4. Use of MIT Resources, Name, Logo, Letterhead – Conflict of Commitment Guidance

  1. Incidental Use: MIT allows for incidental use of your MIT-issued laptop or phone for OPA purposes, such as checking/responding to emails or making calls. Use of your MIT email or phone number for carrying out OPA business operations, marketing, solicitations, and other non-MIT related activities is strictly prohibited.
  2. Prohibited Use: Use of any MIT IT resources for an OPA may violate the terms of software licenses that MIT has obtained, which are generally intended for research purposes and not commercial purposes. Therefore, you may not download software provided for MIT-related business for OPA purposes nor can you store OPA-related files or records on MIT administered servers.
  3. Publications from OPA: Publications reporting work resulting from your OPAs are not MIT research publications nor is any opinion expressed in such a publication an official position of the Institute. Therefore, it is important to clearly state in any publication associated with OPA that the work is distinct from MIT research. For example: "This publication reflects Prof. Fomo’s contributions as a consultant to NewCo and is not affiliated with their MIT research."
  4. MIT Use of Name and Letterhead: Using your MIT letterhead or other MIT-branded resources for providing letters of recommendation or support for students and other individuals as part of an OPA (such as a compensated tutoring program) is prohibited. Please use your personal letterhead for these purposes and ensure there is no implied connection with or endorsement by MIT.
  5. MIT Affiliation: An OPA involves a relationship established between an individual and an entity other than MIT. Therefore, that entity cannot imply affiliation with MIT or make reference to an affiliation with MIT, nor can it use MIT's name or logo in its content or on its website. If an OPA entity has publicity or advertising requests, please consult the Institute Office of Communications.

See also: Policies & Procedures § 12.0 Relations with the Public, Use of MIT Name, and Facilities Use.

Updated August 2025