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Enforcement

Every time you buy an official licensed NC State product, the manufacturer returns a portion of the wholesale cost to the university as royalties that help pay for scholarships. This "Officially Licensed Collegiate Products" label is your assurance that the merchandise you purchase is official and has been approved by NC State. Before you buy, look for the label. Make sure the product is as authentic as your support for the Wolfpack!

Collegiate Licensed Product

Unauthorized use and infringement is not only illegal, it is detrimental to the university’s reputation.
Issues: 

  • Theft: Unauthorized and unlicensed merchandise siphon sales from legitimate licensed vendors and the resulting royalties they pay, which go to support student scholarships. Selling or purchasing unlicensed merchandise should be considered a form of theft, with NC State students and the companies that support NC State being the victims.

  • Quality: Most infringing product is produced with the “cutting costs and cutting corners” mentality and may not be to the level of quality that is representative of NC State.

  • Fair Labor: NC State is affiliated with the University Advisory Council of the  Fair Labor Association and supports its efforts and programs to improve working conditions for employees of suppliers to a fair standard.

  • Image: NC State has built fan loyalty and a brand affinity with its supporters through its efforts and reputation. Often infringing product may use offensive or derogatory phrases or imagery or use NC State marks on products, which negatively affects the university’s reputation.

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Reporting Violators

The NC State Trademark Licensing Office works in cooperation with the Licensing Resource Group, the NC State Office of General Counsel and law enforcement agencies to enforce the university's trademark rights. The university is committed to protecting NC State's trademarks and the reputation they represent and takes infringement very seriously.
No use of NC State trademarks is permitted without written consent of the NC State Trademark Licensing Office. Any information regarding possible trademark infringement should be reported to Jack Landrigan at the Licensing Resource Group, (616) 395-0676 ext. 111, or Gregg Zarnstorff (919) 515-2146.