Rules for Using the Freie Universität Logo
Formalities and information about using the university logo and the corporate design
The logo of Freie Universität Berlin is used in all official correspondence of Freie Universität Berlin, in particular on letters, faxes, reports, minutes, memos, on business cards, presentations, and print media, on the Internet on the official university websites, and on merchandising products of Freie Universität Berlin. The logo designates the official media and products of Freie Universität Berlin as such.
- The logo is used in official correspondence. This does not apply to personal correspondence, nor to correspondence within the university environment, such as letters to the HR department on personal matters.
- Posters, flyers, and PowerPoint presentations or other presentations created as part of the employee’s work, such as conferences or congresses where the employee appears as a representative of Freie Universität Berlin and/or presents research results, should include the logo.
- The logo should be used for publications that are created and/or published within the scope of the employee’s work and mandate at Freie Universität Berlin. The logo should be used in publications that have been produced in conjunction with Freie Universität.
This regulation on logo use applies to all members of the university within Section 43 (1) No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 6 of the Berlin Higher Education Act (Berliner Hochschulgesetz, BerlHG). Specifically, this means persons who are employed by the university; persons who are paid from third-party funds and work there full-time or as their main job with the consent of the head of the university; adjunct professors; privatdozents; part-time lecturers; and guest lecturers).
Students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers may use the university logo as part of their studies for study purposes or as part of their examination process with the consent of the respective supervisor. This includes, in particular, the use of the logo on posters, flyers, and PowerPoint presentations or other presentations for e.g., conferences or congresses at which research results are presented as part of their studies, doctorate, or habilitation. The admissibility of use after approval by the supervisor does not apply to publications that are not part of the person’s work at Freie Universität (e.g., in particular own publications by publishers).
Any further use of the logo is prohibited for students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers. In particular, they are not permitted to use the logo of Freie Universität Berlin on their theses.
The use of the logo of Freie Universität Berlin by cooperation partners (a cooperation is deemed to be a collaboration with partners to achieve a common goal and if a corresponding agreement exists) is permitted if it is a noncommercial academic cooperation and the cooperation agreement expressly provides for such use.
The cooperation agreement should include a passage stating that Freie Universität Berlin reserves the right to revoke such permission for use at any time if the use is not in accordance with the specifications for logo use stated below and if no immediate remedy is provided despite a request for use objected to by Freie Universität Berlin.
The cooperation agreement should therefore contain the following passage:
The cooperation partner may use the logo of Freie Universität Berlin as a reference. Freie Universität Berlin reserves the right to revoke this permission of use at any time if the use does not comply with the Freie Universität guidelines for logo use (among other things: only the Freie Universität templates may be used; the logo may not be changed in any way; the specifications of the design manuals of Freie Universität Berlin must be observed) and the use objected to by Freie Universität Berlin is not immediately discontinued despite a request to do so. Before the logo may be used, a copy of the proposed means of communication must be submitted to the FUB-IT | Creative Media and Technology team to verify compliance with the corporate design guidelines of Freie Universität Berlin. Final approval for use will only be granted after the team has examined the proposed media.If none of the options for logo usage in nos. 2-4 is applicable, the use of the logo by external parties requires written permission (email is sufficient). The required permission is granted by the Office of Communication and Marketing of Freie Universität Berlin and can be applied for using the Logo Usage Form. Before the logo may be used, the proposed means of communication must be submitted to the FUB-IT | Creative Media and Technology team team for verification of compliance with the corporate design guidelines of Freie Universität Berlin. Only then will final approval for use be granted. Approval may be denied without stating reasons.
Approval takes for granted that the logo is being used in connection with the work of Freie Universität Berlin, that no damage to the reputation of Freie Universität Berlin is to be expected from its use, and that no commercial purposes are being pursued. Freie Universität Berlin may withdraw permission to use the logo at any time without giving reasons.
If the use of the logo is approved in accordance with No. 5 or there is a permissible use in accordance with Nos. 2-4, the design of the logo may not be changed in any way, for example, by changing the color or adding your own design elements. The logo must always be sharp, clean, and not distorted. It may only be used in accordance with the corporate design guidelines.