Trademark Approvals

Approval Process
Student Organizations
University Departments
External Organizations

Approval Process

Part of being a Pirate is always supporting your crew. If you’re interested in sporting the Purple and Gold, promotional items, or having merchandise in your store, follow the links below to find out more information!

To obtain details concerning licensing royalty rates and procedures for commercial enterprises, or to supply university departments and organizations, contact:

Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), 1075 Peachtree Street, Suite 3300 Atlanta, GA 30309, 770-956-0520, 770-955-4491 (fax)

Once on the CLC site, you may view further information about ECU’s trademark licensing program, file an application, and obtaining high quality vector based logos.

Local businesses for promotional or advertising purposes can contact Playfly Sports Properties.

Student Organizations

Recognized University Departments and Registered Student Organizations who wish to produce and/or distribute apparel (such as T-shirts, hats, and golf shirts) and gift/promotional items (such as key chains, mugs, and jewelry) displaying the university name, trademarks, colors, or likeness in associating with the university must use licensed vendors and submit designs for approval prior to production.

There are two different types of approvals.

  • If you are looking to use a product for promotional reasons (team shirts, pens, posters, etc.) go to Logo Review and follow the directions.
  • If you are looking to produce items to sell, the vendor you are working with must be licensed with the university. Vendors must submit designs through the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC).

University Departments

Recognized University Departments who wish to produce and/or distribute apparel (such as T-shirts, hats, and golf shirts) and gift/promotional items (such as key chains, mugs, and jewelry) displaying the university name, trademarks, colors, or likeness in associating with the university must use licensed vendors and submit designs for approval prior to production. There are two different types of approvals.

If you are looking to use the logo for promotional reasons (team shirts, pens, posters, etc.) go to Logo Review and follow their directions.
All products associated with the university must be produced by official ECU licensed vendors.

External Organizations

ECU owns the exclusive intellectual property rights to its name, logos, slogans, colors, mascot, trademarks, service marks and other indicia related to the university, its programs and services, and its athletic teams (collectively, the “Marks”). The university owns all rights in the Marks and they may not be used for any purpose without the advance written permission of ECU. Such uses includes, but are not limited to, commercial use, advertising and promotion, marketing, products manufactured and sales, fundraising, sponsorship, and services. The university will actively enforce its intellectual property rights against unauthorized licensees and/or sponsors. The university will also act to prevent authorized uses of the Marks that misappropriate or leverage the university’s goodwill and reputation, including in any manner that is likely to cause confusion as to university’s affiliation, endorsement, sponsorship, approval, or otherwise.

For additional information please contact the ECU Trademark Licensing office or the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC).

External Organizations for Promotional or Advertising Purposes

Playfly Sports Properties is the marketing and multimedia rights holder for East Carolina University. Playfly holds exclusive rights with some of the most prestigious professional leagues, collegiate teams, high school state associations and sports venues across the country. Together, Playfly Sports Properties and ECU are igniting well-respected brands with their deeply rooted fanbases and beyond.

Potential sponsors can reach out to Playfly Sports Properties.