As explained below, this image is in the public domain (at least in the USA, and probably also in most other contries) to the best of my knowledge. WARNING: Even if this picture is in the public domain (meaning that it is not protected by copyright laws), its use might still be restricted due to trademark protection or similar laws.

I created this image of the UC Merced seal by slightly modifying the general University of California seal at File:The University of California 1868.svg, which, as explained on its description page, is in the public domain (at least in the USA, and probably also in most other contries). In order to create the UC Merced seal, I only changed the color from black to UC Merced Gold. I think that this modification does not meet the threshold for copyright protection, but in case that I have any copyright on the changes which I did, I hereby release into the public domain any copyright which I might have on this image. So now also this UC Merced seal is in the public domain (at least in the USA, and probably also in most other contries) to the best of my knowledge. But please remember that even if this picture is in the public domain (meaning that it is not protected by copyright laws), its use might still be restricted due to trademark protection or similar laws.