OSU's Licensing and Trademarks Program works to promote, enhance and elevate the image of Oregon State University by authorizing the use of the university's name and logos on high quality and tasteful merchandise.
Oregon State University requires that all individuals, organizations, departments and companies, both internal and external, obtain prior approval before producing any product(s) that will display OSU Indicia; regardless of the method of distribution.
This formal licensing program is administered through University Marketing and in partnership with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC).
CLC is the nation's leading collegiate licensing and marketing representative. Formed in 1981, CLC assists collegiate licensors in protecting and controlling the use of their logos through trademark licensing.
The CLC Consortium consists of more than 180 universities, bowl games, conferences, the NCAA and the Heisman Trophy. Based in Atlanta, CLC provides its member institutions the expertise, resources and experience necessary to maximize licensing revenue potential through the power of consolidation.
As defined by the US Patents & Trademarks Office, "a trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs, that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others." A trademark need not be registered in order to protect the rights to it, simply by using or displaying a mark acquires automatic trademark rights to the owner.
In order to use the university's marks, a vendor must enter into a licensing agreement with OSU. A license is a written legal agreement between the owner of the trademark (licensor) and a manufacturer/vendor (licensee). This license must be in place before use of the marks.
All Oregon State University departments and recognized student groups are required to obtain prior approval to use the university's name, marks, logos, seals or symbols in any commercial or non-commercial uses.
OSU departments and student groups are required to purchase emblematic merchandise from Officially Licensed (pdf of licensees) vendors of the university. Items that will be used internally, such as by members of an office, group or as a giveaways, are exempt from royalties.
Items for resale require the vendor to pay royalties to the university on the products. When requesting permission, please fill out the Art Approval Form/Royalty Waiver for use of the name/logos, please indicate how the product will be used. The following purposes constitutes commercial use:Oregon State University Logo: This mark is intended for use by academic colleges and departments. Student groups may use this logo, but must gain permission and follow the guidelines stated within the university's Graphic Identity Guidelines. Contact University Marketing for permission.
Athletic Beaver Mark: The Athletic Beaver is to be used by the Athletics office only. This mark is not intended for use by academic units or student groups, including Intramural Sports and Sport Clubs.
Athletics Identity Guidelines for Broadcast/Media
The Beaver logo is the primary mark for Athletics and is the only logo to be used for scores, scoreboards, features, and stories by sports broadcast/media properties.
The new Oregon State (OS) logo is the secondary mark, used to represent Oregon State on fields of play and in the retail market only. Not for use in media.
For national media (outside of Pacific Northwest) please refer in graphics, statistics, scores as "Oregon State", "Ore St", "OR ST", "Oregon St", "OS".
For sports broadcast/media to obtain and use logo, please contact:
Oregon State University
Athletics Communications
Steve Fenk, Assistant Athletic Director, Media Relations
104 Gill Coliseum
Corvallis, OR 97331-4105
T: (541) 737-7470 F: (541) 737-3720
E: Steve Fenk.
Stylized/Customized Beaver Marks: The official OSU beaver logo is protected by trademark and is never allowed to be customized or altered in any way. Student groups may create and use a customized beaver character on items intended solely for the groups usage and not for not for resale; no more than 20 items can be produced. The design is subject to approval by University Marketing and must be in good taste. Academic and administrative units are not permitted to use stylized or customized versions of a beaver character on university publications, wearables or in other media.
Listed below are the types of OSU licensing agreements available. The royalty rate is 8%.
For production of emblematic merchandise to be sold by an individual or company at retail.
For local companies and/or individuals.
Weapons/firearms, tobacco products or alcoholic beverages are not appropriate items for licensing. Other products will be considered; however, the University has the right to decline any item.
To obtain an OSU license or to get more information, please contact CLC. Once a license has been given, CLC will provide the OSU approved artwork.
The Collegiate Licensing Company
290 Interstate North: Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: (770) 956-0520
Fax: (770) 955-4491
www.clc.com
OSU Licensee List (PDF)
OSU Licensees by Product Category (PDF)
The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) has collaborated with other collegiate institutions to develop a set of unified labor code standards.
The CLC code is similar to the Fair Labor Association's code, and sets forth workplace standards for factories that produce university licensed product that help ensure that licensees do not produce collegiate product utilizing child labor or sweat shop conditions.
The code provides standards that cover various topics, including wages and benefits, working hours, child labor, health and safety, and freedom of association. These standards are monitored through the Fair Labor Association.
Are Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) or campus departments required to obtain permission to use the University names/marks/logos on items used as giveaways, fundraisers or for internal use (shirts for staff, plaques, etc.)?
Yes, in order for the university to maintain and protect its value, permission must be obtained from University Marketing and a licensed vendor must be used. Please contact UM prior to production for approval or have your vendor submit the artwork for approval.
Are any sales exempt from royalties?
Licensed vendors do not pay royalties on products being sold to a campus department for internal use and paid for out of a department budget.
May students, faculty, staff, alumni or fans use OSU marks on personal Web sites and other personal items?
These requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Permission must first be obtained before using any OSU mark.
How does the artwork approval process work?
If you have completed the licensing process through CLC, you will receive information on submitting artwork through their interactive Web site. This site manages the entire artwork approval process over the Internet.
How can I tell if a product is officially-licensed?
Look for the Officially-Licensed Collegiate label or hologram. This label assures you that the merchandise on which they are affixed has been approved for sale by the university and CLC. For more information about the CLC Hologram program, please go to Logos On Demand.
May a business, corporation or outside entity use the name or marks of the University in their name or as interior design?
A business must gain prior approval before using OSU's marks for commercial or promotional advertising purposes. This approval is granted based upon each situation. The university's name and/or marks may also not be used in any way that could state or imply an endorsement. The marks/names/logos may not be used as part of a business name or within the interior design of a business and its building and/or location without prior approval. Approval is not always granted for any of the above uses. For more information on this subject please contact University Marketing.
May public or private schools use any of OSU's marks as their mascot on uniforms, buildings, stadiums or for booster club fundraisers?
We are always complimented when a school wishes to use one of our marks as their mascot but our policy does not allow our marks to be used by any other business or educational institution including public or private schools. In setting this policy, many factors were taken into consideration including product liability, control of how the marks are used and who manufactures the product, and the policies of our peer institutions throughout the United States. For more information on this subject, please contact University Marketing.
Trademark Licensing
Oregon State University
102 Adams Hall
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
541-737-3871
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