Communications | Branding

Approval Process and Requirements

McCombs logos should only be used for purposes, events and publications that officially relate to the McCombs School of Business and The University of Texas at Austin. No use is permitted other than that explicitly authorized, and no release is permitted to any other third party without the expressed, written permission of the McCombs School of Business.

The logo may not be used for the commercial profit of outside organizations or ventures. Such use could be fraudulent and may constitute grounds for prosecution. Examples of acceptable uses include external publications referring to the school in a journalistic capacity; school-related functions with corporate partners; publicity and publications of affiliated research centers; publications, banners, and memorabilia for alumni networks.

Official logos may be used internally or externally, requiring different approval processes.

External Logo Use

External logo use refers to logos on marketing, publicity, promotional items, advertising or items such as brochures, fliers, newsletters, letterhead, business cards, postcards, information folders, product packaging and promotional items, including T-shirts, caps, pens, stickers, decals, etc.

Brochures, fliers, postcards, information folders and other paper materials: Pre-approval is required. Send a final copy of the design to the Office of Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs. Please allow 2-4 working days for approval.

Promotional items such as T-shirts, caps, pens, stickers, and decals: Using a request for trademark licensing, you must obtain pre-approval from McCombs Office of Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs when you use:

  • a McCombs or University of Texas at Austin official logo,
  •  text using the words "McCombs," " University of Texas," or "Texas,"
  • the color orange.

Approval by the the UT Office of Trademark and Licensing is required before a purchase order will be issued. If these procedures are not followed, there is a strong possibility your order will not be printed and/or the vendor's invoice will not be paid by the university or McCombs.

Any item that is debossed on leather or vinyl with the McCombs logo should include an insert card rather than the TM next to the logo. The TM does not deboss (imprint) successfully.

Promotional Item Approval Process

For promotional items, first select an approved, licensed University of Texas vendor. Working with your vendor, complete the trademark licensing request form and send it together with a full (front and back) drawing of your design (a .pdf or .jpg as an attachment is preferred) showing placement of official logos and other artwork and text to the McCombs Office of Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs. You may submit the form and draft of your product to Mary Cone by e-mail at LogoRequest, by campus mail at B6000 or in person at GSB 5.170.

If approved by the Office of Communications, we will forward your request to UT Austin's Office of Trademark Licensing.

UT's Office of Trademark Licensing will contact the vendor with one of the following decisions: approved, approved with changes or denied. Your vendor will be in touch with you regarding the status. Please allow 8-10 business days for the process.

If the item is approved with changes, the vendor will make the necessary changes and proceed with production. There is no need to go submit a revised drawing unless directed by Trademark Licensing.

If a revised design is required, your vendor should submit the design directly to UT Austin's Office of Trademark Licensing. Do not resubmit it to the Office of Communications.

Approval is given for only one order for the quantity specified. Repeat orders for the same product must be resubmitted.

Approved Vendors for Promotional Items

Promotional items containing an official logo of the university or McCombs must be purchased through a vendor licensed by the university. See the approved vendor list for The University of Texas at Austin. The University does not license vendors for engraving plaques or trophies. You must, however, go through the same approval process.

Using an approved vendor DOES NOT eliminate the requirement to have the design pre-approved by the Office of Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs, and to receive final approval by the university's Office of Trademark and Licensing.

Page last updated: 8/10/2012