FAQ

11 - Does a Harvard student group need permission to produce items bearing the Harvard name and/or insignias?

Any member of the Harvard University Community, including officially recognized student organizations, wishing to produce items bearing the Harvard name and/or insignias must obtain written permission to do so from the Harvard Trademark Program. The following guidelines apply to officially recognized student groups that want to produce and sell, or give away, items bearing their student group name, logo, and/or any other Harvard trademarks.

A student group may produce items, on a royalty-free basis, bearing the approved...

12 - How do I go about producing a new shield or logo for my Harvard department, unit, or student group?

This section of our website is currently being updated. In the interim, please email our office at trademark_program@harvard.edu with any inquiries you may have that are related to this question.

13 - Are there guidelines for the authorization and production of business cards for members of the Harvard community?

Yes - and those guidelines may be found at Business Card Authorization Guidelines for Harvard Affiliates.

14 - May I use the Harvard name and/or insignia on a custom-made gift or product?

Depending on the item and its intended use, permission to use the Harvard name or insignia on a custom-made gift or product is occasionally given by the University. Typically, permission is granted for an item that cannot be obtained from a licensed retailer and is intended as a special gift for the private use of a member of the Harvard community (including alumni). At its discretion, the Trademark Program may approve the request and grant a manufacturer a one-time use, royalty-exempt license to produce the item. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, among other factors,...

15 - Who do I contact with copyright questions?

Harvard does not have an office that specifically deals with copyright requests. Reprint/reproduction permission for copyrighted documents is given by the individual Harvard school, department, or unit that created or oversees the work in question: this policy is a function of practicality as well as academic courtesy. To request permission to reproduce, in whole or part, material copyrighted by Harvard University (President and Fellows of Harvard College), you must contact the school or department that produced the material. For example, for books published by Harvard University Press (...

16 - What office should I contact regarding patents and inventions?

The Office of Technology Development (OTD) administers patents, inventions, and technology transfers for the University and may be reached at otd@harvard.edu or 617-495-3067. You can also access the OTD website at: http://www.otd.harvard.edu/.

17 - Where can I get permission to film, videotape or take pictures on Harvard property?

All inquiries regarding videotaping, filming or photographing on Harvard property, along with questions from the media, are handled by Harvard Public Affairs & Communications. You can visit their website at: http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/hpac/.

18 - How do I become a vendor so I can sell goods or provide services to Harvard University?

These types of inquiries are handled by Harvard’s Procurement Management Department. You can visit their website at http://vpf-web.harvard.edu/ofs/procurement/.

19 - What is the typical turn around time for most trademark, use-of-name, and licensing inquiries?

All inquiries regarding such matters should be submitted to the trademark_program@harvard.edu email address and usually receive an acknowledgement within twenty-four hours (inquiries made on a Friday will typically be acknowledged on Monday, unless Monday is a holiday and then it will be acknowledged on a Tuesday). Most inquiries can be addressed within approximately 7-14 business days. However, those of a particularly complex nature may take longer to resolve.

20 - Where can I find information about Harvard’s “Use-of-Name” policies and guidelines?

The University’s policies and guidelines governing the use of the Harvard name and insignias by Harvard’s schools, units, faculty, staff and students; FAQ’s regarding those policies and guidelines; as well as information on how to apply for a “.harvard.edu” domain name or a “@harvard.edu” email alias, can be found in the “Policies and Forms” section of the Harvard Trademark Program website: click here. For inquiries about these policies and...

The Office of the Provost