Schools, Colleges, Administrative Departments and Partners/Affiliates
Creating BU Branded Goods and Apparel
BU branded products and apparel are a great way to draw attention and make lasting impressions on visitors, students, and donors. If you are considering a giveaway; promotion; fundraiser; or School, College, Department, or team shop; we can help.
Before you begin
Before you start creating your artwork or designing your product, here are some frequently asked questions about using BU trademarks.
Quick FAQs
What University trademarks can we use?
Boston University Schools, Colleges, Administrative Departments, and Partners/Affiliates may all use the Boston University name and BU initials to identify themselves on promotional products and apparel. They may also use the University Plate and BU Sub-brand Signature and Logotype while following the BU Marketing & Communications Department’s
Brand Guidelines. Never alter logos or sub-brands created by MarCom. If additional logos are needed for a department, please request a new sub-brand through MarCom’s
Request a Logo link. Additionally, BU Schools and Colleges have special BU Athletic style marks made available. Please contact the Trademark Licensing office at
TMoffice@bu.edu for access to these marks. Requests to use any other BU University or Athletic mark should be directed to the Trademark Licensing Office.
Which vendors are allowed to produce BU branded items?
Not all Boston University vendors are licensed to produced BU branded merchandise. The University has identified and licensed a set of vendors who are allowed to embellish the BU name and marks on a wide variety of high-quality promotional products and apparel. In addition to knowing that your vendor will know of and meet all of the University’s brand standards, they have each agreed to become members of the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and have signed a Code of Conduct agreeing to ensure that all of the workers who produce BU branded merchandise and apparel are treated fairly and humanly in safe working conditions. Click here for a current list of
BU licensed vendors able to produce branded merchandise and apparel.
I heard that vendors pay royalties for using BU trademarks. What are royalties and do we have to pay them?
The Boston University name, our logos, and all of our other marks and symbols are important and valuable assets to the University. As such, in return for the ability to create branded goods and apparel, each licensed vendor has agreed to pay a royalty fee based on the wholesale value of the product.
As a general rule, all items produced by a BU vendor that include the University name or any logo or mark starts out as royalty bearing. The University does, however, offer to waiver the royalties due on any product produced for internal University buyers on products or apparel used for giveaways, purchased as uniforms, or bought for solely internal use. All that a buyer needs to do is to fill out a BU Trademark Use/Royalty Waiver Request. The request will be approved and returned by the Trademark Licensing Office for you to forward to your licensed vendor.
All products and apparel that is purchased by a BU organization for resale or that is sold by the vendor as part of an online shop will remain royalty bearing. All royalty fees will already be included in the price offered by the vendor and no payment or records are needed from the BU organization.
I have more questions about using the University name or marks on promotional products or apparel. Who do I contact?
The Trademark Licensing Office is available to answer any question concerning BU branded promotional products or apparel. We work closely with Athletics and the Marketing & Communications Office, and can be your one-stop resource for any questions about using the University name, logos, and marks on these items. Please contact our office at TMoffice@bu.edu or by phone at (617) 358-7004.
Guidelines for using the University name, logos, and trademarks
The guidelines for using the University name, logos, and other trademarks depend on which artwork is being used.
General guidelines that apply to all uses of the University name or marks.
Guidelines that apply to University marks including the University Plate, BU Icon, Sub-brand signature and logotype, and University Seal
Guidelines that apply to Athletic marks including the Rhett logo
Purchasing promotional products or apparel for giveaways, uniforms, or internal use
BU Schools, Colleges, Administrative Departments, and Partners/Affiliates are allowed and encouraged to use the University name and allowed marks on promotional products and apparel. When purchased for giveaways, uniforms, or internal use, these purchases are eligible to have the licensed vendor’s royalty fees waived.
Royalty Waiver Guide for Giveaways and Internal Use Items
Selling BU School, College, Administrative Department, or Partner/Affiliate branded merchandise.
BU entities are allowed to sell branded merchandise in person or electronically as long as the merchandise has the name of the School, College, Administrative Department, or Partner/Affiliate included in the artwork. Goods and apparel produced for sale to individuals are subject to royalties paid by the vendor.
Guide to Selling Branded Goods and Apparel
