The University of Iowa Center for Advancement – I-Clubs Policy | The University of Iowa Trademark Licensing Program

Policy Overview

The University of Iowa Center for Advancement – I-Club

The I-Club is the University of Iowa’s annual fundraising program for intercollegiate athletics. Gifts of $50 or more to the Hawkeye Fund (for general support of UI athletics) or the Iowa Scholarship Fund (for funding UI athletic scholarships, specifically) qualify contributors for I-Club membership. I-Club support is used to cover general athletic department expenses including scholarships, team travel, equipment, athletic facilities operations, medical services, etc. for all 22 of our Hawkeye teams.

Trademark Licensing Program

The University of Iowa Trademark Licensing Department in conjunction with The University of Iowa Center for Advancement I-Clubs, wants to ensure that products featuring both organizations’ logos are available for purchase to all I-Club members.

Word marks, trademarks, logos, and/or symbols associated with The University of Iowa (University) are the intellectual properties of the University and are registered both at the state and federal levels. To protect the intellectual properties and traditions of the University, the Trademark Licensing Office reviews all applications, and requires all products bearing word marks, trademarks, logos, and/or symbols associated with The University of Iowa to be manufactured by a licensed vendor of The University of Iowa Trademark Licensing Program in good standing.

Requirements and Restrictions

Requestor Status

The I-Club requestor must be a registered member of a University of Iowa I-Club.

Licensed Vendor

It is imperative that a licensed vendor is used for production and manufacture of any product bearing the marks of the University, whether I-Club logos are present or not. Licensed vendors are required by the Trademark Licensing Program to be members of the Fair Labor Association (FLA), which allows the Licensing Program to ensure that its products are made by the most trusted manufacturers. Furthermore, unlicensed manufacturers and producers who make products bearing the University’s marks may be liable to significant legal penalties under the Lanham Act of Federal Trademark Law.

Artwork

In all cases, when a recognized I-Club would like to use word marks, trademarks, logos, and/or symbols associated with The University of Iowa, the proposed artwork must carry the official name of the I-Club.

To promote the University’s brand consistently, word marks, trademarks, logos, and/or symbols associated with The University of Iowa may vary in size, but may not be altered. Please

reference the Brand Standards for the standards that must be adhered to.

Recognized I-Clubs have access to the “Old School Collection” and the “Vintage Vault Collection” via standard approval process.

Prohibited Products and Artwork

The University of Iowa explicitly prohibits products from making reference to drugs or paraphernalia; alcohol, consumption or abuse; tobacco products and usage; sexual conduct, imagery or inferences; profanity or inappropriate insensitive language; gambling; firearms and weapons; political and religious endorsements; and any other subject found to be inappropriate, unacceptable or inconsistent with the standard licensing practices of The University of Iowa.

Use of a current student-athlete's name or likeness on products is a violation of NCAA rules and can result in the student-athlete being declared ineligible. Any use of a student-athlete's name, nickname, or likeness must be approved by both The University of Iowa Trademark Licensing Office and The University of Iowa Athletics Department Compliance Office.

Co-branding and Trade Dress

Amalgamations of University marks with other intellectual properties and/or trade dress not associated with The University of Iowa are prohibited. This means that using any colors, fonts, images, or other partial indicia which call to mind the brand of another organization or company may not be used in conjunction with the University’s marks. Doing so violates federal and state trademark law, and such submissions will not be approved absent evidence of third-party approval.

Example: The Johnson County I-Club uses the MLS crest, but changes the letters to read “JC” and places a Tigerhawk on the ball. This would be use of the MLS’s trade dress and would be an infringing use.

Use of intellectual property owned by a third party must be approved by that entity in writing and submitted to the Trademark Licensing Office when the application and artwork are submitted. This includes references to other schools. Please reference the Brand Standards for more information.

