Trademarks and Licensing
Licensee Resources
Prospective and approved Purdue licensees should be aware of licensing processes, Purdue’s artwork (logo) sheets, code of conduct and more.
Use of the Purdue brand for merchandise must be consistent with Brand Studio.
The Purdue brand is built upon the fundamental truth of the university’s history and the strength of its identity. The way the brand is expressed — its look, feel and tone — reflects what Purdue University is and aspires to become.
Standard License
A standard license allows a company to produce products bearing university trademarks for university departments and related entities, in addition to retail distribution through all channels.
Standard licensees are legally allowed to produce items with Purdue University trademarks for external constituents if they are in good standing with the university and meet labor codes with the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC). A full list of university standard licensees and contact information is available online.
Internal License
Internal licensees are able to produce products with university trademarks for internal university use only. Products produced by these companies cannot be sold at retailers or directly to consumers.
All products bearing Purdue University’s brand must be purchased from businesses licensed by the university. Purdue departments and student organizations who use university funds to purchase university-branded products must select one of Purdue’s approved internal vendors.
Crafter’s License
Purdue’s Crafter’s license allows local crafters and entrepreneurs to make small-batch Purdue merchandise while protecting the brand and offering a path to broader licensing.
Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) License
College sports is in the midst of its most significant changes in a generation. Current athletes, the NCAA, state legislators and members of Congress have all proposed rules that would provide athletes with varying degrees of new protections and opportunities to make money by selling their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights while playing in college.
At this time, current and former athletes may use university intellectual property for commercial purposes with approval from Purdue University. For a licensee to feature a student athlete’s NIL on products such as jerseys, retailers must apply for the Purdue NIL license. Solely having the Purdue standard license does not allow for the use of Purdue student-athlete NIL. However, having the Purdue NIL license allows for holding the rights to the trademarked logos, words and phrases of the Purdue standard license.
More information about student athletes and NIL is available on the Purdue Sports website.
Vintage License
The Vintage license is a specialty program created by Collegiate Licensing Company to celebrate the historical academic, athletic and lifestyle traditions associated with Purdue. The Vintage licenses contain the images and logos exhumed from the university’s archives that have now contributed to the creation of unique, vintage-inspired clothing and accessories. The license assures consumers that such items are officially approved and authenticated by Purdue. Use must be consistent with the Vintage program’s identity standard for licensees and retailers.
Code of Conduct
Purdue is affiliated with both the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) to help ensure that products bearing university marks are manufactured in socially-responsible ways.
Purdue, in connection with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), the FLA and the WRC, has adopted labor code standards that cover various issues, including wages and benefits, working hours, child labor, health and safety, and freedom of association. These standards are monitored and enforced at factories around the world by both the FLA and the WRC. In coordination with CLC, Purdue has adopted a detailed Code of Conduct (PDF).
Royalties
All licensed goods and services for sale to the public are subject to a royalty. The royalty rate is determined by Purdue and is subject to change by the university. Trademarks and Licensing or Purdue’s authorized licensing agent are the administrators of the royalty program.
Trademarks and Licensing may grant exemptions from royalty payments on a case-by-case basis. Items purchased by Purdue for its use (“internal consumption”) may be granted exemption. This includes items purchased for conferences and university-sponsored sports camps arranged by the Continuing Education Administration (CEA) or promotional items that are given away by Purdue departments. An approved licensee must produce these items unless an exception is granted by Purdue Trademarks and Licensing.
Disbursement of Royalty Income
Only approved, licensed vendors should be used. Royalties paid by licensed vendors go toward a scholarship program that usually generates nearly $2 million per year for Purdue students. Royalties generated by the licensing program are disbursed at the discretion of the Vice President for Business Services and Assistant Treasurer.