Formerly Known As Policy Number: 15.5
This Guide Memo establishes the policies governing use of Stanford's registered trademarks, as well as the use of unregistered names, seals, logos, emblems, images, symbols and slogans that are representative of Stanford (together referred to herein as "Marks").
Applicability:
This Guide Memo applies to all uses of Stanford's Marks.
Stanford’s Marks are owned by Stanford and they are a valuable university asset. Faculty, students, staff and alumni share in the benefits associated with the Marks, and therefore also share responsibilities to ensure correct use. Stanford’s Trademark Licensing Office at trademarks@stanford.edu (mailto:trademarks@stanford.edu) is to be consulted with any questions about Stanford’s Marks and their use.
A partial list of Stanford’s registered Marks includes, but is not limited to:
The Office of the General Counsel maintains a complete list of registered Marks.
A partial list of Stanford’s unregistered Marks includes, but is not limited to:
Trademark Licensing maintains a complete list of unregistered Marks.
All buildings and landmarks that are generally recognizable as being located on Stanford’s campus or associated with Stanford are considered to be Marks. These images include, but are not limited to:
The President has delegated authority for approving use of Stanford's Marks as follows:
For use in connection with educational, research and athletics activities (including courseware and related materials developed for teaching at Stanford) and for special events.
For use by manufacturers of merchandise and products, in connection with Stanford’s business activities, and by vendors (including promotional use). Only the Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer may grant permission for use of Stanford's Marks on merchandise and products.
For use in connection with Stanford Medicine’s activities.
For use in film, video, print and digital media, including the University's web pages.
For use in connection with legal affairs.
Authority for approving all other uses of Stanford’s Marks remains with the President.
These individuals, or their delegates, will collaborate on situations that fall within the scope of authority of more than one office in order to ensure a consistent application of this policy.
Stanford’s Marks may only be used by Stanford faculty, staff, students, and alumni as provided in this policy and for no other purposes. Stanford faculty and staff include only those individuals who meet the criteria listed in Sections 1 through 11 of Administrative Guide Memo 2.2.1: Definitions (https://adminguide.stanford.edu/chapter-2/subchapter-2/policy-2-2-1). Students include only individuals currently enrolled in a degree-granting program at Stanford. Alumni include only individuals who have completed at least three quarters of a degree-granting program at Stanford. No other individuals or entities may use Stanford’s Marks without the permission of an individual listed in Section 2, above, or their delegate.
Stanford faculty and staff may only use Stanford’s Marks in connection with Stanford departments, institutes, events, programs, projects, activities, publications and products that are officially sponsored or sanctioned by Stanford.
Students and alumni may only use Stanford’s Marks as described below:
Use of Stanford’s Marks must comply with the following:
The following uses of Stanford’s Marks are not permitted, except as otherwise authorized by (a) this policy, (b) the Name Use Guidelines (https://trademarks.stanford.edu/name-use-guidelines), (c) other published guidelines or (d) Stanford’s President, Provost or other individual with delegated authority under Section 2, above:
Involvement by individual faculty, staff, students, or alumni in a non-Stanford activity is not a sufficient basis for indicating University sponsorship or endorsement and Marks may not be used in connection with such activities.
All merchandise bearing any Marks must be produced by a licensed vendor and be approved by Stanford’s Trademark Licensing Office. The Trademark Licensing Office will issue or approve all licenses, issue guidelines governing the production, sale and other distribution of licensed merchandise, and manage Stanford’s trademark licensing program. All merchandise produced for sale (including items that are sold to cover the cost of production) will be royalty-bearing at the rate established by the Trademark Licensing Office. Only items that are produced for internal use by Stanford, and are not offered for re-sale, are not royalty-bearing. Net proceeds from Stanford’s trademark licensing program royalties are used to support undergraduate financial aid and the Department of Athletics and Physical Education.
Domain names that incorporate the words "Stanford" or "Cardinal" may only be registered in the name of the Board of Trustees of Stanford University and may only be used in connection with activities that are officially sponsored or sanctioned by Stanford.
Trademarks for the University may only be registered in the name of The Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University and may only be used in connection with activities that are officially sponsored or sanctioned by Stanford. The Office of the General Counsel is responsible for registration of all trademarks for the University.
The University will actively protect its Marks from improper or misleading use by individuals or organizations not associated with Stanford and will ensure that use of Marks by Stanford faculty, students, staff, alumni, schools, departments, institutes, centers and programs conforms to all applicable policies and guidelines. The Office of the General Counsel is responsible for enforcement of Stanford's Marks.
Additional information can be found by contacting the offices listed below:
All other questions about use of Stanford's Marks should be directed to the Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer at trademarks@stanford.edu (mailto:trademarks@stanford.edu), which will help identify the correct person or office.
Misuse of Stanford’s Marks by non-Stanford entities should be reported to the Office of the General Counsel at trademarkenforcement@stanford.edu (mailto:trademarkenforcement@stanford.edu).
The following policies and resources include related information: