The Rensselaer name and its associated seals, marks, and symbols symbolize the high caliber of the Institute’s faculty, staff, and students and convey the quality and breadth of the Institute’s accomplishments. Rensselaer’s name and marks are valuable assets of the Institute. Faculty, students, and staff share in the benefits associated with the Institute’s name and marks, and therefore also share responsibilities concerning their use. The Institute is required by law to protect its name and marks actively from improper or misleading use by individuals or organizations not associated with the Institute.

A consistent, coordinated presentation of the Institute’s identity enhances the reputation of Rensselaer and helps identify the many benefits the Institute provides. The more consistently graphic elements are used, the stronger the visual identity, and the stronger the visual identity and use of consistent wording, the greater the awareness and recognition of Rensselaer.

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Licensing and Trademark Program is designed to promote, enhance, elevate, and protect the Institute’s identity and brand and ensure the proper and appropriate use of its name, logos, and trademarks. Rensselaer has registered many of the Institute’s names, logos, and trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the state of New York.

The primary goals of the Rensselaer Licensing and Trademark Program are to:

• Ensure the proper use of trademarks, service marks, logos, and insignias on products associated with Rensselaer and RPI Athletics to maintain standards in keeping with the quality of the Institute.
• Protect the Institute’s reputation, good name, and image by permitting only appropriate uses and assuring that only quality products bear the Institute’s marks, including its name, initials, or logos through requiring that official licensees be used to imprint or produce any products bearing Rensselaer or RPI Athletics marks unless they are produced on campus by authorized departments.

The Licensing and Trademark Program is administered by the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of Community Engagement and Communications, and RPI Athletics, in consultation with other Institute offices and the Rensselaer Licensing Advisory Committee. Any items offered for sale to the public bearing the Rensselaer name or marks must be licensed by the Institute or its authorized agent. There are no exceptions. The licensing trademark program works closely with the Rensselaer community and others to identify unauthorized uses of the Institute’s trademarks and carefully examines all reports it receives of possible infringement of the Rensselaer name and marks. For information on the licensing trademark program, or to report possible unauthorized use of the Rensselaer name or trademarks, contact the Office of the General Counsel at (518) 276-6211.