University Restricts Use of Name

Provost Harvey V. Fineberg '67 announced sweeping changes in the way Harvard regulates the use of its name.

The announcement was made at a press conference yesterday afternoon.

Under the new policy, which has been in effect since February 9, the University will require prior authorization for all uses of the Harvard name and the names of schools and units within the University, Fineberg said.

Prior approval must also be obtained to use the insignia of any of the University's schools.

"Harvard by any other name would perhaps thrive as well," explains the new written policy, "but some uses of Harvard's name by others may not always promote the purposes of the University."

"All members of the University and the institution as a whole benefit when its name is well used, and suffer when it is ill used," states the new policy.

Items including stationary, business cards, course materials, and official University publications, including University home pages, are exempt from the policy.

The new policy sets up two levels of authorization.

To use the name or symbol of the University--such as "Harvard," "Harvard University," "President and Fellows of Harvard College," or the Veritas shield--requires the "prior written approval of the Provost."

But to use the name or symbol of one of Harvard's schools or units--such as "Harvard Business School" or "HarvardInstitute for International Development"--requiresonly the approval of the "responsible authority"of the school or unit.

In most cases this authority is the school'sdean.

Special exemptions are made for using the name"Harvard" to refer to parts of Harvard College orstudent organizations within Harvard College andthe Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Under this policy, groups like the "HarvardModel United Nations" would not be affected.

The rationale for codifying Harvard's trademarkpolicy, said Fineberg, was threefold.

The policy means to ensure accurate andconsistent use of the name "Harvard," to preventunauthorized commercial use of the namerecognition of the name "Harvard," and to blockoutside organizations from taking advantage ofHarvard's name.

"It's very important for any outsideentity...to be scrupulously correct in identifying[its] connection to the University," saidFineberg.

"But even above that," he said, "for Facultyand programs within Harvard, we are eager toensure a proper, clear use of the name thatconveys accurately what the entity is."

Harvard will permit its Faculty to identifythemselves as Harvard professors.

But if a Harvard professor were to write a newbook, the professor would have to be sure that"the Harvard name is used in a manner that doesnot imply University endorsement or responsibilityfor that particular activity, product, orpublication," according to the new policy.

"It's very important to avoid the implicationthat there's an institutional endorsement of thefindings, conclusions, recommendations, ordiscoveries that may result from Faculty work,"Fineberg said.

"We're very eager to be certain that we'recautious in applying the name `Harvard' or`Harvard University' to any project," he added.

The new regulations are significant not onlybecause they represent a formal codification ofHarvard's trademark policies, but also because the"default" permissions on the subject have changed.

In the past, said Fineberg, Faculty, students,and staff did not always have to obtainauthorization to use the Harvard name.

No longer.

"Now our default assumption is that Faculty orstaff and students are not simply entitled to usethe name, but must gain permission to use thename," explained Fineberg.

The policy was approved by the HarvardCorporation on Feb. 9

In most cases this authority is the school'sdean.

Special exemptions are made for using the name"Harvard" to refer to parts of Harvard College orstudent organizations within Harvard College andthe Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Under this policy, groups like the "HarvardModel United Nations" would not be affected.

The rationale for codifying Harvard's trademarkpolicy, said Fineberg, was threefold.

The policy means to ensure accurate andconsistent use of the name "Harvard," to preventunauthorized commercial use of the namerecognition of the name "Harvard," and to blockoutside organizations from taking advantage ofHarvard's name.

"It's very important for any outsideentity...to be scrupulously correct in identifying[its] connection to the University," saidFineberg.

"But even above that," he said, "for Facultyand programs within Harvard, we are eager toensure a proper, clear use of the name thatconveys accurately what the entity is."

Harvard will permit its Faculty to identifythemselves as Harvard professors.

But if a Harvard professor were to write a newbook, the professor would have to be sure that"the Harvard name is used in a manner that doesnot imply University endorsement or responsibilityfor that particular activity, product, orpublication," according to the new policy.

"It's very important to avoid the implicationthat there's an institutional endorsement of thefindings, conclusions, recommendations, ordiscoveries that may result from Faculty work,"Fineberg said.

"We're very eager to be certain that we'recautious in applying the name `Harvard' or`Harvard University' to any project," he added.

The new regulations are significant not onlybecause they represent a formal codification ofHarvard's trademark policies, but also because the"default" permissions on the subject have changed.

In the past, said Fineberg, Faculty, students,and staff did not always have to obtainauthorization to use the Harvard name.

No longer.

"Now our default assumption is that Faculty orstaff and students are not simply entitled to usethe name, but must gain permission to use thename," explained Fineberg.

The policy was approved by the HarvardCorporation on Feb. 9