Consumer FAQs

What is CLC?

Which institutions, universities, bowls, conferences, and events does CLC currently represent?

We believe we may know of unlicensed, bootleg, infringing, illegal product activity. Who should we contact to report this potential problem?

What does "OLCP" stand for?

I am a consumer, fan, or institution supporter and am interested in purchasing collegiate product. Where can I purchase collegiate product?

How do I know that a product is licensed and approved by an institution?

What is CLC?

The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) is a division of global sports and entertainment company IMG. Founded in 1981, CLC is the oldest and largest collegiate licensing agency in the U.S. and represents nearly 200 colleges, universities, bowl games, athletic conferences, the Heisman Trophy and the NCAA. Its mission is to be the guiding force in collegiate trademark licensing and one of the top sports licensing firms in the country. Headquartered in Atlanta, CLC provides full-service capabilities in brand protection, brand management and brand development.

Which institutions, universities, bowls, conferences, and events does CLC currently represent?

To view an up-to-date list of CLC-represented institutions, please visit www.clc.com and click on the "Clients" section.

We believe we may know of unlicensed, bootleg, infringing, illegal product activity. Who should we contact to report this potential problem?

We appreciate your willingness to make us aware of a potential infringement problem. If a product does not readily display the Officially Licensed Collegiate Product hologram label it may be infringing/unlicensed product. If there is more than one of the suspicious items (i.e., on a rack of shirts for example), please check the other items to ensure that they do not display the hologram as well. If a hologram is present on the product, but you believe the quality/taste of the product is still questionable, it would also be helpful if you could write down the hologram number and include that in your infringement report to CLC. If you are aware of the company name that is used on the product, this information will be helpful to our efforts to determine a source. We will need to know the location of the product and a full description of it in addition to the names of the institutions that are being used (please ensure that CLC represents the institutions highlighted on the product- see CLC institution list within the "Clients" section of this site). The product description should include product type, color, and a description of the design.

Signs that a product may be unlicensed/infringing include:

1) Poor quality
2) Design in bad taste (includes vulgar language/imagery, etc.)
3) Design includes tobacco, illegal substance, or alcohol imagery
4) Neck tag is cut in half
5) No Officially Licensed Collegiate Product hangtag or sticker
6) No company name on the product, excluding the manufacturer of the blank product

If you are a consumer or retailer and believe you have found infringing product, please report the infringement within the "Resources" section of www.clc.com (select the "Report Infringers" link). CLC client institutions and licensees should access MyiCLC and access the "Resources > Report Infringers" section. A form will prompt you for all the necessary information. This reporting method is anonymous unless you choose otherwise.

What does "OLCP" stand for?

OLCP stands for "Officially Licensed Collegiate Product." All CLC institutions require the use of a OLCP hologram label on their products. This authenticator assures the consumer that the product they are buying is officially licensed and approved by the institution(s). If a collegiate product does not include the OLCP hologram label, consumers should be skeptical, although sometimes hangtags and stickers can fall off of a product, or are exempted from use on smaller products. CLC recommends looking at other collegiate articles in and around the product in question. If the other products are not properly tagged, we recommend that the consumer contact CLC via the "Report Infringers" link found within the "Resources" section of www.clc.com so that the issue can be investigated.

The unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or use of this label or hologram are prohibited.

I am a consumer, fan, or institution supporter and am interested in purchasing collegiate product. Where can I purchase collegiate product?

There are thousands of collegiate retailers located in all of the states and most of the Canadian provinces. Additionally, collegiate product is sold by hundreds of Internet retailers, including institution bookstores. For your convenience, CLC provides a searchable list of retailers within the "Consumers" section of www.clc.com.

How do I know that a product is licensed and approved by an institution?

Consumers, fans, and institution supporters should look for the Officially Licensed Collegiate Product (OLCP) hologram label. All CLC institutions require the use of a OLCP hologram label on their products. This authenticator assures the consumer that the product they are buying is officially licensed and approved by the institution(s). If a collegiate product does not include the OLCP hologram label, consumers should be skeptical, although sometimes hangtag and stickers can fall off of a product or are exempted from use on smaller products. CLC recommends looking at other collegiate articles in and around the product in question. If the other products are not properly tagged, we recommend that the consumer contact CLC via the "Report Infringers" subsection of the "Resources" section of www.clc.com so that the issue can be investigated.

The unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or use of this label or hologram are prohibited.