University of California, San Diego
EN-15: Trademark Licensing

On March 17, 2017, UC issued an updated Code of Conduct for Trademark Licensees (Code), replacing the Code promulgated in January 2000. The updated Code, renamed the Trademark Licensing Code of Conduct Policy, conforms to UC’s policy format, clarifies the broad scope of the Code, amends and strengthens previous provisions, and references applicable legislative requirements and international standards, among other things. President Napolitano, in her letter of March 17, 2017, stated that the policy is important to protecting the University of California brand and its reputation by ensuring that the University's trademark licensees adhere to high ethical standards in manufacturing goods bearing the names and other trademarks of the University of California and its campuses, including abbreviations, logos, mascots, seals, or other trademarks owned by the University. The revised policy makes clearer, both to the University's trademark licensees and to internal University stakeholders, the expectations and requirements that all UC logoed goods must be produced (1) under fair, safe, and humane working conditions throughout the supply chain, and (2) by companies authorized to place University's name and other trademarks on such products.The key modifications include: 1. Making the revised Code consistent with international standards and U.S. laws (e.g., California Transparency in Supply Chains Act and Dodd-Frank Consumer Protection Act related to conflict minerals), whenever applicable; 2. Bolstering the protections for women workers; 3. Clarifying the Code’s application to “promotional items” (e.g., UC-logoed goods that are often “given away” by departments or other groups within the UC system); 4. Providing more supplemental information about policies, laws, and guidelines related to the Code; 5. Re-ordering the provisions of the Code in a more logical way; and 6. Streamlining the Code as much as possible and reducing ambiguities or perceived inconsistencies. UC was among the first educational institutions in the country to develop and issue a Code in an effort to end sweatshop labor practices. It began in 1998, when the original University of California Code of Conduct for Trademark Licensees was first created. This initial policy mandated that companies authorized to apply the University of California name, including campus names, logos, indicia and other trademarks (i.e., trademark licensees) comply with the Code provisions. In 2000, an updated and more robust version of the Code was issued. The Code provided for freedom of association, protections for women workers, as well as an aspirational living wage and supply chain transparency requirements. As with the 1998 and 2000 Code versions when they were issued, the 2017 Code sets high labor standards and exhibits the university’s commitment to the socially responsible production of its logoed goods. UC continues to demonstrate its leadership, impact and commitment to improving worker rights throughout the world. In Academic Year 2017-18, work to implement and communicate the revised Code throughout the UC system, with licensees and key external stakeholders will continue.