Licensing
The UND Licensing & Trademark Office is a division of Athletics in collaboration with the Division of Marketing & Communications.
Our mission is to protect registered logos and trademarks (e.g. the text "University of North Dakota®”), promote the University's brand(s) and generate a profit from the Intellectual Property (IP) of the brand(s) for distribution to key stakeholders.
Legal Use of UND Name, Logo and Trademarks
All UND entities, including departments, administrative areas and organizations, have a responsibility and obligation in their use of the University's name, logos and trademarks. These legal regulations apply to all University entities as well as non-university entities.
Any product or merchandise that includes a University trademark (e.g., pens, T-shirts, baseball caps, etc.):
- Must be produced by an approved licensed vendor.
- Require the use of a Registered Trademark® or ™ logo.
- Design and use must be approved by the UND Licensing & Trademark Office.
- Must follow UND Procurement & Payment Services policy on items over $10,000.
-
Reproduction of University trademarks incurs royalties; a 10% royalty will be applied to all internal orders and a 12% royalty will be applied to commercial use.
- University required uniforms, plaques and awards can be exempt from royalties. For approval, the UND Royalty Exemption Request form must be completed and signed by UND Licensing for every order.
UND Trademarks
In addition to the University's trademarked logos (UND flame logo, Fighting Hawks logo, University Seal), the following are all trademarks of the University:
- UND™
- North Dakota™
- University of North Dakota®
- Fighting Hawks™
- UND Hawkey™
- Fighting Hawkey™
- North Dakota Hawkey™
Some University trademarks are available for download. Contact identity@UND.edu to request access to logos not available for download.
Trademark Licenses
Only manufacturers licensed by UND can legally reproduce our trademarks. Applications to become a licensed vendor are processed by CLC, the university’s exclusive brand licensing company.
University of North Dakota partners with CLC to manage the University's standard license.
The Dacotah Legacy Collection (DLC) licenses the trademarks of historic nicknames and logos through a retail program for regular, consistent sale. Officially Licensed products of the DLC include apparel and other novelty items produced to recognize the achievements of past players, teams and in relation to historic events. The DLC is managed by UND Licensing, in collaboration with the Athletics department and the Division of Marketing & Communications, and in partnership with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC).
DLC merchandise is sold through two retailers, SCHEELS and the Sioux Shop, through their respective online platforms. Additionally, licenses are available to crafters through CLC’s Community Connect to sell DLC merchandise and products at craft shows, Facebook Marketplace and Etsy.
Dacotah Legacy Collection trademarks include:
- University of North Dakota®
- North Dakota™
- UND™
- Sioux™
- Fighting Sioux™
Sioux™ and Fighting Sioux™ word marks MUST be accompanied by the Dacotah Legacy Collection insignia, as shown below.
Dacotah Legacy Collection History
The University of North Dakota created the DLC to maintain and license a small variety of the University's trademarks. Additionally, the DLC was created to reflect the University's ongoing
compliance with its 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Settlement and discontinued use of DLC marks by the University’s Athletic programs in 2012. Through the DLC, the University continued commercial use of these marks to ensure continuous ownership of the “Fighting Sioux” nickname and related marks. The name “Dacotah” is derived from the University’s yearbook circa the mid 1900’s and was chosen to reflect a connection to the University of North Dakota’s history, tradition and legacy.
Trademark Enforcement
DLC mark management is routinely reviewed by Licensing, Athletics, the Division of Marketing & Communications and the Office of General Council to ensure compliance to maintain marks under trademark law.
The University of North Dakota has developed a crafters license program, known as Community Connect, to help benefit the local craftsperson. This program provides crafters with an opportunity to use their creativity without infringing the University’s trademarks while still allowing the University to maintain the integrity of its brand. This license is ideal for fans and alumni who are interested in producing small quantities of merchandise.