Authorization Policy for Student Organizations and MU Departments

All University of Missouri-Columbia departments and Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) are required to obtain prior approval to use the indicia (i.e. names, marks, logos, seals and/or symbols) of the University in any commercial or non-commercial venture (see definitions below).

MU departments and RSOs are also required to purchase emblematic merchandise from Officially Licensed vendors (licensees) of the University.

Requests for approval usually fall into two categories:

• Requiring Royalties
• Royalty Exempt

Requiring Royalties

Items for resale: selling products (i.e. cups, apparel, pins, posters) bearing MU trademarks for all of the following purposes constitutes commercial use:

• Sales to individual customers
• Sales on campus by RSOs with permits
• Sales for fund-raising projects (if the item includes the use of a commercial sponsor's name or logo on a licensed product, a higher royalty will be accessed)
• Sales of items carrying a commercial message, sponsor or endorsement (regardless of size)
• Items used as a promotional marketing avenue for an event
• Items given at conferences/workshops/clinics/camps that require a registration fee and the price of the item has been included in the fee
• Items used as giveaways* to attendees of special events, booster activities, or for use as fundraisers are considered commercial products

Royalty Exempt

Items restricted to internal audience (members of an office, department or student recognized organization) and are used as an "uniform" or giveaway.

• Items must be bought with departmental funds, or
• If item above is sold to the internal audience, it must be sold at cost to qualify for royalty exemption.

Items such as banners and signs without endorsements, commercial message or sponsor unless a company is a corporate sponsor of the MU Athletic Department and trademark usage is specified in the "sponsorship" agreement.

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