Trademarks and Licensing

Queen’s University merchandise that aligns with the Visual Identity Guide and Trademark Guidelines helps build a strong and consistent university brand. A strong brand benefits each faculty, school, department, program, associated unit, club, and student.

Queen's owns a number of identifying marks, the use of which is strictly controlled and protected under the Trademarks Act of Canada. Trademark examples include the Queen's University and sub-brand logos, the university flag, and the words Queen's, Queen's University, Tricolour, and Gaels typeset in any font or style. Please refer to the Canadian Trademarks Database for a full list of registered trademarks.

University faculties, schools, departments, and officially recognized groups are permitted to use Queen's trademarks on merchandise with approval from the University Relations Brand Team via the Trademark Use Approval Form. Please refer to the guidelines below for information on how to create merchandise that follows the Visual Identity and Trademark Guidelines.

Branded Merchandise

The Branded Merchandise Guide outlines the guidelines for the creation of branded merchandise for Queen's University and its faculties, schools, departments, and programs.

Access Branded Merchandise Guide

Student Spirit Wear

The Student Spirit Wear Guide outlines the guidelines for the creation of a branded merchandise collection by and for the students of a specific Queen's faculty, school, or program.

Access Student Spirit Wear Guide

Club Logos

The Club Logo and Merchandise Guide outlines the detailed guidelines for the creation of Queen's University student club logos and merchandise.

Access Club Logo Guide

Class Crests

The Class Crest Guidelines outline the design criteria for the student-designed faculty and school class crests applied to Queen's University jackets.

Access Class Crest Guidelines

Licensed Suppliers

Merchandise bearing a Queen's trademark (logo or trademarked name) must be produced by a company from the university's Licensed Supplier list.

Access Licensed Supplier List

Approval Form

Queen's University faculties, schools, departments, and officially recognized groups are permitted to use Queen's trademarks with approval via the Trademark Use Approval Form.

Access Trademark Use Approval Form

Royalties

As a matter of policy, all Queen’s University and sub-brand merchandise created for the purpose of sale is subject to a royalty fee. These royalties fall under the terms of the licensing agreement, are paid to the university by the licensed supplier, and submitted via the Royalty Report Submission Form.

Standards of Use

Queen’s University’s visual identity, name, trademarks, and brand must be used in good taste and appear only on high-quality approved products that promote positive brand reputation, produced under legal and fair labour conditions in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

  • Queen's University (through University Relations) reserves the right to decline products, designs, or trademark use not in keeping with the standards described below or not in alignment with the mission and values of the university.
  • The university's name, trademarks, and brand cannot be used in any way that will discriminate against any persons or groups based on age, ancestry, belief, colour, creed, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or in any other way that would be a violation of the university's values.
  • The university's name, trademarks, and brand cannot be associated with any activity, product, or image that detracts from or tarnishes the good name, image, and reputation of Queen’s University.
  • Queen’s marks are not to be used with the name of a business, logo, in advertising services, or on a product in a way that could indicate or imply an endorsement.
  • If the university marks are used in conjunction with another entity's marks, approval must be granted from each entity and University Relations.
  • Queen’s is a member of the Workers' Rights Consortium (WRC).

To pursue licensing, contact the Trademarks and Licensing Office. For direction on trademark usage or for guidance on ordering Queen’s University marked products from our licensed suppliers, please contact the Brand Team