Sponsorship Use

When I-Clubs engage third party businesses, organizations, and/or individuals as sponsors of their club, the following guidelines shall apply in all instances if word marks, trademarks, logos and/or symbols associated with The University of Iowa and/or I-Clubs are used:

Sponsorship recognition shall appear as plain text only and as the established sponsor name.
- The University of Iowa reserves the right to refuse sponsors.
Sponsorship recognition shall not include taglines and/or slogans associated with the sponsor name.
Sponsorship recognition shall not appear adjacent to word marks, trademarks, logos and/or symbols associated with The University of Iowa.
Sponsorship recognition shall include accompanying sponsorship indicia, which identifies the relationship between the club and the sponsor(s). e.g. “Proud sponsor of Anytown USA Iowa Club”
Businesses, organizations, and/or individuals shall not apply any designation to their I-Club sponsorship, which implies a relationship and/or endorsement by The University of Iowa.
- Permitted: “Chicago’s Official Game watch location of the ABC Iowa Club”
- Not permitted: “Chicago’s Official Game watch location of the Iowa Hawkeyes”
Promotional items displaying word marks, trademarks, logos and/or symbols associated with The University of Iowa and/or I-Clubs shall be obtained through current University of Iowa licensees.
Sponsorship recognition on promotional items shall be limited for the purpose of Iowa Clubs/I- Clubs sponsorship recognition only and shall not be used as sponsor’s sales incentives or marketing efforts.
- Permitted: Sponsor pays for promotional item in exchange for sponsorship recognition per aforementioned guidelines.
- Not permitted: Regardless of who pays for the promotional item, sponsor shall not benefit directly from the sales and/or distribution of the promotional item.
  - Example A: Bar/restaurant sponsor runs drink special utilizing promotional items bearing word marks, trademarks, logos and/or symbols associated with The University of Iowa and/or I-Clubs.
  - Example B: Sponsor offers giveaway of promotional item bearing word marks, trademarks, logos and/or symbols associated with The University of Iowa and/or I-Clubs.

Approval Process

Requestor must submit the completed I-Club Use Application and Agreement to the Trademark Licensing Office. Artwork must be submitted by Licensed Vendor for pre-production approval. Final approval cannot be completed until the Trademark Licensing Program has received and approved artwork and application.

Not all requests are approved. This application only becomes an agreement when signed and approved by the Trademark Licensing Office.

Royalties

Royalties are charges assessed by the Trademark Licensing Program to the licensees for the approved use of the University’s marks. Royalties are due on all University merchandise regardless of the product’s intended use, whether sold, donated, or given away as a promotion. The standard royalty charge is 15% of sales.

Approval Process

It is important to follow the appropriate process when developing products bearing word marks, trademarks, logos, and/or symbols associated with the University. This will ensure clear communication and that your request is processed in a timely manner. It is also important to note that our approval procedures and artwork policies have changed, and thus previously approved artwork will not automatically be approved upon resubmission. Please review the Brand Standards for complete explanations.

Step 1 – Select a Licensed Vendor

Locate a licensed vendor who meets your product needs.

The University of Iowa has over 500 licensed vendors throughout the state and country. Click here for a list of The University of Iowa’s licensees, and for a searchable database organized by product category. If you are unable to find product offerings from our licensees that fulfill your needs, contact the Trademark Licensing Office at 319-384-2000, or by email at uilicensing@hawkeyelicensing.com.

Step 2 – Artwork Development

Work with a licensed vendor to develop an artwork design.

Review and reference the Brand Standards while developing artwork bearing word marks, trademarks, logos, and/or symbols associated with The University of Iowa. I-Clubs are subject to all Brand Standards requirements as well as those listed in this policy.

Step 3 – Application and Artwork Submission

Complete the I-Club Use Application and Agreement and submit to uilicensing@hawkeyelicensing.com.

Include information on the application consistent with Trademark Licensing Office policy on appropriate products. See above, “Requirements and Restrictions”, for further detail on appropriate products and other restrictions or requirements.

Indicate the intended use of the product bearing word marks, trademarks, logos, and/or symbols associated with The University of Iowa on the application.

Note: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement must pre-approve the desired product and artwork concept prior to submission of the artwork and application to the Trademark Licensing Office.

Once you have completed the I-Club Use Application and Agreement in its entirety and received approval from the UI Center for Advancement, submit it to the Trademark Licensing Office for review. Note: This application is not a binding agreement until it is executed by The University of Iowa Trademark Licensing Program.

When you and the licensed vendor have finalized an artwork design, the licensed vendor, per its contract with The University of Iowa Trademark Licensing Program, needs to independently submit the artwork to the Trademark Licensing Office for approval.

Upon receipt of the I-Club Use Application and Agreement and artwork, your application and artwork will be reviewed by the Trademark Licensing Office.

Please allow two weeks for processing your request.

Note: If your application and/or artwork does/do not meet The University of Iowa Trademark Licensing Program’s standards, you will be notified.

Step 4 – Application and Artwork Approval

If your application and artwork are approved, the Trademark Licensing Office will send you the executed agreement, and the vendor can now begin production.