Keeping an eye on Cy Shopping is a different experience for Nita Lovejoy than for a lot of us. She can't help it. The trademark licensing program grants permission to non-university groups to use the Iowa State name or logos.
Most requests are for products small businesses want to sell.
Even though they all have to meet certain quality guidelines, we want products that are in discount stores, as well as upscale department stores. If Iowa State failed to monitor who uses its marks, it could lose its exclusive claim to them. Licensed companies, typically wholesalers, pay a 7 percent royalty on their receipts. Part of the money helps run the trademark licensing program, located in the Iowa State University Research Foundation. The rest is shared with the athletic department and the Provost Office.