More than 300 UW licensees disclose factory locations
More than 300 licensed manufacturers of UW–Madison merchandise have disclosed their factory locations in the month since new anti-sweatshop guidelines were implemented, university officials report.
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Under new guidelines implemented Jan. 1, licensed manufacturers of UW–Madison merchandise must publicly disclose their factory locations and follow other stringent workplace standards, including the protection of female workers from discrimination and harassment and other provisions outlined in the Collegiate Licensing Company’s draft code of conduct.
“We are pleased that the majority of our licensees have chosen to quickly comply with the CLC code,” says Cindy Van Matre, UW–Madison’s director of Trademark Licensing.
The CLC reported this week that 310 of 447 total licensees have disclosed factory locations, a necessary first step toward monitoring of workplace conditions.
The CLC continues to receive disclosures from manufacturers, and its representatives plan to follow up to get information from companies that have thus far failed to respond.
Companies that want to sell products displaying the UW–Madison name, Bucky Badger, the motion “W” and other university trademarks generally must apply through the Atlanta-based Collegiate Licensing Company, which forwards the applications to UW–Madison, which approves all licenses.
The CLC will ensure that the new guidelines are included in all current, pending and renewed UW–Madison licensing agreements.
Licensees who fail to report factory information may lose the right to manufacture university apparel and other merchandise bearing UW–Madison trademarks.
UW–Madison currently ranks 10th in merchandise sales nationally in the CLC, which administers trademark licensing for approximately 180 universities across the country. The university collected more than $1.2 million in royalties in 1998-99 from the sale of sweatshirts, hats and other items.
Royalty income is shared between financially needy students and the Athletic Department. This academic year, 375 undergraduate students, many from Wisconsin, received Bucky Badger Grants averaging $1,000, according to the UW–Madison Office of Student Financial Services.
The Athletic Department uses its portion of the income to remain primarily self-supporting. About 1 percent of Athletics’ budget comes from state tax revenue, and those funds finance women’s sports.