Trademarks & Licensing
For the Campus Community
The Trademarks and Licensing team supports faculty, staff and student organizations and Alumni Association-affiliated groups seeking to order UMD promotional materials and other merchandise, as well as the vendors who create those products. Its process protects the University of Maryland's marks, names and logos, ensuring that all products are consistent with its policies, values and brand standards.
Questions? Contact licensing@umd.edu.
Ordering Branded Products for Your Department
Choose an approved licensed vendor.
Collaborate with the vendor to create your design. The vendor is responsible for submitting your artwork through the university's trademark licensing portal for institutional approval.
Await the vendor’s confirmation of approval. Trademarks and Licensing will communicate to the vendor any needed changes.
Finalize the order with the vendor.
Licensed Vendor Database
See a list of vendors that are approved to produce licensed merchandise using UMD's trademarks.
Vendors and Royalty Structures
Internal License
This license grants a vendor permission to sell UMD-branded merchandise to university internal units, such as colleges, schools, departments, student organizations, sponsors and other affiliated entities, for promotion. Examples of promotion include but are not limited to event giveaways, staff uniforms and conference gifts.
No royalties are charged on internal orders. However, for promotional giveaways, the design must be specific to the internal unit that is placing the order. If generic university logos or trademarks are being used, written permission from licensing@umd.edu is required.
Internal Fundraiser License
This license grants a vendor permission to sell UMD-branded merchandise to university internal unit, such as colleges, schools, departments and student organizations for fundraising. Examples of fundraising include but are not limited to selling merchandise at a campus event and online pop-up shops.
A 12% royalty is charged on orders for internal fundraisers. Additionally, the design must be specific to the internal unit that is hosting the fundraiser.
Group-Specific Guidelines
UMD's trademark guidelines aren't one-size-fits-all. Different groups on campus have different relationships to the university's marks, and different rules for how they can use them. Whether you're a student organization, a club sport or an Alumni Association-affiliated group, this section covers what applies to you.
Alumni Association networks may use UMD marks when operating under the direct authorization of the Alumni Association. All uses must be approved through Trademarks and Licensing before production. Unauthorized use of university marks, including on merchandise, event materials or digital platforms, is not permitted regardless of affiliation.
Student organizations can use UMD logos and trademarks by following the guidelines below.
Names
- Cannot have “University of Maryland” or “UMD” in organization’s name unless at the end
- Example: Cookie Fan Club at the University of Maryland (correct)
- Example: UMD Cookie Fan Club (incorrect)
- Can use “Terps,” “Terrapins,” or “Testudo” with permission from Trademarks and Licensing
Logos
- Cannot alter Muscle Testudo or the “M” on Muscle Testudo
- Cannot use vintage Maryland trademarks
- Cannot use the Primary Logo, Informal Seal, Formal Seal, or any versions of the Globe.
- May use unaltered Testudo, Shell, M-bar, and Terrafont Bar Logos
- May create a unique logo that does not use any UMD logos or marks
Club sports must clearly identify themselves as clubs in any branding or merchandise. The word "club" must appear before or after the sport name. For example, "Diving Club" is correct; "UMD Diving Team" is not.
For merchandise, club teams may use the M-bar or Terrafont bar logo with "Maryland" above the bar and the club name beneath it. No other configurations of university marks are permitted without prior approval from Trademarks and Licensing.
Merchandise Design Guidelines
Any product featuring campus trademarks or logos must use the official trademarked version and be produced through a licensed vendor, whether it's a departmental giveaway, fundraiser or retail item. Check out these guidelines to learn which marks and color combinations are permitted.
Social Responsibility
The University of Maryland is committed to managing its licensing program in a socially responsible manner and is taking steps to help ensure that its licensed merchandise is not produced by companies exploiting workers or using abusive labor practices. UMD is a member of the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the Works Rights Consortium (WRC). All licensed vendors are obligated to abide by the university’s code of conduct and are required to be FLA members.