NCAA Trademarks | NCAA Official Equipment Suppliers | NCAA Official Licensee List
Click on the question for the answer.
- Why does the NCAA have a merchandising licensing program?
- Who is responsible for the NCAA licensing program?
- How do I become an NCAA licensee?
- What is The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC)?
- Who is licensed with the NCAA?
- Who needs a license?
- What products can be licensed?
- What is the difference between an NCAA merchandise license, conference merchandise license and a school merchandise license (e.g., Wake Forest University)?
- Does the NCAA own trademarks and logos?
- Where can I get a catalog?
- Are any products exempt from licensing?
- Does a license agreement mean the NCAA will endorse my products?
- What if I do not get a license?
- Is there a source that I can view the most current trademarks/logos for a university, conference or for the NCAA?
- What about using the NCAA's logo on a website?
- How do I acquire access to official video from NCAA Championships?
- How do I acquire access to official photos from NCAA Championships?
1. Why does the NCAA have a merchandising licensing program?
The licensing program at the NCAA has four main objectives:
- Ensure the quality and consistency of all of the NCAA's Championship Event merchandise.
- Protect all service marks, trademarks and verbiage that relates to the NCAA (or have come to be associated with the NCAA), and to ensure that the use of these marks reflects on the NCAA in a favorable manner.
- Generate revenue to support and enhance NCAA programs and to fund scholarships, programs or services to student-athletes of our member schools and conferences.
- Protect the consumer from faulty or inferior products bearing the NCAA's trademarks.
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2. Who is responsible for the NCAA licensing program?
The NCAA entered into a long-term agreement with The Collegiate Licensing Company (“CLC”) to administer the domestic and international licensing programs for the NCAA. CLC manages the daily administration of the NCAA licensing program.
David Clendenin
Championships and Alliances - Licensing
NCAA External Operations
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222
317/917-6496
dclendenin@ncaa.org
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3. How do I become an NCAA licensee?
Anyone who wishes to obtain a license to produce merchandise containing NCAA trademarks may contact:
The Collegiate Licensing Company
1075 Peachtree Street
Suite 3300
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Phone: (770) 956-0520
http://www.clc.com/
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4. What is The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC)?
The Collegiate Licensing Company is the licensing representative for the NCAA. CLC is responsible for administering the licensing program, including processing applications, collecting royalties, enforcing trademarks and pursuing new market opportunities for the NCAA. Visit the CLC Homepage
Visit the CLC Homepage
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5. Who is licensed with the NCAA?
The list of current NCAA licensees can be found here. It is typically much easier to work with an established NCAA licensee than to try and license a new product or idea. Both the NCAA and CLC can provide you with information on the products produced by all licensees so you can match your needs with the right company.
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6. Who needs a license?
Any individual, organization or company wishing to use the name or identifying marks of the NCAA and/or any of the NCAA's Championship Events must obtain a license. This includes manufacturers or service providers who use the NCAA name or logo on products (including premiums for promotions) or in advertising.
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7. What products can be licensed?
Collegiate fans generate many great ideas for new NCAA products. Product ideas will be reviewed and approved by CLC's Review Committee and the NCAA's Associate Director of Licensing. This ensures all products associated with the NCAA are of high quality and good taste and helps to prevent the approval of potentially hazardous items.
The NCAA reserves the right to decline licensing of any specific products or product categories.
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8. What is the difference between an NCAA merchandise license, conference merchandise license and a school merchandise license (e.g., Wake Forest University)?
An NCAA merchandise license allows licensees to produce product leading up to and during its 90 Championship Events. A list of those events can be found at the NCAA’s Championships Homepage. The NCAA does not manage or monitor the licensing agreements of the conferences, schools or its other member institutions. If you are interested in using their logos and/or trademarks, you will need to contact each conference or institution individually. The NCAA does not maintain a list of each school's licensee contact.
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9. Does the NCAA own trademarks and logos?
Yes, all rights to the identifying marks and symbols of the NCAA are reserved. No one may reproduce or copy them without the permission of the NCAA. Vigorous legal action will be taken against violators. NCAA Current Trademarks
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10. Where can I get an NCAA merchandise catalog?
The NCAA does not produce a catalog.
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11. Are any products exempt from licensing?
No. All goods bearing a mark of the NCAA must be licensed.
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12. Does a license agreement mean the NCAA will endorse my products?
A license agreement does not indicate the NCAA's endorsement of a product. The NCAA does not endorse products covered in license agreements; the NCAA only permits use of its registered trademarks for products that have met strict standards of excellence and quality, and that enhance the image of the NCAA.
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13. What if I do not get a license?
All products must be approved by the NCAA and The Collegiate Licensing Company. Failure to obtain a license or approval from the NCAA and CLC would be grounds for the seizure of all non-approved merchandise bearing the NCAA's marks. Vigorous legal action will be taken against violators, which could result in jail time and numerous fines.
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14. Is there a source where I can view the most current trademarks/logos for a university, conference or for the NCAA?
The NCAA logo library contains NCAA logos only and is accessible for all authorized entities of the NCAA. The NCAA does not have the authority to maintain a database for conference or university logos.
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15. Can I use the NCAA's logo on a website?
Every use of the NCAA's trademarks requires permission from the NCAA Trademark Office. The Internet has made it easy for NCAA supporters to build web pages with the NCAA's name and logos, and the NCAA appreciates this support. However, federal trademark laws require that the NCAA control its name and marks; therefore, the NCAA must be very selective in granting permission in these and all instances.
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16. How do I acquire access to official video from NCAA Championships?
Veritone is the licensing agent for all NCAA Championship video rights. All licensing inquiries and questions about NCAA Championship video copyright and intellectual property should be directed to Veritone in writing. Please contact sports@veritone.com for more information regarding NCAA Championship video licensing.
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17. How do I acquire access to official photos from NCAA Championships?
Getty Images is the official photo distribution and licensing partner to the NCAA. All image licensing requests should be directed to Getty Images by e-mail (service.na@gettyimages.com) or phone (800-462-4379). For additional information, click here.
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