Logo and Trademark Licensing

Updated List of Approved Vendors

Become a Licensed Vendor of the School District

INTRODUCTION

Central Columbia owns and controls the use of its name(s) and other marks, logos, insignias, seal, designs, or symbols that are associated with the School District through a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania registered trademark.  These include, but are not limited to, the words “Central Columbia,” “CC,” “Central Columbia Bluejays,” “Bluejays”, along with the School District seal, institutional marks, or any derivations there from.  The image of the Central Columbia Bluejay (school mascot), and its likeness are trademarked items and cannot be used without permission.

In order to meet the public demand for goods bearing Central Columbia marks, the school district allows manufacturers of these goods to acquire a non-exclusive or in some cases an exclusive, royalty-bearing license to produce, market, and sell such goods.  Central Columbia is represented in these licensing matters through an exclusive agency agreement with Learfield Licensing Partners of Winston-Salem, NC.  The contact person at Learfield is Tim Sears (336-896-7907 ext. 210) [email protected].  The administrative responsibility for the licensing program rests in the Administrative Office and the point person is the Superintendent of Schools.  All artwork approvals for Central Columbia marks must be approved by the Superintendent.

The purpose of this Policy Statement is to provide guidance as to the permissible use, as well as restrictions on the use, of Central Columbia protected marks.  This Policy Statement also sets forth the responsibility for granting permissions and licenses for such use.

Any individual, organization, or company wishing to use Central Columbia trademarks for any purpose must obtain permission to do so from Central Columbia School District.  All commercial use of Central Columbia’s trademarks must be licensed and shall be regulated by the Superintendent’s office of Central Columbia.

Use of Central Columbia’s marks without license or permission is strictly prohibited.  Central Columbia will take whatever measures necessary to protect its trademarks from infringement.

DEFINITIONS

Trademark means a name or symbol or combination of both which identifies the source of a product or service.  In the case of licensed goods, a trademark also enhances the desirability of a product and, when properly controlled, can increase the value of the product as well as the goodwill inherent in the mark.

For the purposes of this document, “trademark” is used to indicate any or all of the following:  trademark, trade name, service mark, logo, insignia, indicia, emblem, symbol, identifying mark, mark, and name.

Infringement means unauthorized use of a trademark that belongs to another, or use of a trademark so similar to that of another as to cause confusion in the minds of the public as to the source (affiliation or sponsorship) of the product or service.

Licensing Agent means one who acts on behalf of another on issues related to the manufacture, distribution, and sales of goods bearing protected marks.

Licensor means one who contracts to allow another (licensee) to use licensor’s property (trademark) in exchange for payment, usually royalty as a percent of sales.

Authentic means the article is identical to what players and coaches wear during games and practices.

Replica means the articles looks identical to what players and coaches wear but may vary as to material, quality, or manufacturer.  Replicas are not the same as authentic.

A Promotional License is a limited term contract between Central Columbia and a company, organization or individual in which permission is granted to use Central Columbia marks in a commercial promotion.  A fee may be charged for promotional licenses.  The Superintendent of Schools at Central Columbia must approve all promotional materials in advance.

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Any manufacturer wishing to use Central Columbia’s marks on its products must be properly licensed to do so.  Learfield is Central’s authorized agent for trademark licensing purposes.  Learfield is authorized to license manufacturers meeting Central Columbia’s qualifications.  Except for Promotional Licenses; Central Columbia will not issue licenses directly.

Distributing, brokering, or retailing of licensed goods does not require a license, nor will licenses be issued for such purposes.

JUDGING ACCEPTABILITY

Central Columbia encourages creative uses of its marks in promoting school spirit.  Central Columbia recognizes that its licensees are creative in this regard and that some concepts or designs developed by licensees may not clearly fall within the guidelines of this Administrative Policy Statement.  When this occurs, Central Columbia will decide each matter on a case-by-case basis.  Alteration, in any way, of any of the Central Columbia trademarked logos, without permission from the superintendent’s office, will not be permitted.

PRIVATE USE OF THE MARKS

The use of the Central Columbia marks to promote a commercial entity is prohibited.  Any use of the marks, which states an endorsement, or approval of a product, service, or company is prohibited.

USE OF THE MARKS

Use of the Central Columbia name, trademarks or logos in conjunction with a commercial promotion may be permissible if the following criteria are met:

1. The promotion must be beneficial to Central Columbia.  This benefit may be tangible or intangible.  Tangible benefits would include events where direct funds are raised for the school district.  Intangible benefits could include events promoting community, alumni or student pride.
2. The use must be consistent with Central Columbia’s institutional mission, values, and standards of excellence.
3. The use must be consistent with all other provisions of this logo and trademark licensing policy.

Requests for such use shall be reviewed by the Superintendent to assure that these criteria are met.  Each request will be specifically approved in writing.  Central Columbia may require that such promotions operate under a promotional license.

USE OF MARKS IN NAMED EVENTS

When a Central Columbia team is an invited participant in an event where the event sponsor’s name and/or logos are used to name the event, Central Columbia allows the use of its marks in conjunction with the sponsor/event names and logos to promote the event.  Each such use must be specifically approved by Central Columbia.

PRODUCT/DESIGN APPROVAL

Central Columbia shall approve each use of its marks on a per product, per design basis.  Licensees must submit each product or design for approval by Central Columbia.

Central Columbia will not approve the use of its marks on the following products:

• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Controlled Substances
• Sexually oriented products or designs
• Religious products or designs
• Political products or designs
• Games of chance unless properly licensed and approved as school fund raisers by the building principal and/or by School Board policy.
• Appliques, patches, heat transfers for retail sales

In addition, Central Columbia will not approve the use of its name or marks in text or graphics which are judged to be sexually suggestive, denigrate any groups, including another school district, or infringe on the rights of other trademark owners.  Central Columbia will not approve products which do not meet minimum standards of quality and/or good taste or are judged to be dangerous and/or carry high product liability risks.

Central Columbia will not approve the use of its marks on any product or design, which in Central Columbia’s sole judgement may violate PIAA rules.  This applies to product designs incorporating:

• Jersey numbers, except on authentic or replica merchandise
• Photos or any other likeness of a student athlete
• Names of student athletes
• Nicknames of student athletes

Central Columbia will approve products or designs incorporating only current marks.  Marks which are obsolete or replaced by updated marks will continue to be protected by Central Columbia, but will not be approved for use in new products or designs.

ROYALTIES

All licensed goods manufactured for sale to the public are subject to a royalty.  The royalty rate is designated by Central Columbia and is subject to change by the School District.  The royalty is paid on wholesale sales by the manufacturer of the goods.  Learfield administers the royalty policy.

Central Columbia may grant exceptions from royalty payments in special cases and with regards to the samples below.  Approval for this exception will need to come from the Superintendent’s office in writing and be shared with Learfield for administration.

Central Columbia may grant exceptions from royalty payments in the following cases:

• Goods purchased by Central Columbia for internal use.
• Goods purchased by Central Columbia Student Organizations for bonafide fund raising purposes approved by the Superintendent and building Principal.
• Goods purchased by the School Board Approved Booster Clubs for internal use.
• Goods purchased by Faculty and Staff for internal use.
• Goods purchased for promotional use for prospective students, employees, or athletic events, and athletic/academic camps.

All goods bearing Central Columbia marks must follow the normal approval process whether exempted from royalties or not.

DISBURSEMENT OF ROYALTY INCOME

Royalties generated by the licensing program shall be deposited into Central Columbia’s General Fund.  Further disbursement of these funds is at the discretion of the Sc

Adopted by Central Columbia School Board on March 20, 2017.