Licensing Information

Jacksonville State University has established a licensing program to manage the use of the name, nicknames, abbreviations, logos, seals, mascots, slogans, anything confusingly similar to such, and other marks. Any marks used in reference to the university or anything confusingly similar to those of the university are subject to licensing requirements. Any products bearing the marks must be approved by Marketing.

• Ensure that the Jacksonville State name and trademarks are used appropriately, consistently, in good taste and with high-quality reproduction and to avoid misrepresentation of Jacksonville State University to the public.
• Establish a cooperative relationship with licensees to assist in the further development of a market of officially licensed products of Jacksonville State.
• Promote a relationship by which both Jacksonville State and its licensees will benefit.
• Jacksonville State has partnered with CLC to assist in the management of the licensing program. CLC is responsible for the daily administrative activities generated by a licensing program, such as processing license applications, coordinating artwork approvals, collection of royalty payments and enforcement of trademark infractions.

Requirements of the JSU licensing program

• Manufacturers, producers, service providers, retailers and any other entity that plans to produce or sell products with the trademarks of the university must be properly licensed by the university before producing or selling emblematic merchandise, regardless of the intended use or method of distribution of the merchandise.
• Companies must obtain a license and artwork approval from CLC prior to producing, distributing or selling any products that utilize the university's registered and common law trade names, trademarks and service marks regardless of use or method of distribution.
• The license allows for the production of emblematic merchandise that will be sold by the licensee to retail establishments and/or merchandise requestors.

License Regulations

• The names and marks of Jacksonville State University are to be used on products that are tasteful and of such a nature as to reflect positively on the image of the university
• The names and marks of Jacksonville State University will not be used in the promotion of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, illegal drug products or products or services deemed to be of poor taste.
• Jacksonville State marks may not be used in any manner that suggests or implies university endorsement of products, services, political parties or views of religious organizations or beliefs.
• Logos are to be used as registered, including the appropriate trademark designation. Logos may not be altered without the authorization of Jacksonville State University and CLC.
• Departments requesting authorization for use within official university publications, letterhead and business cards, etc. should direct their requests to the Marketing Services Office.
• Designs must be submitted for approval prior to production.
• Jacksonville State University logos cannot be used to endorse or promote a private group or business unless authorized by a formal contract or sponsorship agreement. Private companies are allowed to use university logos only after entering into a promotion-specific agreement with Jacksonville State University.
• Any use of university marks that does not comply with Jacksonville State University's licensing and approval requirements will be considered unauthorized and may violate federal and/or state laws.
• Merchandise produced without written authorization may be considered counterfeit and subject to all available legal remedies, including confiscation of the goods.
• Licenses are issued by CLC. Applications can be obtained at CLC.com.
• All promotional products ordered using state funds must be purchased through one of the approved vendors listed on the Purchasing Website.
• Any promotional products paid for using foundation account funds must be purchased from an approved licensed vendor. The list of these vendors is also available on this site. Please ensure that you are following these guidelines when placing orders to ensure compliance with university policies. If you have any questions please contact Mary Smith, Director of Marketing and Licensing at 256.782.5830. 

Community Connect

Jax State's crafter’s license program, known as Community Connect, 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. Community Connect may also be used by local entrepreneurs to test the market before entering into a broader retail license with the University through its licensing agent, CLC. This license is ideal for fans and alumni who are interested in producing small quantities of merchandise. 

Benefits 

Officially Licensed Certificate: Crafters, once approved, will be provided with an "Officially Licensed" Certificate to use at craft fairs, on webpages, etc. when selling products  - letting customers know you’re selling officially licensed products. 

Additional benefits of joining Community Connect are: 

• You’ll be legally permitted to produce and sell handmade products using the University brand.
• You’ll have access to our official logo files.
• You’ll have access to our licensing portal where you’ll find all artwork, guidelines, resources, and updates from staff at CLC and the University’s licensing director.
• You’ll get hands-on help with adhering to the University’s branding standards. Your artwork and project will be reviewed and approved by the University. If changes are needed to meet the University’s brand standards, we’ll walk you through it step-by-step!
• You’ll be promoted regularly by our licensing office through our Instagram account.
• This program will not charge crafters a royalty fee (based on sales) but a flat service fee of $200 annually. 

Products 

Items that are unique, handmade and of an underrepresented category are encouraged. Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The University reserves the right to reject an application for crafters requesting rights to produce goods outside of the spirit of the crafter’s program, or for any other reason. All products produced under the University’s Community Connect program must meet the University’s brand standards and guidelines. 

This license allows for sales to individual consumers only, and does not allow for wholesale or third party vendor/distributor sales. All items must be approved by the University’s licensing office prior to listing or displaying for sale. Items and artwork should be submitted through the Community Connect portal. Samples may be required for some items. Craftspeople can sell products at the following locations, so long as crafter contact information is provided and the license certificate is displayed: 

• Craft shows
• Farmers markets
• Festivals
• Flea markets
• Fairs
• Limited online sites (personal website or crafter-hosted websites, i.e. Etsy)
• Artisan/co-op shops
• Distribution via events such as events organized by church, school, county or state
• Please note that in accordance with University policy, no solicitation of sales may be made on campus at tailgate events. 

The University may, at its discretion, promote participants in the Community Connect program, with mutual agreement in advance. 

Artwork Approval 

All crafters will need to submit proposed artwork for all products for approval prior to production and sale of the item. Artwork will be submitted through the crafter's portal to - where the University’s licensing office will review the submissions and provide approval or edit requests. Licensees will be given instructions for this process upon approval of their application. 

Contact 

Please email communityconnect@clc.com or msmith@jsu.edu for additional information and questions regarding the portal or application process.