Licensing program

The Calvin trademark licensing program strives to promote, enhance and elevate the image of the university by authorizing the use of our name and/or logo on high-quality, socially responsible, tasteful merchandise and apparel. The program is administered by the Marketing and Communications department .

Off campus, the trademark licensing program creates a cooperative and positive working relationship with vendors and retailers that work with the university and CLC. To prevent the need for paying royalties to itself, the university provides for two types of vendors licenses: standard and internal.

1. Standard – Applies to all commercial uses that include the resale of the item(s) being licensed and requires the associated royalty fee.
2. Internal – Provides for campus units to order items for their own use (e.g., table displays, giveaways, etc.) without having to pay a royalty fee.

Licensed vendors

A current list of the university’s licensed vendors is available on the CLC website at . Simply select “�ƴ��ɸ�����̳” in Step 2 and click Search.

Any person, organization or corporation wishing to manufacture a product bearing or containing the �ƴ��ɸ�����̳ name and/or logo, or to provide a service that will use the name and/or logo, must enter into a licensing agreement that authorizes such use. Those wishing to become licensed can . Along with a completed application, vendors will be required to submit product samples, proof of insurance and a nominal fee. All vendor questions regarding the application and approval process should be directed to CLC.

In addition to the application and license renewal processes, CLC manages royalty reporting, artwork approvals, enforcement, promotions and general administration of Calvin’s licensees.

Once vendors are licensed, they can access current, accurate Calvin logos from Trademarx Online, CLC’s web-based artwork database. Product designs must be submitted to Trademarx Online for review and approval prior to being produced. Items bearing Calvin’s name and/or logo without a license may be considered “counterfeit” and subject to all available legal remedies, including seizure of the items. Additionally, licensed vendors who fail to submit designs for pre-production approval may have their license revoked.

CLC contact

Maggie Ruland 
Manager, Partnerships 
1075 Peachtree Street, Suite 3300 
Atlanta, Georgia 30309 
770-799-3243��
maggie.ruland@clc.com

Frequently asked questions

How do I order a custom product with a Calvin trademark?

You must choose to work with a vendor that is licensed by . A current list of the university’s licensed vendors is available at . Simply select “�ƴ��ɸ�����̳” in Step 2 and click Search.

If you want to use a vendor that is not currently licensed by CLC, that vendor will need to apply for and obtain a license with CLC.

How can the vendor obtain a license?

Anyone who wishes to obtain a license to produce merchandise must submit a license application to . This application informs the university of how its marks will be used, what type of product the applicant makes, how the university is going to be represented, etc. .

What qualifies as a trademark?

Any mark, logo, symbol, nickname, letter(s), word(s) or combination of these that can be associated with the university qualifies as a trademark and is the sole property of �ƴ��ɸ�����̳.

What products should be licensed?

All products bearing a university trademark may only be produced by licensed manufacturers. This rule applies not only to merchandise sold commercially through wholesalers and retailers, but to all distributors, including university employees, students, alumni, fans, etc.

What is a royalty?

A royalty is a fee paid by a licensee for the commercial use of a trademark. Items intended to be sold externally (i.e. t-shirts for retail sale) are subject to royalties. Items intended for internal use by Calvin employees (i.e. uniforms) are exempt from royalties except if the internal use is the intended resale of the item for fundraising.

Who needs a license?

Any vendor wishing to use the marks, logos and symbols of the university must obtain a license. No products will be licensed without the approval of the university through LLP. This ensures all products associated with the university are of high quality and in good taste, and denies approval of potentially hazardous items.

What if you use a vendor who does not have a license?

All products must be approved through the university. Merchandise produced without authorization may be considered counterfeit or infringing and subject to all available legal remedies.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Tim Ellens, director of marketing and brand steward, tim.ellens@calvin.edu, 616-526-6475.

The Calvin trademark licensing program allows the university to regulate, promote and protect the use of its name and logo no matter where or how used. Accordingly, any Calvin department, program, institute, center, administrative office or other unit must receive approval to use the university’s name and logo.

Not only does this process enable the university to oversee the use of its name but also provides assistance to those using the name and/or logo by ensuring proper application/use.