademark rights in or seek to register any design that uses University Marks.
6. All uses of University Marks will incorporate the appropriate trademark symbol, when practicable. Designs using Institutional Marks, “Terps’, “UM”, “University of Maryland”, “Maryland Terrapins”, “Terrapins”, “Fear The Turtle”, and the Primary Athletic Mark, will include ®. All other Marks and slogans will use TM.
7. The University will not approve the use of University Marks in connection with products or services that the University determines taint or undermine its good will.

Any use of University Marks that does not comply with the University’s licensing and approval requirements and Trademark Use Standards will be considered unauthorized and may violate Federal and/or state laws.

The University reserves the right to take appropriate action when confronted with unauthorized uses of its Marks. Depending on the facts, such action may include confiscation of goods and issuance of a cease and desist letter.

Royalties and fees paid by commercial users are shared between the University and the Athletic Department for research, internships, scholarships, equipment, and special projects.

Manufacturers pay a royalty, which is a percentage of the wholesale price of the product. In some cases where a mark is used, but an actual retail product is not manufactured, such as in signage, a promotion, or a film, a use fee may be charged.

Yes. If you are a vendor, please see Vendor Information. If you are a campus group, please see Information for Campus Groups.

Any manufacturer of products for resale or for promotion of a commercial venture bearing or using University of Maryland trademarks must be licensed. A list of current licensees is available on the Licensed Vendors page.

All products that bear a University of Maryland trademark must be licensed or approved. These products include, but are not limited to, apparel, automotive products, crafts, electronics, games, food and drinks, furniture, holiday ornaments, housewares , jewelry, school supplies, and sports equipment. The University will not approve or license products connected with alcoholic beverages, firearms, explosives, illegal drugs, tobacco, gambling, sexually suggestive products or language, or any health related product.

All officially licensed products will have a label - hologram sticker, hang tag, or indicia statement - identifying it as an Officially Licensed Collegiate Product (OLCP) by The Collegiate Licensing Company. This indicates that it is a quality product manufactured under the Labor Code Standards of the Fair Labor Association.

First, do your homework to make sure it is new and unique, then try to protect it. Get legal advice on the kind of protection you might need: copyright, trademark or patent. Next, review Vendor Information to learn more about the application process.

No, all novelty and food and beverage sales, anywhere on University property, are permitted only by concessionaires or licensed vendors. Limited vendor permits are available to registered student organizations through Stamp Student Union.