Frequently Asked Questions - Licensing

Flyers, posters, and other print publications that are used solely for promotional purposes are not affected by this program. The trademark and licensing program applies to merchandise only.

Vendors must complete the appropriate license application through the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC). The application process takes approximately four to ten weeks to complete, depending on the desired license type.  Additional information can be found in the CLC License Type Quick Reference Guide.

All vendors need to prove they are reputable companies in order to receive licenses. Along with submitting general business information at the time of application, vendors must maintain a certain level of insurance and send in a sample of their work. If they are unable to meet the requirements or their sample is of poor quality, they may not be approved.

CLC charges $250 for an internal license application (any number of schools).  For a retail license application, CLC charges $250 for a single school, $125 per additional school - same application fee for both license types.

Approvals of artwork may take up to five business days during periods of heavy volume. The Division of Marketing and Communications strives for same-day approvals whenever feasible.

Once a vendor is licensed by CLC, all artwork and logos are accessed through CLC's Logos on Demand portal.

In this type of situation, the vendor would need a retail license. Items purchased by a College organization are not subject to royalties even if the items are being sold publicly.

Each design must be separately approved through the CLC system. A design that may be appropriate for one item may not be approved for use on a different item. Items that have already been approved through CLC can be reordered for exact reprints on the same merchandise for which the approval was previously granted, but must go through the Approvals on Demand system for review again.

Yes. Each piece of artwork and every new item must go through the CLC approval process. For example, a design used on an approved cup can’t be used on a shirt without going through the approval process. Reprints/re-orders must also be approved each time.

Since “Ithaca” is also the name of the town in which the College is located, the College can only regulate merchandise that contains the word “Ithaca” and also clearly refers to the College. See the list of protected terms and marks.

We will first work with the vendor to try to remedy the unlicensed merchandise. If the matter is not resolved or there is no response to our communication, unauthorized merchandise may be considered counterfeit and legal action may be taken.