Michigan State University: Name, Image and Likeness Activities Policy
NIL Policies and Legislation
• Michigan State NIL Policy (as of 7/11/22)
• NCAA Interim NIL Policy (as of 7/1/21)
• Updated NCAA Interim NIL Policy – Guidance Regarding Third Party Involvement (as of 5/9/22)
• Michigan House Bill No. 5217
MSU's EverGreen Program
• EverGreen Website
• EverGreen Launch
• One-page overview on EverGreen Program
Michigan State Exchange
• Michigan State Exchange Launch
• Visit msuspartans.com/exchange
• Business Facing Overview video
• One-page overview on how to get set up on Michigan State Exchange (as of 2/1/22)
• One-page overview on how to set up payments on Michigan State Exchange
• One-page overview on student-athlete profile cards
Other Resources
• MSU Licensing
In conjunction with NCAA policy and state law, Michigan State University and the Department of Athletics (the institution) have developed specific policies to the address name, image, and likeness (NIL) activities of student-athletes.
NIL Defined
A name, image, and likeness activity includes any situation in which a student-athlete’s name, image, likeness, or personal appearance is used for promotional purposes by a non-institutional entity, including the individual student-athlete, a commercial entity, or a non-institutional nonprofit or charitable entity. While such activities may provide compensation for a student-athlete, those activities that do not provide compensation are also covered under this policy.
Institutional Disclosure Requirements
Student-athletes are required to disclose contact information for all parties involved in the use of their name, image, and likeness, as well as any involved professional service providers. The student-athlete must also disclose compensation arrangements and the details of their relationship with involved parties. Student-athletes must disclose the proposed name, image, and likeness activities to the institution at least seven (7) days prior to committing to said activities. If arrangements and details of agreements to promote a commercial product or service are amended, the student-athlete must provide notice within 14 days of the change.
Institutional Restrictions
A student-athlete may not enter into an agreement with a third-party that conflicts with any existing sponsorship agreements. If the institution identifies a conflict between the student-athlete’s name, image, and likeness activities and an existing sponsorship agreement, the institution shall inform the student-athlete of such a conflict so the student-athlete has the opportunity to negotiate a revision of name, image, and likeness activities with the third-party. That revision is also subject to additional review and approval by the institution.
Student-athletes may not enter into an apparel contract that requires the student-athlete to display a sponsor’s apparel, or otherwise advertise for a sponsor, during official team activities if the provision is in conflict with a provision of the student’s institution’s team contract.
Student-athletes may not engage in name, image, and likeness activities while participating in required institutional activities or while representing the institution.
Student-athletes will not be permitted to use colors, logos, or images, including institutional marks, which identify the institution in any name, image, and likeness activities for commercial purposes, unless otherwise specified in this policy. A student-athlete may only reference their attendance at the institution and participation in athletics in biographical information. Student-athletes may not use institutional facilities for any name, image, and likeness activities, with the exception of use for teaching lessons or for a camp/clinic, provided the rental agreement is in line with that available to the general public. While a student-athlete is permitted to engage in name, image, and likeness activities on the institution’s campus, all activities are subject to applicable University policies and procedures regarding third-parties and commercial ventures.
Institutional Marks
Student-athletes are permitted to engage in name, image, and likeness activities with University licensees who have obtained an NIL co-branded license.
Student-athletes may engage with The Brandr Group to facilitate group licensing agreements.
Prohibited Activities
Student-athletes are prohibited from engaging in any name, image, and likeness activities involving any substance or drug class located on the NCAA’s list of banned substances. Further, student-athletes are prohibited from using any conference or NCAA marks in any name, image, or likeness activity.
Agents
Student-athletes may enter into agreements with professional service providers, including agents. Agent agreements must be for name, image, and likeness activities only and must include details regarding the scope of representation & compensation. Agent compensation must be made at an established rate. Such agreements must be filed with the Office of Compliance Services.
Student-athletes may not engage with any individual who, directly or indirectly, represents or attempts to represent an individual for the purpose of marketing the individual's athletics ability for financial gain or seeks to obtain any type of financial gain or benefit from securing a prospective student-athlete's enrollment at an educational institution or from a student-athlete's potential earnings as a professional athlete.
Institutional Involvement
Neither the institution nor an institutional staff member may be involved in the operation or promotion of any student-athlete’s name, image, and likeness activities. Further, institutional staff members may not enter into agreements with, or benefit from, a student-athlete’s name, image, or likeness activities.
