Licensing Guidelines
Sacramento State Trademark Licensing, managed by Marketing Services, protects and promotes the trademarks (marks, names, logos) of California State University, Sacramento.
Through a partnership with Trademark Licensing monitors commercial and internal use of Sac State marks, and manages more than 100 licensees producing products bearing Sac State鈥檚 trademarks.
Individuals, groups, and organizations, both on and off campus, seeking to produce merchandise with Sac State trademarks, must have prior approval from the Licensing Director.
Sacramento State affiliate groups, including registered student organizations, must have approval from the Licensing Director before using campus trademarks for print or web communications or for merchandise, whether for sale or not.
Design Standards
The following are general standards used in the approval of designs:
- Designs must be of high quality and appropriately portray the image of Sacramento State.
- Use of the University seal is restricted for use on official documents and select consumer products.
- Sacramento State trademarks may not be used in any manner that suggests or implies Sacramento State鈥檚 endorsement of other organizations, companies, products, services, political parties or views, or religious organizations or beliefs.
- Sacramento State trademarks may not be used in conjunction with the name or trademark(s) of any other entity without the prior written permission of that entity. If permission is granted by the Licensing Director to use both the Sacramento State trademark and another party’s trademark in a design, the trademarks must be distinct and separate from each other, and Sacramento State’s trademarks must not be overshadowed or diminished in any way in comparison to the other entity’s trademark. Approval of any such dual use of Sacramento State trademarks will be limited to instances where there is a compelling institutional priority in allowing such a use.
- Sacramento State’s name or trademarks may not be used in any way that discriminates or implies discrimination against any persons or groups based on age, ancestry, belief, color, creed, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status, or in any other way that would be a violation of Sacramento State’s anti-discrimination policies or practices.
Sacramento State trademarks cannot be used in connection with certain types of products. These include, but are not limited to the following:
- Products that could be used to injure or kill
- Alcohol-related products
- Tobacco-related products
- Illegal drug-related products
- Sexually suggestive products or language
- Gambling-related products
- Products that present an unacceptable risk of liability
- Products harmful to the mission or image of the institution
Certain artwork or designs will not be approved for use in conjunction with Sacramento State’s trademarks. These include, but are not limited to the following:
- Art depicting or implying the use or endorsement of:
- Alcohol
- Illegal drugs
- Tobacco products
- Firearms or other weapons
- Racist, sexist, hateful, demeaning or degrading language or statements
- Profanity
- Sexual acts
- Statements impugning other universities
- Art or a design incorporating trademarks or copyrights not owned by Sacramento State, unless written permission for such use satisfactory in form and substance to Sacramento State is obtained from the trademark holder or copyright owner, and approved in advance by the Licensing Director.
Approval to use the Sacramento State name or trademark for a one-time application only (for example, a t-shirt) does not constitute approval to use the name or trademark again, or in connection with any other item, or to change the design in any way, without seeking additional approval.
If you have questions regarding our Trademark Licensing program, please contact:
Angela L. Rader
Licensing Director
(916) 278-7425 / email