Brigham Young University
EN-15: Trademark Licensing

Since 2016, BYU has had an agreement with Sumerra to complete third-party corporate responsibility audits, such as the University Survey Program (USP) and the Ethical Supplier Engagement Program (ESEP). These audits are performed at BYU's request for any BYU licensee or factory that produces BYU-branded merchandise. The results of previous audits may also be requested.

The Collegiate Licensing Company's (CLC) Corporate Responsibility Questionnaire must be completed annually by all BYU licensees, such as Nike/Branded Custom Sportswear and Jostens. This questionnaire requires the licensees to answer various questions about their supply chain, corporate responsibility/social sustainability policies and personnel, affiliations with organizations to advance their corporate responsibility, and training on corporate responsibility. CLC’s Corporate Responsibility Office also keeps BYU Trademark Licensing up to date with any current issues going on in the industry that may affect BYU (e.g., how Nike addressed an issue at a factory that produces Nike merchandise). Updates like these come from CLC as they are made aware of and investigate each issue. CLC also addresses corporate responsibility issues with universities at its annual seminar. BYU will attend this year's seminar in Indianapolis.

Finally, BYU Trademark Licensing attends the International Collegiate Licensing Association's (ICLA) annual winter symposium and summer convention, where corporate responsibility is always on the program, typically presentations from the Fair Labor Association and/or the Worker Rights Consortium on current issues, or presentations from other universities on best practices within their individual licensing programs.