Last Update: 7/11/22
• Michigan State NIL Policy (as of 7/11/22)
• NCAA Interim NIL Policy (as of 7/1/21)
• Updated NCAA Interim NIL Policy – Guidance Regarding Third Party Involvement (as of 5/9/22)
• Michigan House Bill No. 5217
MSU's EverGreen Program
• EverGreen Website
• EverGreen Launch
• One-page overview on EverGreen Program
Michigan State Exchange
• Michigan State Exchange Launch
• Visit msuspartans.com/exchange
• Business Facing Overview video
• One-page overview on how to get set up on Michigan State Exchange (as of 2/1/22)
• One-page overview on how to set up payments on Michigan State Exchange
• One-page overview on student-athlete profile cards
Other Resources
• MSU Licensing
In conjunction with NCAA policy and state law, Michigan State University and the Department of Athletics (the institution) have developed specific policies to the address name, image, and likeness (NIL) activities of student-athletes.
NIL Defined
A name, image, and likeness activity includes any situation in which a student-athlete’s name, image, likeness, or personal appearance is used for promotional purposes by a non-institutional entity, including the individual student-athlete, a commercial entity, or a non-institutional nonprofit or charitable entity. While such activities may provide compensation for a student-athlete, those activities that do not provide compensation are also covered under this policy.
Institutional Disclosure Requirements
Student-athletes are required to disclose contact information for all parties involved in the use of their name, image, and likeness, as well as any involved professional service providers. The student-athlete must also disclose compensation arrangements and the details of their relationship with involved parties. Student-athletes must disclose the proposed name, image, and likeness activities to the institution at least seven (7) days prior to committing to said activities. If arrangements and details of agreements to promote a commercial product or service are amended, the student-athlete must provide notice within 14 days of the change.
Institutional Restrictions
A student-athlete may not enter into an agreement with a third-party that conflicts with any existing sponsorship agreements. If the institution identifies a conflict between the student-athlete’s name, image, and likeness activities and an existing sponsorship agreement, the institution shall inform the student-athlete of such a conflict so the student-athlete has the opportunity to negotiate a revision of name, image, and likeness activities with the third-party. That revision is also subject to additional review and approval by the institution.
Student-athletes may not enter into an apparel contract that requires the student-athlete to display a sponsor’s apparel, or otherwise advertise for a sponsor, during official team activities if the provision is in conflict with a provision of the student’s institution’s team contract.
Student-athletes may not engage in name, image, and likeness activities while participating in required institutional activities or while representing the institution.
Student-athletes will not be permitted to use colors, logos, or images, including institutional marks, which identify the institution in any name, image, and likeness activities for commercial purposes, unless otherwise specified in this policy. A student-athlete may only reference their attendance at the institution and participation in athletics in biographical information. Student-athletes may not use institutional facilities for any name, image, and likeness activities, with the exception of use for teaching lessons or for a camp/clinic, provided the rental agreement is in line with that available to the general public. While a student-athlete is permitted to engage in name, image, and likeness activities on the institution’s campus, all activities are subject to applicable University policies and procedures regarding third-parties and commercial ventures.
Institutional Marks
Student-athletes are permitted to engage in name, image, and likeness activities with University licensees who have obtained an NIL co-branded license.
Student-athletes may engage with The Brandr Group to facilitate group licensing agreements.
Prohibited Activities
Student-athletes are prohibited from engaging in any name, image, and likeness activities involving any substance or drug class located on the NCAA’s list of banned substances. Further, student-athletes are prohibited from using any conference or NCAA marks in any name, image, or likeness activity.
Agents
Student-athletes may enter into agreements with professional service providers, including agents. Agent agreements must be for name, image, and likeness activities only and must include details regarding the scope of representation & compensation. Agent compensation must be made at an established rate. Such agreements must be filed with the Office of Compliance Services.
Student-athletes may not engage with any individual who, directly or indirectly, represents or attempts to represent an individual for the purpose of marketing the individual's athletics ability for financial gain or seeks to obtain any type of financial gain or benefit from securing a prospective student-athlete's enrollment at an educational institution or from a student-athlete's potential earnings as a professional athlete.
Institutional Involvement
Neither the institution nor an institutional staff member may be involved in the operation or promotion of any student-athlete’s name, image, and likeness activities. Further, institutional staff members may not enter into agreements with, or benefit from, a student-athlete’s name, image, or likeness activities.
Last Update: 7/11/22