"We don't generally go after people for just using the Harvard name," Green says.

With all the complications, why don't companies cut the crimson tape and use a stand-in for Harvard? The failed sitcom "Boston Common" was set at a fictional university much like Harvard. On another show, crimson shorts stood in for an official Harvard pair.

However Bingham of Wind Dancer films believes it's worth it to use the genuine article .

"There are clearly ways to cheat it," Bingham says. "But there's always gonna be somebody in the audience who will recognize the difference and say 'Aww, come on!' As much as you can, you want to avoid having anyone who can call foul."

Movies on Campus

Harvard's policy is even stricter on allowing commercial film crews on campus. Still, contrary to popular student opinion there is no clear-cut rule specifying that film crews are never allowed in Harvard Yard.

Instead, the policy put out by the provost's office specifies that, while "Harvard generally does not permit filming or taping of movies or television programs intended for use primarily as entertainment rather than education...Harvard is willing to consider claims that the use of a Harvard setting is artistically critical to a project."

This policy, says Wrinn, basically means that each request is considered on a case-by-case basis. In the past 20 years, only a few movies have been filmed on the Harvard campus.