Background | Trademark Protection | General Information | Trademark Policy | Licensing Program | Registration
The component institutions of The University of Texas System (UT System) have achieved reputations as outstanding institutions of higher education. Reputation is specific to the name of the UT System and each component institution. Reputation also is represented by the seal, trademarks, logos, and service marks used by the UT System and its component institutions (UT Trademarks).
The use of a UT Trademark in conjunction with the product or service of an individual, group or corporation may damage that hard-earned reputation. For this reason, UT System has taken the action necessary to protect UT Trademarks under applicable federal and state law and has developed policies and procedures to license their use under limited circumstances (Trademark Policy).
A trademark or service mark may be a word, name, symbol, device or any combination thereof that is used by its owner to identify or distinguish goods or services from those of others. Unlike patents and copyrights, rights in trademarks and service marks arise as a result of use of the mark in commerce to identify the source or origin of goods and service. In addition, trademark rights do not end after a specific period of time as do patent rights and copyrights; instead, a trademark remains the property of the owner so long as the owner continues to use it properly as a trademark.
These sites provide general information about trademark searches, law and registration:
In 1981 The Board of Regents established a licensing program to protect the institutional names and identifying marks. The System trademarks are registered with the U.S. Office of Patent and Trademarks, the State of
The Office of Trademark Licensing along with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) administers the licensing program. The success of the licensing program is evidenced by the fact that annual royalty income from more than 500 licensees now exceeds $1.5 million. Licensees and the purchase of licensed products make a valuable contribution to the UT System institutions.
Licensees and the purchase of licensed products make a valuable contribution to the UT System institutions. Consequently, the purchase of products licensed by the Office of Trademark Licensing provides funds that support the activities and mission of the universities. Conversely, the sale of a product with an unlicensed mark is an infringement of UT System's valuable trademark rights and diminishes the universities' ability to accomplish their goals.
The UT Trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and with the State of Texas. Many are registered in foreign countries.
Inquiries regarding licenses for UT Trademarks may be directed to:
Trademark Licensing Director Office of Trademark Licensing Office of General Counsel Homepage | Intellectual Property Section Homepage
University of Texas System Office of General Counsel