Overview
For those of us who work at UCLA, the UCLA Health brand is an everyday thing. Sometimes we forget that the UCLA Health names and marks are assets of great value. To protect UCLA Health’s reputation and legal rights, all campus employees need a basic understanding of brand protection.
Using UCLA Health’s Names and Marks
State, federal and international law protect UCLA and UCLA Health’s trademarks, registered and unregistered. University and campus policy spells out the proper use of names and marks.
The campus units of UCLA Health have the right (and responsibility) to use the UCLA Health marks on the print, video and online materials they create to conduct the business of the university. Nonethless, campus units must still exercise caution.
Let’s say a department wants to show its support for a nonprofit organization by co-sponsoring an event and putting a UCLA Health logo on the program or website. That’s a “third-party” use, and requires permission. Or perhaps you want to print t-shirts or promotional items for a recruitment effort. Those require the use of a licensed vendor, even if the items are given away rather than sold.
Brand Guidelines define how UCLA and UCLA Health marks should be used — but only for approved uses. To find out if permission is needed for a specific use, and to start the review process, use the Administrative Vice Chancellor’s site Permission to Use UCLA Marks.
You should be aware of three UCLA policies that are especially relevant to the proper use of the UCLA and UCLA Health brand: 110, 411 and 863.
Policy Overview
Policy 110 — Names, Seals and Trademarks
You’re working on a project with researchers from other schools. “Let’s feature all our logos on the project website,” a colleague suggests. Can you send the UCLA and/or UCLA Health logo?
Not without permission. “Third-party use” includes use by an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit or a government agency — by any entity that isn’t UCLA or the University of California.
Permission is more likely to be granted if the proposed web page clearly states UCLA’s role in the research and presents our logo appropriately sized and with enough clear space to separate it from other logos.
Policy 110 spells out the restrictions on the use of UCLA’s names, seals and trademarks by individuals, groups, and third parties.
See the complete Policy 110.
Policy 411 — UCLA Domain Names
Your boss is in a hurry to launch a website, so you use your credit card to register a domain name for uclagreatidea.org. You’re a hero, right?
Maybe not. Because the name “UCLA” is owned by the State of California, any domain name that includes the campus name must be registered to the Regents, not to an individual. You can list yourself as the Admin Contact or the Tech Contact, but not the Registrant.
Consult Policy 411 for the right way to register a domain name, whether it’s in the ucla.edu domain or a top-level domain other than “edu.” Domain name approvals can be submitted through Permission to Use UCLA Marks.
Policy 411 applies Policy 110 to web and electronic services, recognizing the importance of our online presence to the UCLA brand.
See the complete Policy 411.
Policy 863 — Filming and Photography
Your department is updating its publications and website, so you hire a photographer to capture campus scenes. “Just go take pictures,” you say.
Not so fast. Even photography for internal use by campus units may require a permit. Unless you stay entirely inside your own facility for the photography, you need to contact the Events Office.
The Events Office also coordinates the logistics for commercial filming and photography on campus, making sure that scheduled events and academic programming aren’t interrupted. Access to iconic locations is limited.
Policy 863 recognizes the importance of still and moving images to UCLA’s identity and brand. In some contexts a photo of Royce Hall says “UCLA” as clearly as a logo.
See the complete Policy 863.
Permissions
Policy 110 delegates much of the oversight of UCLA’s names and marks to the UCLA Administrative Vice Chancellor. That office maintains an online permissions process to streamline needed approvals, Permission to Use UCLA Marks.
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