Licensing and Branded Merchandise

The overall purpose of the Stony Brook University Licensing Program is to protect the integrity of the institution’s trademarks and to ensure such trademarks are used in an appropriate manner on Stony Brook branded merchandise.

Stony Brook’s trademarks include, but are not limited to: the names Stony Brook University, Stony Brook Medicine and Stony Brook Children’s, as well as anything that includes these words. The graphic trademarks include the shield, interlocking SB and Wolfie. For further information or additional trademarks, download the Stony Brook University Retail Style Guide in PDF format.

To comply with and assure protection under federal, state and international trademark laws, Stony Brook University is required to monitor and control all uses of its trademarks. Stony Brook University must control and monitor the use of its trademarks or risk losing its rights to use them as unique Stony Brook identifiers.

All uses of Stony Brook’s trademarks on logo branded merchandise require prior approval from the Office of Marketing and Communications, even if the proposed uses do not involve the sale of a product; e.g., promotional items for conferences or meetings, items for fundraisers, items for giveaways, gifts, etc.

Stony Brook’s trademarks may not be altered in any way. They may not be used in conjunction with the name or trademark(s) of any other entity without prior written permission of that entity. They may not be used in any manner that suggests or implies Stony Brook’s endorsement of other organizations, companies, products, services, political parties, religious organizations or beliefs. They may not be used in any way that discriminates or implies discrimination against any persons or groups.

Stony Brook will not approve the use of Stony Brook trademarks or designs in connection with any art depicting or implying the use or endorsement of: alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco products, firearms or other weapons, racist, sexist, hateful, demeaning or degrading language or statements, profanity, sexual acts, statements impugning other universities, and art or a design incorporating trademarks or copyrights not owned by Stony Brook, unless written permission for such satisfactory in form and substance to Stony Brook is obtained from the trademark holder or copyright owner, and approved in advance by the Office of Marketing and Communications.

Stony Brook will not approve the use of Stony Brook’s trademarks in connection with certain types of products. These include, but are not limited to: products that could be used to injure or kill, alcohol-related products, tobacco-related products, illegal drug-related products, sexually suggestive products or language, gambling-related products, food and beverage products and accompanying packaging (other than for limited internal consumption in connection with official Stony Brook events, approved in advance by Stony Brook’s Office of Marketing and Communications), products that present an unacceptable risk of liability and products that are harmful to the mission or image of the institution.

Stony Brook is committed to conducting its business affairs in a socially responsible and ethical manner. Stony Brook requires that all manufacturers of products bearing Stony Brook’s trademarks strictly adhere to a Code of Conduct in the manufacture of those products. Stony Brook prohibits products bearing its trademarks from being manufactured in abusive and unfair labor conditions. Licensees are required to publicly disclose the names and locations of all of their factories which manufacture products that bear Stony Brook’s trademarks and are required to subject those factories to independent monitoring of factory labor conditions through its affiliation with the Fair Labor Association.

To ensure consistency in the use of Stony Brook’s trademarks, and to ensure compliance with a wide range of requirements associated with the manufacture and use of these trademarks, products bearing Stony Brook’s trademarks may be purchased only from companies that are officially licensed by Stony Brook to manufacture or distribute products bearing its trademarks.

There are more than 100 companies officially licensed by Stony Brook to manufacture products that bear Stony Brook’s trademarks, from T-shirts to flash drives.

The royalty rate is 12 percent and is payable through CLC on all items, including giveaways. Exemptions to the royalty are signage, awards and uniforms. However, use of licensed vendors is still required. The funds collected are used toward student scholarships.

Our business partners in the licensing program are flexible and open to negotiation. They will work within your budget. We recommend getting three bids on your order. Evaluate on quality, price, shipping and delivery.

To become licensed, a vendor must submit an application to Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC). CLC serves as the University’s agent for the administration of license agreements. To obtain an application packet or learn more about licensing, please contact CLC at (770) 956-0520 or visit its website at clc.com.

One-time use applications are granted through the Office of Marketing and Communications. Approval to use a Stony Brook trademark for a one-time application only does not constitute approval to use the trademark again, or in connection with any other item, or to change the design in anyway, without seeking additional approval.

For further information or assistance, contact please contact Jaime Woll at Jaime.Woll@stonybrook.edu.