Trademark Licensing and Promotional Products
March 28, 2019
Northwestern has exclusive rights to its name, logos, trademarks, songs, mottos, and mascots and prohibits their unauthorized use. The Trademark Licensing protects and monitors the use of the University's name and insignias. When purchasing items such as promotional products, the vendor must be licensed by the Northwestern Trademark Licensing Office.
Vendors who manufacture and sell imprinted items (to the public or to Northwestern departments) must operate under specific guidelines:
- The Trademark Licensing Office must approve all products and designs
- The items must include an "officially licensed" hangtag or label
The Trademark Licensing Office can verify that a department's choice of vendor is licensed. Procurement has established four Preferred Vendors for Promotional Products who are all licensed for trademark use, and have dedicated representatives to assist throughout the order process. The Preferred Promotional Product vendors are:
For questions regarding Trademark Licensing, visit the Auxiliary Services website or contact Ellen Barnes at e-barnes@northwestern.edu or 847.491.3274
For questions regarding the Northwestern Preferred Promotional Product vendors, visit the online Preferred Vendor list or contact Julie Maul at julie.maul@northwestern.edu or 847.491.5321