Trademarks and Licensing Policy

Protection Overview

Queen’s University owns a number of identifying marks, the use of which is strictly controlled and protected under the Trademarks Act of Canada. Queen’s legally protected trademarks include but are not limited to: logos, lockups, wordmarks, graphics, flags, coat of arms, mascot, tartan design, and trademarked words. The words are trademarks regardless of the font or design applied.  

Queen’s brand protection and trademark oversight extends beyond print and digital applications that include a clearly identifiable trademark to: 

• Words or characters that are close to the trademarked words or clearly representative of Queen’s University (ie Queens, QueensU, QU, Q) 
• Any words, phrases, or designs that borrow from or suggest the Queen’s brand (ie Cha Gheill, Oil Thigh, crowns, tams, red, gold, and blue designs) 
• Any merchandise sold or distributed on Queen’s University properties (physical or digital) Any merchandise sold or distributed by a Queen’s-affiliated group or individual 
• Any un-branded merchandise sold or distributed along-side trademarked or brand-affiliated merchandise (falling under one of the above categories) 
• All signage appearing on Queen’s properties

Trademark and brand protection and oversight applies to all applications including, but not limited to: merchandise, signage, printed materials, marketing and communications, websites, social media, emails, newsletters, advertising and promotions, in-store or sales displays.

Merchandise Approval

Only officially recognized campus retailers, student retailers, faculties, schools, departments, units, groups, and student class representatives of Queen’s University are permitted to use university trademarks once written approval has been received from the University Relations Brand Team. 

Queen’s University and Smith Engineering branded merchandise design is completed by the University Relations Brand Team. The available artwork and guidelines are presented in the Queen’s University Branded Merchandise Catalogue and Guidelines and the Smith Engineering Merchandise Catalogue. Smith School of Business, Queen’s Gaels, and Queen’s Alumni merchandise are all exclusively designed and distributed by their respective administrative departments.  

All branded merchandise ordered for the purpose of promotion, distribution, or sale including un-branded merchandise to be offered, distributed, or sold along-side Queen’s branded merchandise, must be submitted for approval via the Merchandise Approval Form. Those submitting merchandise for approval should ensure that they have thoroughly reviewed the relevant merchandise catalogue and are only submitting merchandise that is in alignment with the standards, values, and academic mission of the university. 

Formal written approval must be received from the University Relations Brand Team on each order/use prior to production/use. 

Queen’s University (through University Relations, University Secretariat, and Legal Counsel) reserves the right to decline products, designs, or trademark use not in keeping with university values, mission, guidelines, or strategies in the sole and unfettered opinion of the University. Decisions made under this Policy are not appealable or reviewable by any person or body.

Standards of Trademark Use and Merchandise Approval

The following standards for trademark use and merchandise approval apply to all merchandise (with or without the inclusion of a Queen’s trademark or branded element) ordered for the purpose of promotion, distribution, or sale including un-branded merchandise to be offered, distributed, or sold along-side Queen’s branded merchandise. 

• Queen’s University’s visual identity, name, trademarks, and brand must be used in good taste and appear only on high-quality approved products and applications that promote positive brand reputation and the university’s academic mission. 
   
• 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, in the sole and unfettered opinion of the University.
   
• Merchandise product selections, designs, and messaging including merchandise to be offered, distributed, or sold along-side Queen’s branded merchandise, cannot be associated with the consumption of alcohol or substances, illegal activity, be political in nature, or be associated with any activity, product, or image that detracts from or tarnishes the good name, image, and reputation of Queen’s University, in the sole and unfettered opinion 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, gender, gender identity, or in any other way that would be a violation of the university’s values. 
   
• Queen’s trademarks cannot 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. Branded merchandise cannot infringe or borrow from any other individual or organization’s trademarks or intellectual property. 
   
• Negative or comparative references to other colleges or universities, overt or implied, are not permitted. If the university marks are used in conjunction with another entity’s marks, approval must be granted from each entity and Queen’s University Relations. 
   
• Merchandise imagery and marketing (print, digital, web, social, in-store or sales event signage and applications) must reflect Queen’s University’s diverse community and follow all of the same guidelines described above for the merchandise itself. 
   
• All merchandise must be produced under legal and fair labour conditions in accordance with the Queen’s University 
  Trademarks and Licensing Code of Conduct. Queen’s is a member of the Workers’ Rights Consortium (WRC).

Production

All Queen’s University branded and/or trademarked merchandise must be produced by an official licensed supplier under legal contract with the University. Licensees are contracted to follow the guidelines for use prescribed in the visual identity guide, merchandise catalogue(s), trademark licensing agreement, and in the agreement’s code of conduct to ensure that the Queen’s name, trademarks, and images are used in good taste and are manufactured under humane and non-exploitative conditions. 

Non-exclusive licenses to manufacture and sell Queen’s trademarked and/or brand-affiliated merchandise are granted through the University Relations Trademarks and Licensing Office. 

As a matter of policy, licensed suppliers are contracted to pay the university royalty fees on all trademarked merchandise produced for the purpose of sale by themselves or other approved retailer/seller. Royalties fall under the terms of the licensing agreement. The University Relations Brand Team provides written confirmation in circumstances in which royalties do not apply.

Note that print materials and signage must be produced by one of the preferred suppliers approved by Queen’s Strategic Procurement Services or the signage suppliers on the trademarks licensed supplier list.

Royalties

All merchandise bearing a Queen’s University or sub-brand trademark created for the purpose of sale is subject to a royalty fee. Licensees are contracted to pay the university royalties equal to 7% of net sales of applicable licensed products sold by the licensee. University Relations will indicate on a per order basis those orders for which royalties do not apply: products ordered and paid for by university administrative and academic units for the purpose of internal use, promotion, uniform, or gift.