UC Marks and Intellectual Property

A licensed company (licensee) must be used when ordering any custom (non blank) product(s), for any use (some examples being: required staff uniforms, free giveaways or gifts to students or staff, apparel to promote department or program, gifts to donors or speakers, promotional items for events, conferences, and more).

Intellectual Property (IP)
IP includes, but is not limited to, University, departmental, lab, program, etc., logos or branding, team names, logos, branding, slogans, etc., campus buildings, statues, landmarks, etc.... This includes any art or image related to campus, including the words Berkeley, California, Cal, or Bears, as they are also trademarked and part of the University's Intellectual Property.

Licensees are
 the only companies approved to use any campus IP on any products no matter the use, (with the exception of official letterhead or business cards, or one time use paper printed materials like reports, brochures, etc.). When in doubt please email licensing to be sure at stephanie_matthews@berkeley.edu.

What makes a Licensee Different from an Approved Vender?

  • Licensees may product, and place UC Berkeley's intellectual property on, products. Vendors may not.
  • Licensees have access to our current approved marks and IP. Vendors do not have access to current IP. 
  • Licensees go through a stringent application process and are vetted.
  • Licensees must carry certain levels of insurance and they offer campus protections other companies do not, such as indemnification.
  • Licensees must ethically source and disclose all factories, etc.
  • Licensees  must be members of the Fair Labor Association and have signed the UC Code of Conduct.
  • Licensing is able to assist in resolving any quality issues or should the product(s) have been produced incorrectly should an issue occur.

Once you have selected a licensee, they will take your order and some additional information. Your licensee will officially submit the art for approval to the UC Berkeley Licensing Department for review by Licensing Manager, Stephanie Matthews (stephanie_matthews@berkeley.edu).


Current Licensee List:
These companies can source and embellish almost any product you may need.


4 Imprint (866-624-3694)

Albreco/Fog City Marketing Inc. (513-753-2727)

Alliance Graphics (510-548-0543)

BLM/Chameleon Creative Group (909-920-1258)

BYOG* (925-829 -3950)

Corporate Couture (925-831-3141)

Custom Ink (800-293-4232)

Gorilla Marketing (951-353-1647)

ID ME* (818-774-9500)

Jag Forms* (503-656-6066)

Tugboat (707-252-3536 )

*Only Licensees that can customize headwear in addition to all other products they offer.

A Few Additional Points:

  • At no time can blank product(s) be purchased and then taken to a licensee to be embellished, as the product's sourcing cannot be verified as is required via the UC Code of Conduct.
  • Any use of a non-licensee is not permitted and means that the product produced is not officially licensed, and is a trademark infringement. Infringements may constitute brand dilution, brand confusion, or counterfeiting; these actions are not allowed per CA Educational Code 92000, the UC Code of Conduct for Trademark Licensees, and are illegal in California.